Letter from Edward Lysaght to Jane Coffey, 16 July 1916 Letters 1916-1923 Edward Lysaght

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Ned Lysaght (later MacLysaght) (1887-1986) was born in England but became an enthusiastic member of the Gaelic League and was politically radicalised by the Easter Rising. Although he never became a member, he was openly sympathetic to Sinn Féin. He later became a senator in the Irish Free State. Jane Coffey (née l'Estrange) (1857-1921) was born into a Protestant family but married Catholic George Coffey and became a member of the National Literary Society. The letter refers to a proposal by Lysaght to convene a conference to discuss the 'settlement' after the Easter Rising. The conference would be composed of some 30 or so 'non political men' i.e. 'not politicians but men who are more prominent in political thought that political action' and would discuss ways to meet the main areas of opposition to a settlement.

 National Library of Ireland Coffey & Chenevix Trench Papers, Collection List No 153; Ms. 46,302/6 https://letters1916.ie/item/2528 English Edward Lysaght 1916-07-16 Tomgraney, Co. Clare, Ireland Jane Coffey Politics

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 July 17.16 Cnocsoluis (KNOCKSULLISH) Tuaimgréine (TOMGRANEY) Co.an Chláir (CO. CLARE) Dear Mrs Coffey, Dermod O'Brien and I have got on sufficiently with our conference idea to be writing to a number of people (such as Lord Monteagle, Everard, Col. Moore, Major Deasy, Poe, Sanders &c &c) to get their views as to whether they think a conference desirable and whether they would attend one. The conference would probably be composed of more or less non political men, that is, not politicians, but men who are more prominent in political thought than political action; say 30 or so in all. If the present humiliating "settlement" (I cannot help calling it humiliating the way things seem to be turning out) goes on, at least many or all of its details will probably in the end have to be straightened out by Irishmen. If on the other hand it falls through, the recommendations of a conference of prominent Irishmen could, we may fairly hope, have weight with the Government and with the country. The three cardinal difficulties in the way of a settlement are (1) the feeling of Irish Nationalists, (2) Ulster (3) England's fear of Irish Unity We have to find a solution which would meet them as far as possible. We have already definite proposals to put before the conference (not my original Home Rule within Home Rule plan). If the people we are writing to take up the idea favourably probably Horse Show week would be the most convenient date. I think myself it might to do a considerable amount of good. The name of Sir Henry Bellingham was mentioned yesterday as a most suitable one. Neither of us know him. I believe you do, and perhaps you would ask him tentatively what he thinks of the proposal and would he attend a conference. Of course there is nothing definite yet. I shall let you know how things go on. Mr Bigge did not send the names; not anyway for the present we are not attempting to get in uper of N E Ulster. We might hope, if our conference comes to satisfactory conclusions, perhaps to have a further conference with N E Ulstermen. Yours sincerely E.E.Lysaght Edward Lysaght Letter from Edward Lysaght to Jane Coffey, 16 July 1916 Tomgraney, Co. Clare, Ireland Letter from Edward Lysaght to Jane Coffey, 16 July 1916