Patrick English (1894-1970), Frongoch Letters

Repository: Dublin City Archives

Identity Statement

TitlePatrick English (1894-1970), Frongoch Letters
Archive ReferenceIE DCLA/Ar/Add/102
Web Link to this Entryhttps://iar.ie/archive/prick-english-1894-1970-frongoch-letters
Creation Dates1916-1937
Level of DescriptionFonds (The whole of the records, regardless of form or medium, organically created and/or accumulated and used by a particular person, family, or corporate body in the course of that creator's activities and functions). (Often, but not always, contiguous with an archives ‘collection’ ).
Extent Medium58 items

Context

Creator(s): Patrick English (1894-1970)

  • Administrative History ↴

    Patrick English was born in 1894 and lived at Dunsink Cottages, Castleknock, Dublin. He was employed as a gardener on Lord Holmpatrick’s Estate at Abbotstown. He was a member of Fianna Éireann and the Irish Volunteer Army. He was part of the F. Company, 4th Battalion, Dublin Brigade who fought in the General Post Office Garrison in Easter 1916. After the surrender in 1916, he was imprisoned in Stafford on May 1st 1916. He was later transferred to Wormwood Scrubs and then interned in Frongoch, until he was released at Christmas 1916. After his release from Frongoch, he lost his job and his home because of his role in the Rising. He was a member of the active service unit all throughout the War of Independence. He took no part in the Civil War. He was a keen Gaelic footballer and played for St. Margaret’s before the Rising. When Erin’s Isle was formed in Finglas in 1917, he became a prominent member and played for the club through out the 1920’s. He died on 27 January 1970 and was buried at Glasnevin Cemetery.

  • Archival History ↴

    Collection was donated to Dublin City Archives by Patrick English (son of creator Patrick English)

  • Immediate Source Acquisition ↴

    Donation

Content & Structure

  • Scope & Content: Patrick English (1894-1970) ↴

    Letters written and received by Patrick English during his internment in Frongoch. Includes correspondence with his mother Kate, sisters May and Nellie, brother David, and club mate James Malone. Topics discussed in letters include conditions in Frongoch, the welfare of Kate English and support she received from Dependent’s Fund, and news of family members and friends who were serving on the Front in World War 1. Letters from Kate English are written in various hands. Includes also rough notes prepared by Patrick English regarding his role in the Rising for the 1937 Garrison Report Order and copies of the Marriage Certificate of Patrick English and Catherine Brennan (1927)

  • Appraisal Destruction ↴

    Permanent Retention

  • Arrangement ↴

    Arranged chronologically, with undated material at end.

Conditions of Access & Use

Access Conditions Available to view by public who apply for research card in Dublin City Library and Archive Reading Room, 138-144 Pearse street, Dublin 2.
Conditions Governing ReproductionSubject to Dublin City Library and Archive Reading Room Terms of Membership and in accordance with copyright legislation.
Creation Dates1916-1937
Level of DescriptionFonds (The whole of the records, regardless of form or medium, organically created and/or accumulated and used by a particular person, family, or corporate body in the course of that creator's activities and functions). (Often, but not always, contiguous with an archives ‘collection’ ).
Extent Medium58 items
Material Language ScriptEnglish
Characteristics Tech ReqSome letters in pencil are quite faded and difficult to read. Some letters are torn, with sections missing.
Finding Aids Item level descriptive list with full transcriptions. Archive Web Link →

Allied Materials

Copies InformationTIFF images created and preserved by Dublin City Archives and made available at www.dublincityarchives.ieDigital Copies of Letters submitted for publication on Letters of 1916 : http://dh.tcd.ie/letters1916/
Related MaterialDefence Forces Military Archives, Military Service Pension Collection, File Reference MSP34REF2226 - Pension Claim File of Patrick English.
Publication NoteEvening Herald death notice (28 January 1970)John Campbell & Liam Casey, A History of Erin’s Isle GAA Club (2000)

Notes

NoteBiographical information kindly supplied by Jimmy Wren based on his publication The GPO Garrison Easter Week 1916: A Biographical Dictionary (Dublin, 2015).Square brackets are used in transcriptions to indicate a note or spelling correction added by archivist or to indicate that this section of document is illegible.

Descriptive Control Area

Archivist NoteTranscription, digitisation and listing of letters, Jenny Snook, August 2015. Fonds level description, Ellen Murphy, August 2015
Rules/ConventionsISAD(G): General International Standard Archival Description. 2nd ed. Ottowa: International Council on Archives, 2000.
Date of Descriptions42217