1
43 Belvedere Place
Dublin Friday May 12th
Dear Mrs. Skeffington Could mama see you at any
time. We went up to your house but you were out.
Papa, before he died, sent out a message to Mr.
Skeffington. not knowing that he was dead. We were
unable to tell him so until last night, when we paid
our last visit to him. Mama would like to see you. With deepest regards & sympathy
I am
Most Sincerely Yours
Nora Connolly.
Letter from Nora Connolly (1893-1981) to Hanna Sheehy Skeffington (1877-1946) requesting
that Hanna visit her mother. Nora tried to call into Hanna previously but was unsuccessful.
This letter was posted on the day of James Connolly's execution, May 12th 1916.
Nora Connolly was a socialist activist, member of Na Fianna Éireann's Belfast branch,
and the principal organiser of Cumann na mBan's Belfast branch. This branch was noted
for the equality awarded to its members as female volunteers carried out similar roles
as to male Volunteers, including rifle practice and drill. After the Rising, Nora
left for America to find work and spoke there about the republican cause.
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.