1
Brooklyn House
-gan
Co. Armagh 15 May 1916 Dear Mrs Sheehy -Skeffington
I offer you my most sincere
sympathy in your very had bereavement.
It is terrible to think that cousin
Thank met with such a very sad
death, (B.J.P.) God almighty is merciful
+ you must not worry. Father is
awfully annoyed + he asked me to write
you; I sincerely hope little Willie + yourself
will the terrible cross you
have to endure. I know it is very hard
but God almighty will assist you. Your sincere friend
Christine Magorrian
Gordon
delay in writing
C. M
In this letter from Christine Magorrian to Hanna Sheehy Skeffington (1877-1946), Christine
expresses her sympathies regarding the execution of Hannas husband, Francis. She encourages
Hanna to have faith in God through the hardship she is undergoing.
Hanna Sheehy Skeffington, suffragette, nationalist, language teacher, was the founder
of the Irish Women’s Franchise League and a founding member of the Irish Women Workers’
Union. She was the widow of Francis Sheehy-Skeffington who was summarily executed
on 26 April 1916. She was active during the Rising, bringing food to the Volunteers
in the G.P.O. and the College of Surgeons. Four days passed before she found out what
had happened to her husband, Francis (1878-1916), and it wasn't until almost two weeks
later that the full details of his execution emerged.