Correspondence between Mabel Fitzgerald and George Bernard Shaw, 28 November-1 December 1914
Mabel Washington McConnell was born in Belfast on 4 July 1884. Her interest in politics and Irish nationalism, demonstrated initially as a student in Queen’s University Belfast, was reflected in her joining the Gaelic League while working in London. In 1909 she worked as secretary to George Bernard Shaw for several months. She continued to remain friends with Shaw and his wife, maintaining a correspondence for a number of years
It was at the Gaelic League in London, where she met her future husband Desmond Fitzgerald. Desmond and Mabel were married in 1911. In 1913, Desmond and Mabel moved to Irish–speaking west Kerry, where their knowledge of the Irish language was extended further and political links were established with figures such as Ernest Blythe and The O’Rahilly. In January 1915, Desmond was expelled from county Kerry, having convinced the Royal Irish Constabulary that he was signaling to German submarines from his home on the western peninsula.
While in Kerry, Mabel Fitzgerald corresponded with her former employer George Bernard Shaw. In a letter (P80/1551) dated 28 November 1914, she writes to Shaw urging him to turn his attention to the campaign against the National Press in Ireland. ‘I would like to see you moved by a flash of revelation to shake the dust of England off your feet and to put yourself in touch with all that is most advanced in Nationalism here, to work as Roger Casement is doing to make Ireland a Nation before Europe.’ She refers to her opposition to the recruitment of Irishmen to the English army, the speaking of Irish by her son as his native tongue and their residence in an Irish-speaking district; ‘of that I know you won’t approve but you see I haven’t changed a bit since I was with you.’
Shaw’s response (P80/1552) dated 1 December 1914 , details his belief that Ireland should be on the Republican and democratic side in the war and thus against the Prussian military machine. He refers to his writing to the Irish newspapers with the intention of reducing pro-German propaganda in Ireland and suggesting to the British Government better ways of encouraging recruitment to the English army than the suppression of the Irish Nationalist papers. Fitzgerald’s encouragement of her son to speak Irish is decried. ‘As an Ulster woman, you must be aware that if you bring your son up to hate anyone except a Papist, you will go to hell.’ Shaw requests her to continue her correspondence with him should she so wish. ‘I can at least assure you that your letters will never be unwelcome.’
UCDA P80/1551-1552 Correspondence between Mabel Fitzgerald and George Bernard Shaw, 28 November-1 December 1914
