Letter from Mary Scarlett to Hanna Sheehy Skeffington, 7 May 1916 Letters 1916-1923 Mary E. Scarlett

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Letter from Mary E. Scarlett (c. 1869-1948) to Hanna Sheehy Skeffington (1877-1946) sending her sympathies regarding the death of Hanna's husband, Francis. She writes about the virtues of his life and his devotion towards the causes he stood for, saying she and others admired him greatly. . Mary Scarlett was a schoolteacher and fluent Irish speaker. 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 33,605/3-9 https://letters1916.ie/item/3608 English Mary E. Scarlett 1916-05-07 Ethel Lodge, Annaville, Ranelagh, Dublin, Ireland Hanna Sheehy Skeffington Female 1948 Easter Rising Ireland 1916 Easter Rising Ireland 1916

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 May 7, 1916 White Lodge Carnlough My dear Mrs Sheehy-Skeffington I hope you willforgive my troubling you witha few words just to saythat I am thinking of you,and to offer you my deepand respectful sympathyin this time of supremetrial. I always admired yourhusband and shall -with very mane others here &elsewhere - always revere his memory for the life helived and the death hedied. He was so absolutelyfearless and devoted to thecauses for which he worked,without even a thought ofpersonal advantage. Surelysuch a life though not longin years must haveaccomplished much, andwill still continue to bea force & influence in thosewho are left. In saying this about Mr.Skeffington's work I know the work was not his alone butyours also, that you wereconnected in work & interestsas few husbands & wives were -which makes your loss the morepeculiar. I will not say more, as thetragedy of things are present -a tragedy which you are bearingthe full brunt of - is too greatfor words. But I have known you andthought of you with friendshipfor as many years I did notlike to be silent. Yours in sincere sympathyMary E. Scarlett Mary E. Scarlett Letter from Mary Scarlett to Hanna Sheehy Skeffington, 7 May 1916 Ethel Lodge, Annaville, Ranelagh, Dublin, Ireland Letter from Mary Scarlett to Hanna Sheehy Skeffington, 7 May 1916