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Drennan Letters 1775-1793. A transcription by Maria, Ruth and Dorothy Duffin. Unpublished

Currency:EUR Category:Collectibles / Historical Memorabilia Start Price:270.00 EUR Estimated At:300.00 - 400.00 EUR
Drennan Letters 1775-1793. A transcription by Maria, Ruth and Dorothy Duffin. Unpublished

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Auction Date:2011 Apr 16 @ 13:00 (UTC+1)
Location:The Freemasons Hall - 17 Molesworth Street, Dublin, Dublin, ., Ireland
Drennan Letters 1775-1793. A transcription by Maria, Ruth and Dorothy Duffin. Unpublished
typesript, cloth bound, two vols., pp304 and pp348
27 by 21cm., 10.5 by 8.25in.

Foreword signed 'Ruth Duffin', a poem by John Swanwick Drennan 'On Reading Some Old Letters,' reproductions of portraits, a family tree, a dramatis personae, and notes. In later editions (Chart and Luddy/Agnew) the sequence of letters commences in 1776. The original letters are in the Public Records Office Northern Ireland (PRONI). A typed extract from a letter from Mrs. Duffin to her daughter Molly on August 5th 1918 attached to the bottom of page 7 reads: "I am writing this in the morning, a very unusual occurrence but the truth is I am out of a job. The old letters are finished as far as I can go, and the worst re-typed. Now they only await Ruth's revising hand over the latter half of them. Whether afterwards they retire into oblivion again, or see the light of day, is on the knees of the Gods, and can't be decided till after the war”. The Drennan letters consist of correspondence between William Drennan (1754-1820) and his sister 'Matty' Martha McTier (1742-1837). Both were ardent supporters of the Catholic Emancipation and the United Irishmen, William being one of the founders of the United Irishmen. He retired from the organisation before the Rebellion of 1798. According to the foreword to this transcript by Ruth Duffin about 1000 letters have been preserved - they give a vivid picture of the social and political life of Ireland during the period 1775 -1820, including an account of Dublin before the Union, as well as notes on Lord Edward Fitzgerald, the Emmets, Rowan Hamilton, Henry Grattan, Wolfe Tone and others. This typescript appears never to have been published. The authors were the granddaughters of William Drennan - daughters of John Swanwick (1809-1893) and his wife Emma Hincks, John being the youngest son of William Drennan and Sarah Swanwick. A unique and very interesting document.