Letter from Agnes MacNeill to Madam O'Rahilly, 17 August, 1916.
RATHFARNHAM,
CO. DUBLIN. August 17th 1916 My Dear Madam O’Rahilly, I was as glad to see
your writing again and I know
that you are beginning to feel
strong again. I heard from
many people what a lovely
strong boy the baby is - God
bless him. I will be delighted to
go and see you the first 2 day I am in town but
I am hardly ever in town
now. What we have all
come through makes one
see life in a very different
way. You mention the happy past
Oh! how far away that
seems now, and the
dear friends we will
never meet again. How
little you or I ever dreamt
this would be the end. Seamus is going to live with
my Mother. Mayra & Bryan
are going to Aran to Miss Folan
Niall is with a solicitor.
Eihblin will go to Muckross to
board & Brian, Loughlackagh
to school. We will soon
have a very quiet house. 3 Please remember me
To your sister and Mrs Humphreys Your sincere friend Agnes MacNeill
This is a letter from Agnes (Taddie) MacNeill (1874-1953), wife of Eoin MacNeill (1867-1945), to Nancy O'Rahilly (1875-1961). Nancy O'Rahilly was a member of the Provisional Council of Cumann na mBan at the founding in 1914 and the wife of Michael Joseph O'Rahilly, self-described as 'The' O'Rahilly (1875-1916). The O'Rahilly fought in the Easter Rising and was shot in Parnell/Moore Street on 28 April 1916 and died some time later. Nancy was pregnant at the time of her husband's death – the child was born three months later. Eoin MacNeill was chief-of-staff of the Irish Volunteers at the time of the Easter 1916 Rising, although he took no part in it and even tried to prevent it. Mrs MacNeill is glad to hear that Nancy is beginning to feel strong - she has heard what a lovely strong boy the baby is. She would like to visit but she is not in town very often. She remarks on how what they have experienced has changed their perspective, in that they see life in a very different way now. She goes on to list her children and what each one is doing - leaving home for education or work purposes - and leaving the house very quiet. She asks to be remembered to her to Nancy's sister and Sighle Humphreys.
How to cite
Letters 1916, published by the Austrian Centre for Digital Humanities, Vienna, 2026 (https://letters1916static.github.io/letters1916-static/item__1592.html)
- Mentioned in
-
- 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 S.M. Martina to Nancy O'Rahilly, 25 May 1916.
- Letter from Herbert Pim to Nancy O'Rahilly, 26 May, 1916.
- Letter from Kathleen Hogan to Nancy O'Rahilly, 29 May 1916.
- Letter from Amelia Jephson to Nancy O'Rahilly, 14 June 1916.
- Letter from M. Curry to Nancy O'Rahilly, 15 June, 1916.
- Letter from the Office of the Chief Commissioner of Police to Nancy O'Rahilly, 19 June 1916
- Letter from Eóin B. Mac Giolla Chomghaill to Nancy O'Rahilly, 28 July 1916.
- Postcard from Eóin B. Mac Giolla Chomghaill (Coyle) to Nancy O'Rahilly, c. May 1916.
- Letter from Kathleen Hogan to Nancy O'Rahilly, 31 July 1916.
- Letter from J.J. Dunne to Nancy O'Rahilly, 3 August 1916.
- Letter from Mrs. E.N. Gilbert to Nancy O'Rahilly, 30 August 1916.
- Letter from Kathleen Lynn to Nancy O'Rahilly, 23 November 1916.
- Letter from Celia to Nancy O'Rahilly, c. May 1916.
- Letter from Eiblín Ní Sheaghda to Nancy O'Rahilly, c. May 1916
- Letter from Denis to Nancy O'Rahilly, 5 May 1916.
- Letter from Sister M. of Good Counsel (Mangan) to Nancy O'Rahilly, 7 May 1916.
- Letter from N. de Buitléir to Nancy O'Rahilly, 7 May 1916.
- Letter from Máire de Buitléir to Nancy O'Rahilly, 24 May 1916.
- Letter from Áine Ní S. to Nancy O'Rahilly, 9 May 1916.
- Letter from Annie Curran to Nancy O'Rahilly, 10 May 1916.
- Letter from Eithne A. Kelly to Nancy O'Rahilly, 14 May 1916.
- Letter from Nancy Campbell to Mrs. O'Rahilly, 17 May 1916.
- Letter from M. Malone to Nancy O'Rahilly, 17 May 1916.
- Letter from Emily Weddall (Emhin Ní Uadall) to Nancy O'Rahilly, c. May 1916.
- Letter from Pronnséas Ó Súilleabháin to Nancy O'Rahilly, 18 May 1916.
- Letter from Mary to Mrs. O'Rahilly, 19 May 1916.
- Letter from Mrs E.N. Gilbert to Nancy O'Rahilly, 21 May 1916.
- Letter from Laurence Ginnell to Nancy O'Rahilly, 28 May 1916.
- Letter from Julia Evans to Nancy O'Rahilly, 1 June 1916.
- Letter from M. Costello C.C. to Nancy O'Rahilly, 23 May 1916.
- Letter from Agnes MacNeill to Madam O'Rahilly, 17 August, 1916.
- Letter to Nancy O'Rahilly, 18 May 1916.
- Place
- Woodtown Park, Rathfarnham, County Dublin, Ireland.
- Mentioned in
- Letter from Agnes MacNeill to Madam O'Rahilly, 17 August, 1916.