History, Literature & Collectibles 17 october 2015

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231
1918 (30 February) Letter by Sean MacEntee
sent from Gloucester Prison relating to the 1918
General Election
2pp manuscript to Paddy” Conroy. Mentions “poor Frank
Lough”, discounts rumours that Irish prisoners are to
get released soon, which “probably emanate from The
Freeman and kindred circles with a view to influencing
the Election against us”. Scarce. Letters from MacEntee
are rarely seen.”
Seán MacEntee (1889 – 1984) was an Irish republican
politician. He was sentenced to death for his part in the
1916 Rising, but the sentence was commuted to life
imprisonment. In the War of Independence he was a
Commandant in the Belfast Brigade of the IRA. Later, in
a career that spanned over forty years as a Fianna Fáil
Teachta Dála, MacEntee was one of the most important
figures in post-independence Ireland. He served in the
governments of Éamon de Valera and Seán Lemass
in a range of ministerial positions, including Finance,
Industry and Commerce, and Health. He was a member
of every Fianna Fáil cabinet from 1932 to April 1965. He
served as Tánaiste of Ireland from 1959 to 1965. At the
time of his death, he was the last surviving member of
the First Dáil of 1919..
10 x 8in. (25.40 x 20.32cm)
Estimate €200-€300 £150-£220
232
1918-23: Hannah Condon Cleary, Anglesboro,
Cumann na mBan statement of active service.
An interesting manuscript written by Hannah Condon
Cleary, detailing her service and activities during the War
of Independence and Civil War as a commanding officer
with Cumann na mBan. Includes details of fund raising,
selling badges, supplying prisoners, etc., 4pp. Together
with manuscript letter, 20 July, 1954, fromW. J. Crawford,
Ballylanders Old IRA, inviting Mrs Cleary to an unveiling
of a memorial by President O’Ceallaigh.
12_ x 6in. (31_ x 15.24cm)
Estimate €150-€200 £110-£150
233
Ginnell, Laurence. The Irish Republic. Why?
Together with Ginnell’s autograph translation of a Spanish poem ‘Elegy to a Primrose’ and accompanying letter dated
30 May, 1949 from Alice Ginnell to Mr J. McGeown, Statistics Bureau, Lower Castle Yard, Dublin and a letter 21 April
1942 from Dan Breen. Also three other pamphlets, Easter 1916, The Story of the Rising; Mansergh, Nicholas, Britain and
Ireland, 1943, Longmans; and Duggan, G.C., A United Ireland, 1954, The Irish Times. (6)
Estimate €150-€200 £110-£150
234
1918 - 1922 Political Handbills
Can Ireland Stand alone? Is She Rich Enough to Set Up
as Independent Nation?”; “First National Loan Invitation
to Make Subscriptions”; “The English murderer at Work”;
“Mountjoy Atrocity Will the Irish People Stand for This?”
“Instructions to Sinn Fein Cumainn Regarding Pro-
gramme of Work, 1921-22.” (5)”
Estimate €100-€150 £70-£110