October 2025: Letter from Daniel Cohalan, Bishop of Cork, to Mary MacSwiney, expressing condolences on her brother's death, 26 October 1920
Born in Cork and educated at North Monastery Christian Brothers’ School and the Royal University of Ireland, Terence MacSwiney was a founder member of the Cork Celtic Literary Society in 1901 and, with Daniel Corkery, of the Cork Dramatic Society in 1908, for which he wrote several plays. A principal figure in the formation of the Irish Volunteers in Cork in 1913, he was employed as a full-time organiser from 1915 and elected to the First Dáil as member for Mid-Cork.
After the murder of Tomás MacCurtain in March 1920, MacSwiney was elected Lord Mayor of Cork. Arrested under the Defence of the Realm Act in August 1920 and sentenced to two years imprisonment, he embarked on a hunger strike in Brixton Jail and died on 24 October. A book of essays, Principles of Freedom, was published posthumously in New York in 1921.
This collection, P48b, is part of a larger collection of papers deposited in UCD Archives by Máire MacSwiney Brugha (MacSwiney’s daughter) and her husband Ruarai Brugha in November 1979. The collection has been divided into three parts. P48a consists of the papers of Mary MacSwiney, P48b of the papers of Terence MacSwiney, while P48c include the working papers and correspondence of Terence MacSwiney's biographers, Etienette Beuque and Moirin Chevasse.
P48B/630 Letter from Daniel Cohalan, Bishop of Cork, to Mary MacSwiney, Sister of Terence MacSwiney, expressing condolences on his death, 26 October 1920
Transcription:
Farranferris
Cork.
26 October 1920
Dear Miss McSwiney [sic]
The struggle is over and the sacrifice of what is dearest, viz. life, has been made for Ireland, and yet I offer you again my deepest sympathy at the death of your dear and heroic brother. I never thought the Government would allow Terry die until I saw them allow the poor fellows in gaol here to die. Then I feared the worst. Though you knew and approved of Terry’s determination to face death rather than submit to the enemy yet his death must be a great blow to you. After the weary weeks of waiting the end is a great sorrow to you all. I sympathise heartily with yourself, your sister and your brothers.
I said Mass for Terry this morning. I am sure he will have a lot of Masses offered for him throughout Ireland.
We have no information yet about the funeral arrangements here. I got a wire late last night from Bishop Amigo asking me to come and sing the Requiem Mass in Southwark Cathedral on tomorrow, Wednesday. I could not possibly do it, and I wired to him this morning that I could not possibly come. I hope that Father Dominic or some one will give timely notice of the programme for Cork. Of course there will be a requiem Mass in Cathedral as in the Case of Mr McCurtain [sic].
There is great grief at Terry’s death, great sympathy for you and your sister and above all for Muriel; and barring military interference there will be a great manifestation of appreciation and sympathy at the funeral.
Believe me
Yours most sympathetically
+ Daniel Cohalan
Bishop of Cork