WHYTE'S THE ECLECTIC COLLECTOR 15/16 MAY 2021

78 Kevin Barry 173 1920 (31 October) Kevin Barry’s last letter, written to Kathleen Carney. Kevin Barry, thanks Kathleen for her letter. He says he had quite a busy day (Sunday 31 October, though he mistakenly dates the letter “Sun. 30-10-20”. “ I had a visit from a most effusive young lady whom I didn’t know from Adam. She knew all about me however. She wept but she meant well” He mentions visits from two Sisters of Charity, the chaplain, Father Albert, two Bon Secours sisters, and finished up with the chaplain again. “The boys from the college were up outside the gate and they said the Rosary. They also sang ‘the Soldier’s Song’ which did me more good than you can imagine”. He goes on to encourage Kathleen to keep in touch with “Jerry and the boys” . “I believe the usual thing done in my case is to make a speech......but I couldn’t be serious long enough to do it. besides anyone who ever knew me would never believe that I wrote it”. He finishes “Say a little prayer when I cash in, your pal, Kevin”. Less than 12 hours after he wrote this letter he was hanged until dead, in accordance with the sentence of the Court Martial. He was 18 years of age. 4 pages on one sheet folded, written in indelible pencil. 8.25 by 4.50in. (21 by 11.4cm) Condition: Folded, very good. Provenance: Kathleen Margaret Gogarty, née Carney (1900-1957); Gifted to the family of Kevin Barry; Thence by descent to the present owner. Literature: Eunan O’Halpin, Kevin Barry, An Irish Rebel In Life And Death, Merrion Press, 2020, pp110-111 Kathleen Carney is described as “a very great friend of ours, who was also a very great friend of James McMahon’s family - she had been at school with his daughters in Roscrea” - from Bureau of Military History Document W.S. 731 Statement by Witness Mrs Katharine Barry-Moloney, sister of Kevin Barry. Kathleen Margaret Carney was born in 1900 in Johnstown Bridge, Co. Kildare, so would have been about 20 years old when this letter was written. In 1925 she married Vincent Joseph Gogarty (1893-1963), born in Drogheda ,Co. Louth. She died in 1957. Estimate €60,000-€80,000 (approx £52,170-£69,570) Click here for more images and to bid on this lot 173