Letter from Robert Lynch to Mabel FitzGerald, 28 May 1916. Letters 1916-1923 Robert Lynch

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A Letter from Robert Lynch to Mabel FitzGerald (née Washington McConnell) (1884-1958), wife of politician and intellectual Desmond FitzGerald (1888-1947). The writer expresses sorrow at the 'horrible sentence' imposed on her husband. He admires the way that Desmond FitzGerald and The O'Rahilly, (1875-1916), 'went in' (to the GPO) having initially tried to stop the Rising. The writer promises to make representations on Mr FitzGerald's behalf and expresses that an amnesty will see him free when Home Rule is established. He writes that the English were unwise to carryout the executions as the only served to dignify the insurgents. He regrets the loss of his friend, John MacDermott (Seán MacDiarmada, 1883-1916, executed on 12 May 1916) but the bitterest losses were James Connolly (1868-1916, executed 12 May 1916), and Francis Sheehy Skeffington (1878-1916). The writer criticises Patrick Pearse (1879-1916, one of the Rising leaders, also executed on 3 May 1916) for his 'bloodshed gospel', which he describes as 'a wild delusion.'Mabel was a former governess in London. She later vigorously canvassed her former acquaintances in London's liberal circles for support for Francis Sheehy Skeffington during his hunger strike in 1915. Both Mabel and Desmond would serve in the GPO garrison during Easter Week.

 University College Dublin Archives FitzGerald Papers, P80/1591/1 https://letters1916.ie/item/1463 English Robert Lynch 1916-05-28 Hampstead, London, England Mabel FitzGerald Male Easter Rising Ireland 1916

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 14 telegraph Hill, Hampstead, N.W. 28th May, 1916 My dear Mabel, I have been wanting to write to you for some time best to say how sorry I was about the horrible sentence on Fitz. You probably guess what I thought of Pearse & the leaders, but the way Fitz & the O'Rahilly went in after trying to stop the affair was the sort of heroic thing to which we all have to take off our hats. I'll certainly get the facts of Fitz's behaviour & of his non-combatancy put before any people of influence I can get at. He cautiouslyought to be treated as a political prisoner at once, & an amnesty is certain, I should say, within a very short time of a Home Rule Parliament's coming into existence. I feel exactly as you do about the executions. The English, I think, were mad to permit them from their own point-of-view. They seem to me to have given the movement a national dignity it would not have had if Asquith or Maxwell or Redmond or any- body had been as wise as Botha. Poor John Mac Dermott, I knew him best & liked him best of them all, but I feel Connolly is the bitterest loss. He & Skeffington. Pearse obviously died like a hero, but I have always thought his 'blood- shed' gospel of nationalism a wild delusion & a break away from everything for which Davis stood. However, I mustn't be controversial while you're in the midst of this horror & trouble. I do hope it won't be long till Fitz is safe at home again. I'm sending you one or two Statesmans& Nations. I've been able to write very little about the in- surrection myself. Shaw had a wonderful letter in the Daily News, which I'll send you. I hope the babies are well again. Perhaps, we'll see you in Dublin in July. We'll get over if we possibly can, babies & all. I'm so glad you liked Sylvia's novel. She's got a book of verse & sketches coming out in the Autumn. I'd write more, only I've about half- a-dozen other letters to get off before supper. With all the good wishes & hopes in the world. Yours ever Robert Lynch Miss Dryhurst saw Griffith & Alderman Cole in Wandsworth Prison this week. I've written to Griffith to know if I might go & see him, but perhaps he would rather not as I know he looks on me as a renegade. Robert Lynch Letter from Robert Lynch to Mabel FitzGerald, 28 May 1916. Mabel FitzGerald Letter from Margaret Pearse to Mabel FitzGerald, 16 July, 1916.Letter from Neans bean í Rathgaille (Nancy O'Rahilly) to Mabel FitzGerald, circa 26 May 1916.Letter from Nancy O'Rahilly to Mabel FitzGerald, May 1916.Letter from Caitlín Burgess to Mabel FitzGerald, 1 June 1916.Letter from Desmond FitzGerald to Mabel FitzGerald, 8 November 1915Postcard from Mabel Fitzgerald to Hanna Sheehy Skeffington, 28 February 1916Letter from Charles Arthur Munro to Mabel FitzGerald, 22 February 1916Letter from Charles Arthur Munro to Mabel FitzGerald, 21 March 1916Letter from Charles Arthur Munro to Mabel FitzGerald, 24 March 1916Letter to Mabel FitzGerald, 1916Letter from T.M. Healy to Mabel FitzGerald, 24 May 1916Letter from Mabel FitzGerald, 24 May 1916Letter from John Dillon to Mabel FitzGerald, 24 May 1916Letter from John Dillon to Mabel FitzGerald, 24 May 1916Letter from Anna O'Rahilly to Mabel FitzGerald, 25 May 1916Letter from John Brosnan to Mabel FitzGerald, 25 May 1916Letter from John Muldoon to Mabel FitzGerald, 26 May 1916Letter from T.J. Hanna to Mabel FitzGerald, 26 May 1916Letter from Laurence Ginnell to Mabel FitzGerald, 26 May 1916Letter from Julia Evans to Mabel FitzGerald, 13 May 1916Letter from Captain, Richmond Barracks to Mabel FitzGerald, 14 May 1916Letter from J.H.G. Stantin to Mabel FitzGerald, 20 May 1916Letter from R.F. Sergeant probably to Mabel FitzGerald, 21 May 1916Letter from Mabel FitzGerald to Brigadier General, Richmond Barracks, 22 May 1916Letter from Nancy Campbell to Mabel FitzGerald, 23 May 1916Letter from George Bernard Shaw to Mabel FitzGerald, 25 May 1916Letter from W. Goodman to Mabel FitzGerald, 12 April 1916.Telegram from Superintendent of Police, Kingstown to Mabel FitzGerald, 10 May 1916.Letter from Mabel FitzGerald, 10 May 1916Letter from Mabel FitzGerald to the Governor of Richmond Barracks, 11 May 1916Letter from Mabel FitzGerald to John Redmond, 27 May 1916.Letter from Annie F. to Mabel FitzGerald, 27 May 1916.Letter from Robert Lynch to Mabel FitzGerald, 28 May 1916.Letter from John Redmond to Mabel FitzGerald, 29 May 1916.Letter from Caitlín Ní Shéaghda to Mabel FitzGerald, 30 May 1916.Letter from the Major E. Reade to Mabel FitzGerald, 31 May 1916Letter from Harry Stockman to Mabel FitzGerald, 31 May 1916.Letter from R.C. Barton to Mabel FitzGerald, 1 June 1916.Letter from R. C. Barton to Mabel FitzGerald, 21 May 1916.Letter from Mabel FitzGerald to the Governor, Mountjoy Prison, 2 June 1916.Letter from Máire Ní Catháin to Mabel FitzGerald, 3 June 1916.Letter from Austin Stack to Mabel FitzGerald, 4 June 1916.Letter from the Charles Arthur Munro, the Governor of Mountjoy Prison, to Mabel FitzGerald, 5 June 1916.Letter from Ernest Blythe to Mabel FitzGerald, 8 June 1916.Letter from M.B. McDonough to Mabel FitzGerald, 16 June 1916.Letter from Major E. Reade to Mabel FitzGerald, 20 June 1916.Letter from Major E. Reade to Mabel FitzGerald, 5 July 1916.Letter from Major E. Reade to Mabel FitzGerald, 10 July 1916.Letter from Major E. Reade to Mabel FitzGerald, 15 Jult 1916.Letter from Major E. Reade to Mabel FitzGerald, 20 July 1916.Letter from Major E. Reade to Mabel FitzGerald 4 August, 1916.Letter from The Governor, Dartmoor Prison to Mabel FitzGerald, 18 August 1916.Letter from Charles Arthur Munro to Mabel FitzGerald, 24 November 1915Letter from Mabel FitzGerald [June 1916]Letter from Desmond FitzGerald to Mabel FitzGerald, 7 March 1916Letter from Desmond FitzGerald to Mabel FitzGerald, 30 December 1915 Letter from Desmond FitzGerald to Mabel FitzGerald, 8 February 1916Letter from Mabel FitzGerald to the Governor, Dartmoor Prison, 22 June 1916. Hampstead, London, England Letter from Robert Lynch to Mabel FitzGerald, 28 May 1916.