National Library of Ireland

Yours fondly, Patrick

by Bean an Phoist on February 14, 2012 · 0 comments

by Nora-Jane Thornton, National Photographic Archive (and Unashamed Romantic)

Closure, not the most romantic of sentiments, seems to be the message of this letter. It was written by the poet, Patrick Kavanagh in May 1945 to Hilda Moriarty, a young medical student whom he had met the previous year. In it he seems to acknowledge the end of their affair, he is ‘no longer mad about‘ her and wants to be her friend ‘if you will let me‘.

... There has never been - and never will be - another woman who can be the same to me as you have been... NLI ref.: Ms. 46,868

However, there is more to the story. In 1944 Patrick Kavanagh lived on Raglan Road in Dublin and spotted the young Hilda on her way to UCD where she was studying medicine. She was a beauty, it was said, with deep blue eyes and dark wavy hair and Kavanagh became besotted with her. He began to follow her around Dublin and even followed her home to Kerry for Christmas that same year. Hilda was more interested in his poetry however, and being nearly 40 with seemingly no prospects, she viewed him more as a friend.

Patrick visited Dunsany Castle, Co. Meath with Hilda in May 1945 as he was hoping Lord Dunsany, a published author, would become his patron. The visit was ultimately financially fruitless, but inspired by his walk through the bluebells of Dunsany with Hilda, Kavanagh wrote Bluebells in Love, one of his finest love poems. This letter was written on 31 May, soon after this visit to Dunsany.

Love letter from poet Patrick Kavanagh to medical student Hilda Moriarty, 31 May 1945. NLI ref.: Ms. 46,868

By 1946 Hilda had met Donogh O’Malley, the future Fianna Fáil Minister for Education. Patrick Kavanagh used to accompany Hilda and Donogh on dates, something that suggests he was nowhere near over their relationship, ‘or whatever it was‘. Kavanagh was devastated by Hilda’s new romance and around this time he wrote On Raglan Road, one of his best known poems. It was later set to music and has been sung by Luke Kelly among others. It was originally entitled Dark-haired Miriam ran away. Kavanagh used the name Miriam in an attempt to disguise the identity of his subject. However, there can be no doubt that the poem was written about Hilda.

Hilda and Donogh O’Malley married in 1947 and settled in Limerick. This seemed to have brought an end to the love affair that never was. However, when Kavanagh died in 1967, Hilda sent a wreath of red roses to his funeral. Following Donogh’s death in 1968, Hilda returned to work as a doctor and always remembered Kavanagh fondly until her death in 1991.

... write to me a final letter even if I cannot see you. ... Believe me, Hilda. Yours fondly, Patrick. NLI ref.: Ms. 46,868

There are many love affairs that lasted longer than theirs and many that are far less one-sided, but there are few that have inspired such powerful poetry. Perhaps unrequited love, rather than love itself, is the greatest muse of all. This Valentine’s Day, why don’t you take the opportunity to express your true feelings to the one you love. No matter what the outcome.

Bean an Phoist says: Serendipitously spotted on Dawson Street, Dublin – apparently this letter is part of the Valentine’s Day Display in the window of Hodges Figgis, because it features in Straight from the Heart: Irish Love Letters edited by Bridget Hourican.

Tagged as: Bluebells in Love, Dark-haired Miriam, Donogh O'Malley, Dunsany Castle, Fianna Fáil, Hilda Moriarty, Lord Dunsany, Love Letter, Love Poetry, Luke Kelly, May 1945, Nora-Jane Thornton, On Raglan Road, Patrick Kavanagh, Poetry, Unrequited Love, Valentine's Day

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The Course of True Love

by Bean an Phoist on February 14, 2012 · 0 comments

in Collections,Ephemera,Music,Prints & Drawings

Bean an Phoist says: Honora has so many great collections to choose from that it would have been cruel and heartless to restrict her to just one item that she loves, so here are just some of her favourite LOVEly things for Valentine’s Day 2012…

by Honora Faul, Curator of Prints & Drawings, Ephemera, Music, Maps

This comical postcard is from the Niall Murphy collection in our ephemera department. To celebrate the centenary of Bloomsday, Niall Murphy assembled a selection of 250 postcards, all of them posted in the Dublin area during 1904, four of them sent on 16 June.

LEAP YEAR A two to one Chance by Lance Thackery, 1904. From our Niall Murphy Collection, Ephemera

This Leap Year postcard is by artist Lance Thackery. Although subtitled, A “two to one” Chance, I think it is more a case of “no chance” if the expression on the gentleman’s face is anything to go by!

A cautionary postcard from the Niall Murphy collection is a Map Shewing the Course of the Truelove River which outlines the many pitfalls and emotions to be experienced en route to the Sea of Matrimony.

Postcard of a Map Shewing the Course of the Truelove River, 1904. From our Niall Murphy Collection, Ephemera

It charts the route through the ‘Evasion Rapids’ past the ‘Despair Marsh’ onto ‘Tenderness Crossing’ and ‘Kissing Ford’, before things take a turn for the worse at ‘Opposition Bend’, which is followed by ‘Separation Deep’ and ‘Misery Marsh’, before communications resume at ‘Correspondence Outlet’, until finally the destination of ‘Honeymoon Island’ in the ‘Sea of Matrimony’ is reached! It is worth reading all of the place names. And note the cute loveheart compass in the bottom right spelling LOVE!!!

You have to read this one! An 18th century song sheet from our music collection, Guardian Angels sung by Mrs Sparks [Frances Ashmore, c.1749-1805], printed by Benjamin Rhames ‘at the [sign of the] Sun on the upper Blind Quay’, Dublin.

Guardian Angels sung by Mrs Sparks, and printed in Dublin by Benjamin Rhames at the Sun on the upper Blind Quay, 18th century. NLI ref.: Mu-sb-16

Those of you who can read music will enjoy the pretty tune. The rest will enjoy the melodramatic lyrics, as where the lovelorn woman pledges to go off and live in a cave if her lover forsakes her ‘to admire a nymph more fair’!

Does he Love and yet forsake me,
To admire a Nymph more fair,
If he’s false I’ll wear the Willow,
And Esteem the happy pair:
Some lonely cave shall be my dwelling,
Ne’er more the cares of life pursue,
The Lark & Philomel
Only shall hear me tell
What makes me bid the World Adieu.

Also from our wonderful music collection, a popular song from 1942, “Johnny Doughboy found a Rose in Ireland”, words and music by Kay Twomey and Al Goodhart.
Doughboy is an informal term for an American soldier. The term was in use as far back as the 1840s and was still in use in WWII.

Johnny Doughboy found a Rose in Ireland, by Kay Twomey and Al Goodhart, 1942. NLI ref.: MU-sb-511

The cover illustration of the couple silhouetted in black against the vibrant green background is very effective. The lyrics are charming too, – on that isle across the sea, Johnny’s making history with his Yankee doodle arms of love!
And the refrain:

John-ny Dough-boy found a rose in Ire – land,___
Sure the fair-est flow’r that Er-in ev-er grew,___
Oh the Blar-ney in her talk,
Took him back to old New York,
Where his moth-er spoke the sweet-est blar-ney too.___

A Valentine card beautifully illustrated by Elizabeth Rivers and with a quote from Shakespeare’s Hamlet: Act 2, Scene 2

Elizabeth Rivers Valentine Card. NLI ref.: PD 3102 TX

Doubt thou the stars are fire;
Doubt that the sun doth move;
Doubt truth to be a liar;
But never doubt I love.

Another beautiful illustration by Elizabeth Rivers alongside the final stanza of Sir Thomas Wyatt’s poem, Forget not yet

Elizabeth Rivers Valentine Card. NLI ref.: PD 3102 TX

Forget not then thine own approved,
The which so long hath thee so loved,
Whose steadfast faith yet never moved;
Forget not this!

Among the most colourful collections in our prints and drawings department are the late 19th century cartoons distributed as supplements with newspapers such as The Weekly Freeman, United Ireland and The Union.

Erin's Valentines, supplement with United Ireland on Saturday, 16 February 1884. NLI ref. PD United Ireland 1884 February

This cartoon, ‘Erin’s Valentines’ from the newspaper United Ireland by artist John D. Reigh, portrays Erin with her harp sitting among a profusion of Valentine cards signed by all the famous names of the nationalist movement. She is looking with great interest at the Valentine in her right hand signed, ‘Yours very truly Chas S. Parnell’, which includes an image of the Irish Parliament on College Green.

This supplement from the Weekly Freeman, 13th February 1886 is by John Fergus O’Hea, one of the most famous of the political cartoonists who created cartoons for these newspapers.

Her New Valentine, supplement with Weekly Freeman on Saturday, 13 February 1886. NLI ref. PD Weekly Freeman 1886 February

In this cartoon, Gladstone is depicted as Cupid aiming an arrow at Erin who is meanwhile preoccupied sewing the flag of legislative independence. The new Chief Secretary John Morley kneels before her with his Valentine. The little fellow falling out of the top hat on the ground is identified by his sash as Aberdeen. However, I’m unsure who the sinister character is with the pointy ears in the background!

Tagged as: 18th century, 19th century, Al Goodhart, Benjamin Rhames, Cartoons, Charles Stewart Parnell, Elizabeth Rivers, Ephemera, Frances Ashmore, Guardian Angels, Hamlet, Honora Faul, John D. Reigh, John Fergus O'Hea, John Morley, Johnny Doughboy found a Rose in Ireland, Kay Twomey, Lance Thackery, Leap Year, Matrimonial Map, Mrs Sparks, Music, Niall Murphy Collection, Postcards, Prints and Drawings, Sir Thomas Wyatt, Song Sheet, United Ireland, Valentine Card, Valentine's Day, Weekly Freeman, William Gladstone, William Shakespeare

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We love…

by Bean an Phoist on February 14, 2012 · 2 comments

in Cataloguing,Collections,Digital Collections,Manuscripts,Prints & Drawings

Bean an Phoist says: A few weeks ago, I asked NLI staff to pick things they love in our collections (maybe also about love) and to write about them for Valentine’s Day. Those who weren’t nimble enough to avoid me since then, are included here. And there will be two other posts today – Honora Faul with her love picks from our Ephemera, Music, and Prints and Drawings Collections; and Nora Thornton on a beautiful Patrick Kavanagh love letter…

I love Sean O’Casey!

by Giada Gelli, Collections Student

O'Casey's Codex, Devon, 1952 NLI ref.: LO 11,702

I am cataloguing the personal library of the great playwright Sean O’Casey, and when I found these 2 yellowed pages stuffed into a dusty volume of The Poetical Works of Robert Burns I thought I’d found an unpublished typescript. Reading it was like opening a small window onto O’Casey’s heart and soul. The text is written very personally (‘I’d liefer sit listening to the birds singing, watch flowers blooming, or hoist myself into a reverie of years that time has taken away…’), but in his personal style so attentive to everyday life (‘peeling patatoes [sic], preparing string beans, shelling peas, getting the breakfast during the holidays to give Eileen a rest…’).

... have given me something of the mind of a gentleman with the emotions of a bum ... (Sean O'Casey, Devon, 1952)

At one point I had to chuckle when I read ‘I often wondered if Yeats ever speeled [sic] a spud?’. Pure brilliance. The title, O’Casey’s Codex, didn’t ring a bell, so after a bit of research and the invaluable help of a friend (thanks Shivaun!), it turned out to be in fact the draft for a published article. Originally written for the New York Herald Tribune, it was published with the title ‘Sean O’Casey, formerly of Dublin’ on 12 October 1952. (The Letters of Sean O’Casey. Volume II, David Krause, p. 903). No unpublished writing then, but the confirmation once again of the greatness of the man, the Maestro Sean O’Casey.

Bean an Phoist says: As well as being Collections Student, Giada also asked to be described as “Charming and beautiful with brains”

2011 Valentine's Day Slideshow from TheJournal.ie (from our General Election 2011 Web Archiving Project)

I love digital stuff!

by Della Murphy, Born Digital Programme Manager

This time last year we were in the grip of Election Fever, but you can still feel the fever of lurve alongside last year’s general election results with this slideshow on TheJournal.ie from Monday, 14 February 2011, all archived with tender loving care as part of our Web Archiving Programme. I would love it if you would check out our General Election 2011 Web Archive for a reminder of what was going on around Valentine’s Day 2011…

Bean an Phoist says: Shameless plugging, Della

Eating people is wrong… or is it?

by Katherine McSharry, Head of Services (and Desperately Seeking a Dragon)

I fell in love with this image, from our Prints and Drawings collection, when I first saw it (quite a number of years ago now). I have been longing for just such a dragon of my own ever since. Look at his gorgeous big pleading eyes, and his kindly demeanour.

The Dragon and the Three Bold Babes - Preparatory unpublished illustration by Rosamond Praeger. NLI ref.: 3053 TX 1

Admittedly, he occasionally eats people – but he so clearly just wants someone to love him, and which of us doesn’t have our faults? Any sensitive dragon, GSOH, own teeth and with controllable flame, in need of a loving friend, may apply to me care of the National Library. All applications will be treated in the strictest confidence.

Leslies in Love

by Emma Lyons, Research Student in Irish History

While working on the Leslie Papers, I came across a letter written in 1884 by Sir John (“Jack”) Leslie (2nd Bart) of Castle Leslie, County Monaghan, to his fiancée, Leonie Blanche Jerome, youngest daughter of Leonard Jerome, a Wall Street speculator and ‘patron of the turf’ in America.

Heather and a feather adorn this love letter from John Leslie to Leonie Jerome, 1884 from our Leslie Papers

From the first time he set eyes on Leonie, Jack at once intended to marry her, although his first proposal was turned down immediately. However, following a subsequent meeting in Dublin in 1883, the couple were reunited, and Leonie fell in love with the ‘handsome and aristocratic Anglo-Irishman’. Despite their strong love, neither family approved of the match. Although from a wealthy land-owning family, Jack, who studied art in Paris, did not possess any money of his own, and therefore was not deemed a suitable match for the Jeromes’ daughter. For the Leslies, the mésalliance stemmed from the fact that Leonie was an ‘unknown American’, and therefore an unacceptable wife for their son.

Their parents’ opposition did not thwart the couple’s love, however, and they were in constant contact with one another, writing at least one letter each day. As a consequence, a significant bundle of Jack and Leonie’s ‘love letters’ has survived amongst the Leslie Papers. While each one is fascinating, one letter in particular demonstrates not only the love that the couple had for one another, but also highlights the fact that in a period where many marriages were arranged for financial or social gain, a small minority of marriages truly were for love.

It is a week today since we parted but it feels to me months already - But how sweet when we do meet!

The letter in question, penned by Jack Leslie to his ‘sweet, sweet Leonie’, begins by reminding her of the ‘pleasure of hearing from you [Leonie]’, and notes that although ‘it is a week today since we parted … it feels to me months already’, reminding her how very ‘sweet’ it will be when they do eventually see each other again. Jack’s references to his father’s disapproval of the match tarnishes the romantic theme somewhat, although the line that ‘he thinks that in love one is blind’ somewhat softens a potentially upsetting and distressing topic for his fiancée. Moreover, he further assures Leonie that he will not give in to his father’s wishes, telling her that ‘I love you more than him, home or anything’.

But darling, I love you more than him home or any thing

In addition to including romantic phrases and thoughts, the first page of the letter includes a sketch of a sunset over a lake in Pettigo, County Donegal, which formed part of the Castle Leslie estate. To the sketch, Jack had pinned a sprig of heather and a small wing feather from a pheasant, perhaps to give the drawing a three dimensional effect, or to give Leonie something as a keepsake should she have to destroy the letter in a bid to conceal it from her family.

Jack’s letter to Leonie, in addition to providing a detailed snapshot of their relationship, is very poignant and demonstrates the challenges which faced couples who decided to contravene the social norms of the time and marry for love.

Bean an Phoist heaves a sigh for the days when people wrote love letters…

Tagged as: Della Murphy, Dragon, Emma Lyons, Giada Gelli, Katherine McSharry, Leonie Jerome, Leslie Papers, Love Letter, O'Casey's Codex, Rosamond Praeger, Sean O'Casey, Sir John Leslie, TheJournal.ie, Web Archiving