Lady Lavery's lyrical waxings of Michael Collins go for auction

NINETY YEARS after Michael Collins signed the Anglo-Irish Treaty in London, a letter from one of his female admirers in the British capital has come to light.

The previously unpublished letter was written by Lady Lavery, who praises his “dignity, pride, wisdom, a wonderful beauty of character and qualities of statesmanship that only a few had begun to recognise”.

Writing to a prospective biographer she expressed her “greatest wish . . . that something should be written about Michael that will be worthy of his greatness of mind and soul” and that would “show the world in the future, just what he meant in his life and death to the Irish people”.

She also described Michael Collins as a man of “gay courage and brilliancy as a romantic figure”. The letter is among Collins-related memorabilia to be auctioned by Mealy’s in Dublin tomorrow.

A spokesman for the rare books auctioneers said in 50 years of business the firm had never before come across a letter written by Lady Lavery.

Hazel Lavery (1886-1935) was a Chicago-born heiress and the second wife of artist Sir John Lavery. The couple lived at Cromwell Place, in Kensington, west London and became close to Michael Collins when he went to the British capital 90 years ago to negotiate the Treaty.

She was a leading hostess in London society and used her establishment connections – including her friendship with Winston Churchill – to act as an unofficial liaison between the British and Irish delegations.

She and her husband hosted dinners for the Irish delegation who were living in rented accommodation in Knightsbridge. She was a noted admirer of Collins and there has long been unsubstantiated speculation that they might have had an affair.

The four-page letter from Lady Lavery was sent to Gen Beasley (Piaras Béaslaí – a veteran of the 1916 Rising and War of Independence) who decided to write a biography of Collins after he was killed in Co Cork in 1922.

In the handwritten letter, Lady Lavery offers to help him with his research in London “in the matter of introductions” and to set up a meeting with Edward Marsh, an official at the Colonial Office.

In 1926 Beasley published his book, Michael Collins and the Making of a New Ireland,to wide acclaim.

Lady Lavery herself became a symbol of the new Ireland as her image was used on banknotes designed by her husband for the Free State government.

Lady Lavery’s letter, which has an estimate of €1,250 to €1,750, will go under the hammer at the auction in the D4Berkeley Hotel in Ballsbridge.