1
12-5-1916 2, DARTMOUTH SQUARE,
DUBLIN Dear Mrs Sheffington I hope you
will forgive me
for sending you these
four lines, I feel as
much I want you
to know of my
sympathy & kind
thoughts during this
very greatest sorrow
that death can
bring to a companion
2
In my own case
over 25 years ago,
I at least had the
comfort that no
one was to blame
that has been denied
to you; but you
have one still left,
that you can always
feel proud of your
husband & lover
3
he gave his life
for the what he
felt was right.
I wanted to send
you these four lines,
before but did not
like to do so. I
hope your son will
be left to you for
a comfort.
With kindest thoughts
Yours sincerely
Matthew Day
In this letter from Kathleen Day to Hanna Sheehy Skeffington (1877-1946), Kathleen
writes to convey her sympathy regarding the murder of Hanna's husband, Francis. Kathleen
acknowledges the cruelty of the act committed and writes that she hopes Hanna is able
to find comfort in her son Owen and solace in the knowledge that Francis died for
what he believed in.
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.