Letter from Desmond FitzGerald to Mabel FitzGerald, 30 December 1915 Letters 1916-1923 Desmond FitzGerald

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This letter is from politician and intellectual Desmond FitzGerald (1888-1947) to his wife Mabel FitzGerald (née Washington McConnell) (1884-1958). Desmond FitzGerald had served in the GPO during the Easter Rising, being placed in charge of the garrison's food supply. He initially escaped arrest after the Rising but was soon rounded up and imprisoned in Dartmoor, Maidstone, Lewes and Portland. This letter was written while Desmond was held in Mountjoy. He refers largely to family. friends and daily life, in particular his mother. He also asks for news on colleagues and refers to George Bernard Shaw and Cathal Brugha among others.

 University College Dublin Archives FitzGerald Papers, P80/1540/1 https://letters1916.ie/item/5592 English Desmond FitzGerald 1915-12-26 H. M. Prison, Mountjoy, Dublin Mabel FitzGerald Male 1947 Politics Easter Rising Ireland 1916

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 PC. 26/12/15P80/1540(1) Form 21. In Replying to this Letter, please Address the Envelope as follows:—A. D. Number 1817 Name Thos. D. Fitzgerald2988/1902 Stage III H. M. Prison, Mountjoy. The following regulation as to communications, by visit or letter, betweenprisoners and their friends, are notified for the information of their correspondents. The permission to write and receive letters is given to prisoners for the pur—pose of enabling them to keep a connection with their respectable friends and notthat they may be kept informed of public events. All letters are read by the Prison Authorities. They must be legibly writtenand not crossed. Any which are of any objectionable tendency, either to or fromprisoners, or containing slang, or improper expressions, will be suppressed. Prisoners are permitted to receive and to write a letter at intervals, whichdepend on the rules of the stage they attain by industry and good conduct; butmatters of special importance to a prisoner may be communicated at any time byletter (prepaid) to the Governor who will inform the prisoner thereof if expedient. In case of misconduct, the privilege of receiving and writing a letter may beforfeited for a time. Money, Books, Postage Stamps, Food Tobacco, Clothes, &c., should not besent to prisoners, for their use in prison, as nothing is allowed to be received at thePrison for that purpose. Persons attempting to clandestinely communicate with, or to introduce anyarticle to or for prisoners, are liable to fine or imprisonment, and any prisonerconcerned in such practices is liable to be severely punished. Prisoners' friends are sometimes applied to by unauthorised persons, to sendmoney, &c., to them privately, under pretence that they can apply it for the benefitof the prisoners, and under such fraudulent pretence, such persons endeavour toobtain money for themselves. Any letter containing such an application, receivedby the friends of a prisoner, should be at once forwarded by them to the Governor. Prisoners are allowed to receive visits from their friends, according to rules,at intervals which depend on their stage. When visits are due to prisoners, notification will be sent to the friends whomthey desire to visit them. (6209) Wt.2774—7.10,000.7/15.A.T.& Co., Ltd.(Sch. 139.) , CAM I am departing from our arrangement and writing first, as,on consideration I find it answers best. I was so thrilled and so delightedand so moved to see all my dear ones in the wee room together, that mymind was bemused, and I forgot whatever I had to say. Also this letteris for all or of you, and I want it to reach you while Kate andmy dear mother are still there. Write to me me when they go, let themboth write, and incorporate their letters. Type your letter, and allletters. You may know how wonderful it was for me to see you all. My dearmother whom I hadn't seen for so long. I was so glad to see her lookingso well and in such good spirits. I know she will enjoy herselfin Soretto Villas. It is rather a grief to me to miss their stay there, but if I hadbeen free they wouldn't have come, and I am looking forward to ourtrip to them. You know how much that will mean to me. You might warnmy mother not to be too persistent in singing your praises when she goesto see the twins. It may tend to get on Lottie's nerves. My mother mightlike to go to see if there is any trace of the house she lived in as achild. I shd. like to see it myself. You asked me if I wanted anything.I forgot to say, bootlaces, a card of balshelars buttons, and acouple of studs (back & front) I don't need them immediately, but itis well to forestall the want. Also leave in some money for me. Itwill be kept in the f office for me. There is always the possibilitythat I might need to send a wire. Or I might be released a few daysbefore my time expires as Dyer & Pym were. And if my dear one shouldn't bethere to meet me, I shall want to have tram fares, and the price ofchampagne & oysters — and a few chocolates. It was a pity aboutMiss Leáin but circumstances were particularly untoward.Send her to Mrs P. where she may still be useful. I was glad Dwyerwent to you. I didn't gather whether he stayed the night, and overChristmas. Tell me all about her his visit when you write. Also afull account of all visits. O'Rahilly's, O'Connors — and all the rest of them.Also I shall like to hear all about Flora. It is hard luck on Ciss thatshe has her staying with her, but I shall like to hear how she got onin Berlin. Is her husband still over there, Is he interned and howwas she and how is he treated. I am glad you got the charming letterThe writer was a very particular friend of mine as he probably told youwrite nicely him, and send him the book. Have you heard from G.B. Shaw?Or from Lizzie or College Green House at all? Tell Blythe, Seán, Eimar,O'Rahilly, &c that I want their news. Let it be incorporated. Also a fullaccount of the Kerry turkey & all Kerry news. I am sorry that T.O'Donnellobjects to my patronymic. I hope to make it to MacGearailt someday.It is a coincidense that Lord F. FitzG. was sent to Bray and TomHuggard to Dingle. Get all London League news from France, and all localnews from Kate — news of J. Lane. Cissie Gogarty &c, & incorporateyou will of course convey my homage to Mrs Somers — Mrs & Mr MacCarthy&c & incorporate all Bray news. I know the family will enjoy their stay, andmy absence need not worry them and I as it won't be long to the great reunionat Easter. About the moving — don't forget the bicycle condition attachingto it — I suppose you will not want to be too near the centre of the city becauseof the children. Don't undertake to beg a rent as it is a pity to pay out a Letters must be legibly written December 30th 1915 Date lot of money for that. I am sorry that the brunt of the removal will again fall on youthough rather glad that you are the one to choose the house. The poor oldfurniture gets an awful amount of knocking about. I hope the removal won't betoo expensive. I am sorry the family aren't enthusiastic about Piaraisinbut I am sure they will be before they go. I can't conceive of anything more delight—ful & lovable than the wee son. Of course they always loved Dem. HowthankfuI I am that the darling is spared & is so well, God bless him. I shall be inter—ested to get his present, though I doubt if it will satisfy a much felt needas did his last present to me. Tell him his daddy thinks of him & prays for him.I offered my communions on Xmas & the next day, Sunday, for my dear ones gatheredin 2 Loretto Villas. I thought my mother Kate & France all looked well. I know youwill take great care of my dear mother while she is there, you know howinexpressably dear she is to me. As I said before it is a grief to me to miss Christmasin Bray, but the great reunion is very Thrilling to think about. By the wayburning or smoking is a singularly objectionable habit, — the one thing thattends to irritate me, as you know. I am sure that France will agree that the under you atones for the under me at Kilmolin. He will haveto be explain the matter the to his friend Crowley. The house where Kate stayedin Bray is at the Top of high St. about the begining of the Killarney Road. It iscalled The Cottage, and is shut off from the road. Have you received the papers fromMr Moloney. If not, apply to him again and if he then refuses, let me know & Iwill ask for permission to write to him formally authorising him to give all belongingsboth to you and to me, back to you. By the way on the memorable occasion of mytrip home I heard nothing but the continual crash of china in the kitchen. Wasanything left unbroken? Warn Eileen & Maggie, that the man in the next cell to mineis doing 2 months for breaking delph. I gathered from you that Mrs O'Shea hadwritten to you. Look up all the letters you received extract such items of news as arelikely to interest me — subject to conditions on page I. Remove all slang andimpropriety. There are many humourous incidents here wh. I am afraid I shallhave forgotten & before I leave here. By the way there is one prisoner here with acharming face — very reminiscent of Conroy's. There is another — not a star man— whose face is like a caricature of Marroussia's. By the way write toMargarita, if you have her last address. You can easily explain delayby the deportation. Is there any sign of Miss Allen about? As my mother& France were surprised at my unshaven condition, I wonder what they wouldhave said had they seen me before I had the clips. I hope Deirdre will performthat commission promptly. You see I am so little put about my gaol that Ican still be worried the by other people's troubles. It will be you businessas boss of cumann na mban to see that MacCabe is looked after. I hope heso, I get great satisfaction out of Lecky. I am in Vol 2. By the way, amongthe victorians I have been reading was John Halifax, gentleman. Sentimentalistbut with much charm, and much more sincerity & real emotion than onewould expect. I am not reading of of Wilkie Collins. Read Barchester Towersif you come across it. It might have been written with the last decade— by Henry James — extraordinarily amusing. It and the plum duffmade a really enjoyable Xmas for me. I really laughed at it. Perhapsthe close confinement tends to make me more easily amused. I rememberhow the mother abbess of the Poor Clares at Arundel used to be convulsedat the most famous jokes that Kate and I told through the grating.By the way have you met Pearse? Remember me to T. MacDonagh if yousee him. Also incorporate MacCarthy & Pardin G Ryan, if theycare to be incorporated. I have now your letter to look forward to,then the next visit & so on till I am with you once more. And I candream about the great reunion at Easter. I hope you sent my presentto Gerald. I hope to get a full account of on the ruled lines and not crossed. Dem's Tree. I hope he has been good at it. What children came?gap/>gap/>It is hard luck on Plunkett to have us move so soon. See that theremoval is carried out carefully so as not to injure the paperin the rooms that were recently done up. Tell Eileen to saythe prayers with Dem. He used to know the , m , & the . She might teach him such others as areused by the children in Kerry. Remember me to the MissGriffins when you see them, also Campbells, Geoghegan, HigginsTannam, J. Kenny, Richard in Cleary's (Bacon counter) and allothers. Have you heard from Austin Stack at all? If you thinkwell of it you might write to Lespinasse — His last addresswas, 55, Rue des Abbesses — or to his father's address — There isa letter or visiting card to somewhere among my papers withhis address — Mons. Georges Lespinasse. I should likemy mother and Kate to hear the 'Battle of Stepney'. Did you knowthat the day of the visit I had been in prison as long as Blythe? I hope thatFrance has got back safely and unmolested by submarines. I hope heenjoyed his trip it is a pity it had to be so short for him. It willbe very exciting to me to come out to a new house. I think that apartfrom other considerations it is well for you to have the movingdone while I am still here. The reason will be obvious to you.Did you tell my mother Mrs Reddin's remark at the picture show. It is the sort of thing my mother likes to hear. By the way did youever meett that Miss O'Connor who was at Rooney's, & who lives next doorbut one to you? I hope you neighbours are nice to my dear one.Is Mrs H. very sympathetic? I hope Eileen is improving Dem'sIrish. It really seemed to me to be improved that night I washome, even when he was half delirious. I wish I had a map ofDublin, so as to have some of idea of the various districts in whichwe are to live. Is Deirdre making any sort of hit in her theatricalcareer? Have you been to the theatre or to any or concerts or otherentertainments? Do you remember the 'turn', at the Bray Picturehouse that Eimer & I thought was amusing. I must say that thecaricature had a great deal more the truth in it than I thought atthe time. I expect you will get this on new year's day. I wish mydear ones all a Blovez mad. That brings to my mind.I wonder how she is getting on poor soul. I dont imagine things arevery flourishing with her. Have you seen Eilis Ward & Maggie Smiththere was a mi—ádh on their visit. Do you ever see C. Brugh? This pageis drawing to an end, & I know that when I have finished I shall have somuch more to say. I shall look forward to a great letter from you.And I shall begin to look for it about a week after you get this. Didyou get 'The Mikolo' from Sean. If he had mislaid it, their is ams copy, not typed, I suppose with Dem's illness you weren't able todo much in the way of negotiating those other mss. Did you hear from theNaturins at Xmas? I saw Mr Webb here the other day. He is apparentlyProtestant chaplain. He didn't see me, and couldn't have spoken hadhe wanted to. About your next visit, bring Blythe or Sean or Eimar orDolly — after all the third party gets very little say, as you have somuch to say to me and I to you. Have as good a time as you can. Go to everythingyou can manage. Has there been anything interesting at the theatres? Haveyou heard from P.S.H. I hope his married life runs smoothly. I amabout to read the 'Egoist'. It will last me over the week and Whendoos PyrisSecties Erigma appear. I wish it luck. And when his new organ? Ishall hope to appear in that myself. Have you heard any more from MrsRita FitzGerald? When you are choosing the house, use your ownjudgement, and suit your own taste in the matter. I shall not doubt I shall come out so affectionate and so very unquarrelsomethat I shall be quite convinced that everything you do and have doneis perfect. I pity my poor dear having all the packing to do. But it shd. be amuch simpler matter than the last. Let your letter be very comprehensive.Tell my mother that I am very fond of her, and looking forward to the greatreunion. I look for news from dear Kate incorporated. Tell Dem I amgoing to be a very kind daddy but I hope he will make it easy for me by beinggood. Bless him & . Goodbye my darling. Desmond Fitzgerald H. M. Prison, Mountjoy, Dublin Letter from Charles Arthur Munro to Mabel FitzGerald, 22 February 1916Letter from Charles Arthur Munro to Mabel FitzGerald, 21 March 1916Letter from Charles Arthur Munro to Mabel FitzGerald, 24 March 1916Letter from Desmond FitzGerald to Mabel FitzGerald, 7 March 1916Letter from Desmond FitzGerald to Mabel FitzGerald, 30 December 1915 Letter from Desmond FitzGerald to Mabel FitzGerald, 8 February 1916 Desmond FitzGerald Letter from Desmond FitzGerald to Mabel FitzGerald, 8 November 1915Letter from Desmond FitzGerald to Arthur Patrick O'Brien, 26 June 1916Letter from Desmond FitzGerald to Mabel FitzGerald, 7 March 1916Letter from Desmond FitzGerald to Mabel FitzGerald, 30 December 1915 Letter from Desmond FitzGerald to Mabel FitzGerald, 8 February 1916 Mabel FitzGerald Letter from Margaret Pearse to Mabel FitzGerald, 16 July, 1916.Letter from Neans bean í Rathgaille (Nancy O'Rahilly) to Mabel FitzGerald, circa 26 May 1916.Letter from Nancy O'Rahilly to Mabel FitzGerald, May 1916.Letter from Caitlín Burgess to Mabel FitzGerald, 1 June 1916.Letter from Desmond FitzGerald to Mabel FitzGerald, 8 November 1915Postcard from Mabel Fitzgerald to Hanna Sheehy Skeffington, 28 February 1916Letter from Charles Arthur Munro to Mabel FitzGerald, 22 February 1916Letter from Charles Arthur Munro to Mabel FitzGerald, 21 March 1916Letter from Charles Arthur Munro to Mabel FitzGerald, 24 March 1916Letter to Mabel FitzGerald, 1916Letter from T.M. Healy to Mabel FitzGerald, 24 May 1916Letter from Mabel FitzGerald, 24 May 1916Letter from John Dillon to Mabel FitzGerald, 24 May 1916Letter from John Dillon to Mabel FitzGerald, 24 May 1916Letter from Anna O'Rahilly to Mabel FitzGerald, 25 May 1916Letter from John Brosnan to Mabel FitzGerald, 25 May 1916Letter from John Muldoon to Mabel FitzGerald, 26 May 1916Letter from T.J. Hanna to Mabel FitzGerald, 26 May 1916Letter from Laurence Ginnell to Mabel FitzGerald, 26 May 1916Letter from Julia Evans to Mabel FitzGerald, 13 May 1916Letter from Captain, Richmond Barracks to Mabel FitzGerald, 14 May 1916Letter from J.H.G. Stantin to Mabel FitzGerald, 20 May 1916Letter from R.F. Sergeant probably to Mabel FitzGerald, 21 May 1916Letter from Mabel FitzGerald to Brigadier General, Richmond Barracks, 22 May 1916Letter from Nancy Campbell to Mabel FitzGerald, 23 May 1916Letter from George Bernard Shaw to Mabel FitzGerald, 25 May 1916Letter from W. Goodman to Mabel FitzGerald, 12 April 1916.Telegram from Superintendent of Police, Kingstown to Mabel FitzGerald, 10 May 1916.Letter from Mabel FitzGerald, 10 May 1916Letter from Mabel FitzGerald to the Governor of Richmond Barracks, 11 May 1916Letter from Mabel FitzGerald to John Redmond, 27 May 1916.Letter from Annie F. to Mabel FitzGerald, 27 May 1916.Letter from Robert Lynch to Mabel FitzGerald, 28 May 1916.Letter from John Redmond to Mabel FitzGerald, 29 May 1916.Letter from Caitlín Ní Shéaghda to Mabel FitzGerald, 30 May 1916.Letter from the Major E. Reade to Mabel FitzGerald, 31 May 1916Letter from Harry Stockman to Mabel FitzGerald, 31 May 1916.Letter from R.C. Barton to Mabel FitzGerald, 1 June 1916.Letter from R. C. Barton to Mabel FitzGerald, 21 May 1916.Letter from Mabel FitzGerald to the Governor, Mountjoy Prison, 2 June 1916.Letter from Máire Ní Catháin to Mabel FitzGerald, 3 June 1916.Letter from Austin Stack to Mabel FitzGerald, 4 June 1916.Letter from the Charles Arthur Munro, the Governor of Mountjoy Prison, to Mabel FitzGerald, 5 June 1916.Letter from Ernest Blythe to Mabel FitzGerald, 8 June 1916.Letter from M.B. McDonough to Mabel FitzGerald, 16 June 1916.Letter from Major E. Reade to Mabel FitzGerald, 20 June 1916.Letter from Major E. Reade to Mabel FitzGerald, 5 July 1916.Letter from Major E. Reade to Mabel FitzGerald, 10 July 1916.Letter from Major E. Reade to Mabel FitzGerald, 15 Jult 1916.Letter from Major E. Reade to Mabel FitzGerald, 20 July 1916.Letter from Major E. Reade to Mabel FitzGerald 4 August, 1916.Letter from The Governor, Dartmoor Prison to Mabel FitzGerald, 18 August 1916.Letter from Charles Arthur Munro to Mabel FitzGerald, 24 November 1915Letter from Mabel FitzGerald [June 1916]Letter from Desmond FitzGerald to Mabel FitzGerald, 7 March 1916Letter from Desmond FitzGerald to Mabel FitzGerald, 30 December 1915 Letter from Desmond FitzGerald to Mabel FitzGerald, 8 February 1916Letter from Mabel FitzGerald to the Governor, Dartmoor Prison, 22 June 1916.