Letter from Sister M. Cyprian to Sinéad de Valera, 29 May 1916 Letters 1916-1923 Sister M. Cyprian

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A letter to Sinéad de Valera (1878-1975) from Sister M. Cyprian. In this letter Sister Cyprian sympathises with Mrs. de Valera on her husband's imprisonment. She is praying daily for his release and return to his family. She encloses a letter and a pair of scapulars which she asks Mrs. de Valera to give to her husband. Finally she asks Mrs.de Valera to bring her children to visit her at the Convent (Mercy, Cork St., Dublin) - a visit which, apparently, had been promised by her husband before his incarceration. Sinéad de Valera (née O'Flanagan), author and teacher, was the wife of Éamon de Valera (1882-1975). After the Rising, Sinéad was pregnant and without an income while her husband was in prison, and was forced to return to the family home in Phibsboro to care for her invalid sister and mother. Throughout much of the ensuing political upheaval she saw little of her husband, who was either imprisoned or on the run.

 University College Dublin Archives De Valera Papers, P150/531/1 https://letters1916.ie/item/5807 English Sister M. Cyprian 1916-05-29 Cork Street, Dublin, Ireland Sinéad de Valera Female Easter Rising Ireland 1916 Easter Rising Ireland 1916

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 Mercy Convent, Cork Street, Dublin 29.5.16 My dear Mrs De Valera, I sympathize with you more than I can tell in your present troubles & loneliness. It is a deep draught of consolation that Mr. De Valera has the gift of life, that it is rescued for Him who has given it to withdraw it — and D.V your husband will enjoy a long life with you yet. When things quiet down he will be released very soon. God will never refuse our prayers for this — I trust him fully. Since 1st May I pray every day at Mass & Holy Communion at 6.30 each evening I say the 30 days prayer to our B. Lady and I hope to begin the '9 First Fridays' on 2nd June . I promise you to continue praying & to get all the prayers I can till I hear of Mr. De Valera's return home. Of cource you must feel the seperation keenly but when a man's only crime is his love for Ireland — it's a glorious crime In awaiting the sentence I consoled myself with the conviction that a man with his handwriting would never be executed. We have got this much & it is already a big grace — so let us hope for all our desires in this matter — viz — that your husband may be home very verysoon I do not know what the rules about letters are in this present circumstances but I enclose a letter & a pair of scapulars for Mr. De Valera — as I have used not seditious language I can't see that he should be refused to have them. However if you think there would be no chance of his receiving then you can burn the letter & please tell him I have at least made this attempt. Mr. De Valera had promised to bring Vivian to see me in Easter week. I should love to see the children — any Sunday after next Sunday would be convenient — perhaps you may be able to bring them some time. Please give B. Flanagan kind remembrance & tell her I quite recollect her doing Pancratius at an entertainment in Carysfort Good bye. Love to the little children. Believe me my dear Mrs De Valera you have my very deepest - sympathy - I trust & hope for the very best - & we shall obtain it - Very sincerely yours in Jesus Christ Sr. M. Cyprian Sister M. Cyprian Letter from Sister M. Cyprian to Éamon de Valera, 30 May 1916.Letter from Sister M. Cyprian to Sinéad de Valera, 29 May 1916 Sinéad de Valera Letter from Éamon de Valera to Sinéad de Valera, c. April 1916Letter from Sinéad de Valera to Margaret Flanagan, 24 July 1916Letter from Sister M. Cyprian to Sinéad de Valera, 29 May 1916 Cork Street, Dublin, Ireland Letter from Sister M. Cyprian to Sinéad de Valera, 29 May 1916