File 6 - Letters from Roger Casement

A bound volume containing original letters from Roger Casement to Fr. Richard Henebry. The volume has a gilt title to spine which reads ‘Roger Casement to Dr. Henebry’. The letters refer to the Irish national movement, the language revival, and contemporary political matters. Casement writes ‘You should get “United Irishmen” for Dec. 9th, this week’s issue – and read Griffith’s speech to the delegates of the National Council. He touches the right note I think – and the historic truth of the economical aspect of our country’s plight is sound’ (8 Dec. 1905). In another letter, Casement refers to James Ward who is imprisoned in Castlebar in County Mayo and to efforts to establish an ‘Irish training college – a school rather, for Ulster Irish and Ulster teachers’ (5 Feb. 1906). Casement added ‘Some one writing as “Sinn Fein II” wrote up your “Urbs Intacta” in the “United Irishmen” of 3rd March. It is a terrible pity Waterford should have so little Irish spirit. It was not ever thus’. A letter of 19 March 1906 refers to a ‘great concert’ in Covent Garden Opera House organised by the Gaelic League. He adds ‘I wish I could help you in Waterford. You must be in a shoneen place … The Catholic shoneen is far worse than the Protestant – for the latter there is a historical, or often recent justification and his environment has so acted on him that he thinks his very patriotism – such that it is – is rather British than Irish – for the Catholic shoneen there is no such legitimate excuse’. Reference is also made to the South Dublin election and to the libel action against Arthur Griffith. A letter of 16 Oct. 1907 refers to Casement’s subscription for Ring College (Coláiste na Rinne) in County Waterford which he sent to Henebry while he was in Brazil.