Letter from Patrick Fogarty to his mother, 8 September 1916 Letters 1916-1923 Patrick Fogarty

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This letter was written by Patrick Fogarty (1895 – 1920) to his mother Margaret (b.1879) while Patrick was detained in Portland Prison. Patrick served during Easter Week and was subsequently sentenced to death. The sentence was commuted to three years penal servitude and he was released in 1917. Fogarty continued to serve until his death which was due to pneumonia contracted while on duty with the IRA outside Mountjoy Prison in April 1920. In this letter Patrick reassures his mother he is in the best of health and mentions his brothers John and Thomas (1898 – 1962) who also served during Easter Week. Patrick informs his mother that he left his watch at Arbour Hill Barracks and his overcoat in a house in Cabra and that he has filled in a form for the return of both. He does note that the coat may be more difficult to return as their uniforms were not sent home. Before signing off Patrick informs his mother of her rights to write back to him.

 Military Archives of Ireland Brother Allen Collection, IE/AL/PF/2 https://letters1916.ie/item/2565 English Patrick Fogarty 1916-09-08 Portland Prison, Portland, Dorset, England Mrs Fogarty Male Personal Relations Easter Rising Ireland 1916 Personal Relations

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 8th September 1916. My dear Mother My time has come round again towrite home, and it gives me great pleasure, as I amsure you are expecting one every morning. I hope you are all in the best of health and goingon well. I am very glad to see by your letter thatJohn has taken over Mr Doyle workshop and hope heis going on well and has plenty of work. I supposetrade is a bit dull at present. Dear Mother I hope you are not worrying about meas I am in the best of health Thank God. Tell Father I am very sorry to hear about Robin andhope he is quite well now. I hope Tom will be homesoon and is in the best of health. It was very thoughtfullof him to send home his card, for you to get what moneyhe had saved. Remind him in your next letter to tellMockay I was asking for him. I will be very glad to have the Photo's of you all asyou mentioned in your last letter. if you have notthem taken yet or are waiting for news from Tomdont be in a hurry to answered my letter. TellGrandmother and Shames and all at home I wasasking for them. also if you ever see Mrs P Fogartyor Frank the tell them I was asking for them all I left my watch at Arbour Hill Barracks. I am getsure any day you could call up there you could getit you could give it tp John. I left my overcoat inthe house on Cabra Road but I suppose it wastaken away by the military. I filled up a form about my coat and watch. so I hope you will be ableto get them. You will have no trouble as regeard thewatch, but if you think best don't bother about coatour uniforms were not sent home. Your letter can be as large as a full sheet of fools capbut if you are sending any small notes fromany friends, you letter and note's must be no longerthan a full sheet of fools cap. I hope John is able tomake soom use of the bike. no use letting it hangthere to rust. My next letter will be in about twomonths. I Remain dear MotherYour affectionate sonPatrick Fogarty In replying to this letter, please write on the envelope:NUMBER 9.169 NAME P.FogartyPORTLAND. PRISON The following regulations as to communications, by Visit or Letter, between prisonersand their families are notified for the information of their correspondents. The permission to write and receive Letters, is given to prisoners for thepurpose of enabling them to keep up a connection with their respectable friends andnot that they may be kept informed of public events. All Letters are read by Prison Authorities. They must be legiblywritten and not crossed. Any which are of an objectionable tendency, either to orfrom prisoners, or containing slang, or improper expressions, will be suppressed. Prisoner are permitted to receive and to write a letter at intervals, whichdepend on the rules of the stage they attain by industry and good conduct; but mattersof special importance to a prisoner may be communicated at any time by Letter (prepaid)to the Governor who will inform the prisoner thereof, if expedient. In case of misconduct, the privilege of receiving and writing a Letter maybe forfeited for a time. Money, Books, Postage Stamps, Food, Tobacco, Clothes &c, should not besent to Prisoners, for their use in prison, as nothing is allowed to be received at thePrison for that purpose. Persons attempting to clandestinely communicate with, or to introduce anyarticle to or for prisoners, are liable to fine and imprisonment, and any prisonerconcerned in such practices is liable to be severely punished. Prisoners' friends are sometimes applied to by unauthorised persons, to sendMoney &c, to them privately, under pretence that they can apply it for the benefitof the prisoners, and under such fraudulent pretence, such application, received by the friendsof a prisoner should be, at once, forwarded by them to the Governor. Prisoners are allowed to receive Visits from their friends, according torules, at intervals which depend on their stage. When visits are due to prisoners notification will be sent to the friendswhom they desire to visit them. No. 243.(8254) Patrick Fogarty Letter from Patrick Fogarty to his mother, 8 September 1916 Portland Prison, Portland, Dorset, England Letter from Patrick Fogarty to his mother, 8 September 1916