Letter from Tadhg Barry to Tomás Mac Curtain, 28 September 1916 Letters 1916-1923 Tadhg Barry

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Letter from Tadhg Barry (1880–1921) to Tomás MacCurtain updating him with as much news as he can although he is wary of saying too much in a letter as his boss has ordered him "to write no more politics". Tomás MacCurtain (1884–1920), republican, was born Thomas Curtin in Ballyknockane, Co. Cork, on 20 March 1884. MacCurtain was a founder member of the Cork executive of the Irish Volunteers, and in the time leading up to the 1916 Rising, he travelled the county organising new Volunteer units. MacCurtain was arrested in Cork in May 1916, and sent to Dublin before being deported to Wakefield prison on 30 May. On 10 June he was moved to Frongoch in north Wales and on 11 July to Reading gaol, where he remained until his release in December 1916. He continued to lead the Cork Volunteers despite being imprisoned on other occasions in 1917. On 30 January 1920 he became the first Sinn Féin lord mayor of Cork. On 20 March 1920, MacCurtain was shot dead in his bedroom a major escalation in the spiral of violence that marked the last year of the war of independence.

 Cork Public Museum T. Mac Curtain Collection, L1966.176 https://letters1916.ie/item/3487 English Tadhg Barry 1916-09-28 54 Blarney Street, Cork, Ireland Tomás Mac Curtain Reading Gaol, Berkshire, England Male 1921 Politics Politics

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 recd Oct 4/1916 54 [Questionable reading.] 15 Copaige 28.9.16 D Tomat, a capa, I hope you have not thought it illof me that I did not write before now. I have notwritten to any of my imprisoned comrades for thegood reason that I could not write as I wished &say what I would like but as by now the friendswho flocked to show sympathy must be easing offin their eager anxiousness to be doing something andwriting sympathy to you all. I am just writing tosay that there is nothing to say that I canwrite. Individually the boys are all good inhealth & if sick at heart yet hopeful. We coulddo with some of you home if only to give you apiece of our minds. A few of that training schoolof January are in Cork at work including WallDriscoll & Mullane. A group of the city lads assembledon Ballingeary last Saturday and had a noisy time.I had a fortnight there during summer during whichApplebee was so busy looking after me that he could notsee some companions who would have interested himmore. The Gaelic League promises great but welack direction & guidance with the result that thereis likely to be a waste of energy. Conscription rumours are in the air also. I hope it will not materialiseif only to make the slackers fight on some side. How are you in Reading. Too much of itI Suppose. I see you read my notes in J.P. Like somuch in this letter the boss had ordered me to write nomore politics. I wish I were able to say write ityourself to —. But the prefominant partner holdsthe Kudos. Ref to Milroy & Capt OF. notforgetting T.MJ and any of the others that I knew. Father Tom Roche is in Dartmoor & Portlandlately to see Tom Huner & De Valera. Allfairly good. Not with any other prisoners, McNeillhas some to study & Irish Books areallowed to any looking for them. Beazley most stubbornwants no favours. Tom Lynch is going to seeDiarmuid this week endo. Everyone is waiting for Griffiths history of theVolunteers & the Rising. Tell him be thinking overif for even the Board of Eire are talking ofhis ability in that connection. I hope that such excellent company issufficient to overcome such wretched environmentand that the peace flutter means the coming ofthat stray cluer so that we may have you allcome back to Eire before very long. Yours disgruntled as everTadhg Barry 54 Blarney Street, Cork, Ireland Letter from Tadhg Barry to Tomás Mac Curtain, 26 October 1916Letter from Tadhg Barry to Tomás Mac Curtain, 28 September 1916 Reading Gaol, Berkshire, England Letter from Tadhg Barry to Tomás Mac Curtain, 26 October 1916Letter from Angela "Witchie" to her uncle, Tomás Mac Curtain, 13 July 1916Letter from Angela "Witchie" to her uncle, Tomás Mac Curtain, 1 October 1916Letter from Tadhg Barry to Tomás Mac Curtain, 28 September 1916 Tomás Mac Curtain Letter from Tomás Mac Curtain to Áine, 27 September 1916Letter from Tadhg Barry to Tomás Mac Curtain, 26 October 1916Letter from Angela "Witchie" to her uncle, Tomás Mac Curtain, 13 July 1916Letter from Angela "Witchie" to her uncle, Tomás Mac Curtain, 1 October 1916Letter from A. MacSwiney to Tomás Mac Curtain, 27 May 1916Letter from Tadhg Barry to Tomás Mac Curtain, 28 September 1916 Tadhg Barry Letter from Tomás MacCurtain to Tadhg (Timothy) Barry, 6 October, 1916.Letter from Tadhg Barry to Tomás Mac Curtain, 26 October 1916Letter from Tadhg Barry to Tomás Mac Curtain, 28 September 1916