Letter from Robert James Rowlette to Hanna Sheehy Skeffington, May 10 1916 Letters 1916-1923 Robert James Rowlette

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In this letter from Robert James Rowlette (1873–1944) to Hanna Sheehy Skeffington (1877-1946), Robert expresses condolences regarding the death of Hanna's husband Francis. He writes that, though he did not agree with Francis on many issues, he had a lot of respect for him. Robert James Rowlette was a medical doctor, politician, and athlete. Rowlette published considerable work in publications such as the Irish Times, the Medical Union's Journal, and the Medical Press and Circular, the latter of which he edited. 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.

 National Library of Ireland Sheehy-Skeffington Papers, Collection List No.47; MS 33,605/1-4 https://letters1916.ie/item/3538 English Robert James Rowlette 1916-05-10 42, Lower Baggot Street, Dublin, Ireland Hanna Sheehy Skeffington Male 1944 Easter Rising Ireland 1916

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 TELEPHONE NO. 2670. 10th May 1916 42, LOWER BAGGOTT STREET,DUBLIN. Dear Mrs Sheehy—Skeffington I had been hoping tuntil to—day thatthe rumours which were current as to yourhusband's death were untrue, but I findnow that there is no doubt. I know nothingof the circumstances, but there musthave been some terrible misunderstanding.My wife and I wish to offer you oursincerest sympathy. Although therewere probably few points on which yourhusband and I had much agreement,there were few even of my acquaintancesfor whose and I had somuch respect, or whose intellectual powers I so much admired. His early death is a less to estimate. Believe me Yours very sincerely Robert J Rowlette 42, Lower Baggot Street, Dublin, Ireland Letter from Robert James Rowlette to Hanna Sheehy Skeffington, May 10 1916 Robert James Rowlette Letter from Robert James Rowlette to Hanna Sheehy Skeffington, May 10 1916