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May 1916 12 Mountain View Rd My Dear Mrs Skeffington I was deeply
pained and shocked
when Mr. Nicolls told
me that the rumours
about Mr Skeffington's
death (which we did
not believe) was true. Our sympathy for
you is deep and
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sincere, and our
regret for Mr Skeffington
likewise. I would have gone
to you before this, but
my maid went home
for the Easter Week
end, and has not
been able to get back. The kind of work
to which I am unaccustomed
has brought on rheumatism
in my right shoulder and
back, so that I am
crippled and unable
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for a walk. I will go to you
as soon as ever I can,
Meantime I remain
Your loving friend Mary Nicolls
In this letter from Mary Nicolls to Hanna Sheehy Skeffington (1877-1946), Mary writes
that she is upset to hear that the rumors regarding the death of Hanna's husband,
Francis, are true. She shares that since her maid went home for Easter Week but has
not been able to get back, the extra work she has had to do has caused rheumatism
and thus she is unable to walk to come visit Hanna. She assures her that as soon as
she is able, she will come and visit her.
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.