1
79, Alderly Road
Hoylake May 13 '16 Dear Mrs Skeffington Will you allow me
to offer you my heartfelt
and respectful sympathy
in your tragic sorrow
. Also that of
my sister. and to
say also how much
we admire your
own fortitude and
2
self-restraint in
this black agony. I cannot attempt
to say what I
would but I should
take it as a
great favour if
you would let me
know at once
are you in need
of money and if
there is anything
I can do. If you should
3
have to come to
England or your sisters
I hope you would
let us put you up. We met you and
your always? one over
and over again at
the Fierd Nationalists
Club in there happy
far off days — I am
sure that in some
way his martyr's
crown will be a
crown. A joy for
Ireland — Do let
4
me be of a little
use if it is at
all possible. and
believe that we
share your grief
and mourning.
God bless you and
comfort you Your sincere friend
Sympathies
C.H Wheeler Ryan.
In this letter from C.H. Wheeler Ryan to Hanna Sheehy Skeffington (1877-1946), Wheeler
Ryan offers their sympathy in regards to the murder of Hanna's husband, Francis. Wheeler
Ryan writes telling Hanna to please ask if she requires anything, specifically to
assure her that if she visits England they would be happy to put her up. Wheeler Ryan
recounts their days together in the Field Naturalists Club and closes with a final
expression of sympathy.
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.