Copy of last letter from Patrick Pearse to his mother Margaret Pearse, 3 May 1916 Letters 1916-1923 Patrick Henry Pearse

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Copy of last letter from Padraig Pearse to his mother. Written when it is clear that he will not see his family again. Although Pearse is heartbroken by the need to part with his family he exhibts great pride in his actions and with almost perfect recognises that 'People will say hard things of us now, but later on they will praise us.' The letter mentions that he has taken last Communion, and some books and poems he wants his mother to have.Patrick Pearse (1879-1916) was a writer, educationalist and revolutionary. He was a leading member of the Irish Volunteers and the Irish Republican Brotherhood. He was one of the leaders of the Easter Rising, a signatory of the Proclamation of the Irish Republic, commander in chief of the rebel forces and declared president of the Provisional Government on the outbreak of the Rising. He was executed for his part in the Rising on 3 May 1916.

 National Library of Ireland Thomas MacDonagh Family Papers, Collection List 131, MS 44,337 /6 https://letters1916.ie/item/1445 English Patrick Henry Pearse 1916-05-03 Kilmainham Gaol, Ireland Margaret Pearse Male Last letters before death Easter Rising Ireland 1916 Personal Relations

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 COPY Kilmainham Prison, 3rd May, 1916. My dearest Mother, I have been hoping up to now that it would be possible to see you again but it does not seem possible — good bye dear, dear mother — Through you I say good bye to Wow Wow, M.B., Willie, Miss Byrne, Micheal, Cousin Maggie, & everyone at St. Enda's — I hope and believe that Willie and the St. Enda's boys will be all safe. I have written two papers about financial affairs and one about my books which I want you to get. With them are a few poems which I want added to the poem in the M.S. in the large bookcase. You asked me to write a little poem which would seem to be said by you about me. I have written it and one copy is in Arbour Hill Barracks with the other papers and Father Aloysius is taking charge of another copy of it. I have just received Holy Communion. I am happy except for the great grief of parting from you. This is the death I should have asked for if God had given me the choice of all deaths — to die a soldier's death for Ireland and for freedom. We have done right. People will say hard things of us now, but later on they will praise us. Do not grieve for all this, but think of it as a sacrifice which God asked of me and of you. Good bye again dear mother. May God bless you for your great love for me and for your great Faith, and may he remember all that you have so bravely suffered. I hope soon to see Papa and in a little while we shall be all together again. Wow Wow, Willie, Mary Brigid and mother — good bye. I have not words to tell you of my love of you and how my heart yearns to you all. I will call to you in my heart at the last moment. Yours son, Pat. 'Wow Wow', is a sister — 'Willie' is the brother who was shot. Margaret Pearse Letter from Margaret Pearse to Mabel FitzGerald, 16 July, 1916.Copy of letter from Patrick Pearse to his mother Margaret Pearse, 3 May 1916Letter from Patrick Pearse to his mother Margaret Pearse, 3 May 1916Letter from Margaret Pearse, 14 October 1916Letter from Patrick Pearse to his mother Margaret Pearse, 3 May 1916Copy of last letter from Patrick Pearse to his mother Margaret Pearse, 3 May 1916 Patrick Henry Pearse Letter from Patrick Pearse to Seamus Doyle, 17 February 1916Letter from Patrick Pearse to Seamus Doyle, 17 February 1916Letter from Patrick Pearse to Seamus Doyle, 17 February 1916Letter from Patrick Pearse to Seán T. O'Kelly, 22 April 1916Copy of letter from Patrick Pearse to his mother Margaret Pearse, 3 May 1916Letter from Patrick Pearse to his mother Margaret Pearse, 3 May 1916Letter from Patrick Pearse, 25 November 1915Letter from Patrick Pearse, 9 December 1915Company Mobilisation Order from Patrick Pearse to Frank Sheridan, 20 April 1916Letter from Patrick Pearse to his mother Margaret Pearse, 3 May 1916Copy of last letter from Patrick Pearse to his mother Margaret Pearse, 3 May 1916Company Mobilisation Order from P.H. Pearse to F. Sheridan, 20 April 1916Letter from Patrick Pearse to Mr O'Danaher, 14 December 1915Letter from Patrick Pearse, 4 March 1916Letter from Pádraig Pearse to Seamus Doyle, 17 February 1916 Kilmainham Gaol, Ireland Copy of last letter from Patrick Pearse to his mother Margaret Pearse, 3 May 1916