Prison Letters from Diarmuid Lynch. May 1916.
(Article and page under research & construction 07.02.16)
Following the surrender, Diarmuid Lynch as James Connolly's aide-de-camp led his stretcher bearer party under armed military guard to Dublin Castle. There, he and the others attending Connolly were arrested and held in Richmond Barracks and Kilmainham Jail, Dublin.
These are images and transcripts of letters which Diarmuid wrote on anything that was available to him. These include pieces of brown paper bags and little scraps of paper that were written on secretly in pencil or borrowed fountain pens and smuggled out of both prisons to family members. These survive a century later in family archives.
Sunday 6 May, 1916.
Richmond Barracks, Dublin. Letter from Diarmuid to his brother, Denis. 1 Written from Block L, Room 4 Richmond Barracks, Dublin 2 Transcript: "Enjoying myself here among old friends. Hope to be free soon when I can explain a lot of things which I'm sure are a puzzle to you. A vest & overcoat would be very wlecome. Love to Alice 3 & self & all at home. Diarmuid Hope you got the letter I left." 4 Footnotes: 1 2 3 4 Thanks to Brid Duggan |
21 May, 1916. Kilmainham Jail This long note on a segment of brown paper bag was written by Diarmuid Lynch in Kilmainham Jail on Sunday, May 21st. 1916 and was smuggled out to his brother, Denis Lynch. The note is one of a number in family archives that were smuggled from Richmond Barracks and Kilmainham following the Rising but unlike the others, is written in pencil. Eileen McGough, author of "Diarmuid Lynch - A Forgotten Irish Patriot" Mercier Press 2013 deciphered and transcribed most of Lynch's handwriting and the note from jail reads as following: Transcript: Kilmainham 1 Sunday May 21.16 My Dear Denis and Alice, I dare say you know of the visit I had here of Mary and Nora. I got my sentence last night - perhaps it is in today’s papers - death commuted to ten years. I expected something like that from the attitude of the ‘Court’ at my trial. I requested that the American Consul should be present thereat but they would not wait. They sent for him and allowed him to look over the summary of the evidence as made out by the presiding officer. I did not attempt to deny the main point against me- that I held the rank of Captain in the GPO. Lieut E.L King whom I released from the cellar when they were in great danger from fire and explosions was the only witness produced to show that I participated actively in the fight. I rubbed in that fact but told them I asked for no leniency because of it and did not make it on personal grounds. Partridge T.C. got 15 years (less 5) though little or nothing was proved against him. Colm O’ Gaora of Cong Co Mayo got 15 less 5, though he had no part in the fight -simply because when arrested at his home - a week after we started in Dublin - he had a revolver in his possession and on the oath of two policemen the charge was made that he attempted to shoot the Sergeant which he claims to be an absolute falsehood. Oh Well thank God, all this will have no effect. The consul asked me if he could do anything for me and I said NO. Now however he can do something if he will. My friends in America will put up a fight when they get details. Anyway I’m game- even if I have to put in the full time. I’ m sure Tim will be home soon. As for Mick I dare say they will trump up some special charge against him and give him some time in gaol. Let him get a solicitor. I refused to get any - I knew it would be no use. In fact if I had said nothing in court it may have been better for me, though I suppose they would have had their ‘pound of flesh.’ I believe I go to Mountjoy from here and then to somewhere in -----------? Had I expected to be here so long I would have sent for clean underclothes. I gave some of the tablets to Mick and left [word indecipherable] in my room at Richmond so must depend on the doctor. Hope D [Denis Lynch] got my letter [word indecipherable] at Ship Street. The £1 Alice gave me is now held here in Kilmainham. [Additional notes at the side of 2 of the 4 sections of the note as follows] They have £1 and [word indecipherable] my pipe. Love to you both, Slan libh, Diarmuid, Don’t let it be known that you got a note from me under this date! Footnotes: 1 Kilmainham Jail 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Thanks to Brid Duggan and Eileen McGough. |