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Letter from Sinéad de Valera, Greystones, County Wicklow, to Fr. Albert Bibby OFM Cap. referring to the suggestion of holding a ‘national novena to the Sacred Heart’ for the welfare of Ireland.

Letter from Hanna Sheehy Skeffington to Fr. Albert Bibby OFM Cap., expressing her concern on hearing of his serious illness. She affirms that Fr. Albert’s name ‘is treasured by all who know you and who love Ireland and all dear dead who died for her. The widows and sisters of the men of 1916 whom you attended and consoled and of the later martyrs also will always remember you with affection’.

Letters from Kathleen Clarke (wife of Tom Clarke), 15 Barrington Street, Limerick, to Fr. Albert Bibby OFM Cap., mostly concerning family news. She also wrote: ‘Limerick does not agree with me. I am tired all the time here. I have an unsettled feel here too … . I find it hard to realise that my home and everything is gone, the only thing left is hope, and if our hopes for Ireland’s future are fulfilled the sacrifices will have been worth the making’. She also refers to Ernest Blythe: ‘We had hoped for better for him. I suppose he is left Arbour Hill by this and there would be no use in writing to him

Letter from Lillie Connolly [wife of James Connolly], 22 St Patrick’s Road, Drumcondra, to Fr. Albert Bibby OFM Cap., expressing her joy that her son Roderic has started school and has promised to make for ‘lost time’. She also expresses her delight on hearing the ‘little message from the dear Countess [Markievicz]’. She adds ‘I pray and long for the day when she may enjoy her freedom’. With cover.

Letter from Sr Bernard Heuston OP (1889-1960), Dominican Convent, Galway (a sister of Seán Heuston), to Fr. Albert Bibby OFM Cap. thanking him for his remembrance of her brother as the first anniversary of his execution approaches. The letter reads:

‘Dear Fr. Albert
Thank you for your long & interesting letter & above all for your promise of the Mass for poor Jack on Tuesday. I knew that you would not forget him. I can scarcely believe that that awful time is only a year ago & yet in another sense it seems decades away! There seems to be a great many anniversary masses, indeed they seem to have been kept up during the year & I am sure the dear dead ones will obtain many graces for the land they gave their lives for. The number of conversions certainly proves the excellent religious foundation of their patriotism.
I think it does my mother good to have a little chat about Jack sometimes – you sympathise with the cause for which he dies.
I am hoping that when the sad memories of the anniversary have faded somewhat, she will brighten up again – the wound of such a loss will never completely heal.
My mother sent me a list of anniversary Masses – certainly they have got more prayer than most people can dare to expect. The spirit still lives on.
A letter from the Archbishop of Adelaide [the Dublin-born Dominican friar, Robert Spence, 1860-1934] came here yesterday. It was written in or about St. Patrick’s Day & he said that all the meetings held in honour of the Feast were unanimous in their condemnation of the treatment meted out to the Irish by the English government – feeling is strong there.
You must be very pleased by the evident thoroughness of the Countess’ [Markievicz’s] conversion. I shall pray to get prayers for her & for all the others in whom you are interested. Should you be in the west any time during the summer I am sure you will call. I shall be very pleased to see you.
With all kind regards & grateful thanks,
Very sincerely yours
Sr Bernard’

Letter from Áine b. Ė. Ceannt, [wife of Ėamonn Ceannt], 44 Oakley Rd., Ranelagh, noting that ‘it is terrible to find that the rebels at Church St. are not only self-willed but so mightily independent’. She compliments Father Albert for saying the mass in Irish: ‘I felt how pleased poor Eamonn would be’. She gives news of the ailing condition of Muriel MacDonough’s ‘poor soon [who] has to go to a nursing home and lie on his back for months’. She also refers to the North Roscommon by-election and a well-received letter from Fr. Augustine Hayden which was printed in the Roscommon Herald