The Joseph Mary Plunkett papers

The National Library of Ireland has put the personal papers of the final two signatories to the Proclamation online. Ronan McGreevy opens the files on Joseph Mary Plunkett

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Letter by Plunkett to his fiancée Grace Gifford, written on pages from his field notebook ‘somewhere on Moore Street’ on the Saturday of the surrender. It concludes: "Darling darling child I wish we were together. Love me always as I love you. For the rest, all you do will please me. I told a few people that I wish you to have everything that belongs to me. This is my last wish so please do see to it. Love xxxxxx Joe" [29th April 1916].

Page one: Letter from the young Plunkett, St. George's College, Weybridge, England, to his mother, with news of his brothers, school life, sporting activities and a fight he was in: "Last evening i had a fight with a big boy about twice my weight - his name is Quin. He had been kicking the football at me (which hurts)...and then when we came down he thought he could do what he liked so he came over and called me a liar. Then I went for him. He hit me on the chest so I gave him three for himself and then he hit me between the eyes so I punched his nose and after that he could not get one in. I gave him 5 on the head and then the bystanders separated us. NB He came over afterwards and shook hands. He did not hurt me at all." [11th December 1904].

Fri Mar 04 2016 - 17:03

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