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279 THE MÁIRE GILL COLLECTIONA significant archive of letters and documents from the collection of Máire (Molly) Gill, a life-long employee of the Cuala Press who was an active Republican, a member of
Sinn Fein and Cumann na mBan, detained in Kilmainham during the Civil War, for many years President of the Camogie Association. The principal contents include
1.
A file containing seven autograph signed letters from female prisoners on [Kilmainham] Internment Camp notepaper, circa 1923, two from Maire’s friend A. ní Riain (no. 43) and five from ‘your loving
Friend May’ [Mrs Mary O’Carroll], cell 12 or 97; also an ALS on plain paper to Miss Butler from James Courtney, also detained in Kilmainham, with a second letter to Miss Gill dated 31.10.21, two letters
from Courtney’s wife Mary, one appealing urgently for financial help, and a few related documents including accounts of a ‘Prisoners Dependants Ceilidhe (Louth County), signed by A. Ní Riain 27.11.21.
The Kilmainham letters were of course subject to censorship, and there is little political content apart from some veiled comments; they are mostly about mutual friends, some released, others still
‘inside’, their health, parcels, letters, hopes of early release, longing to be in the fresh air again, ‘we will have a good time some day when I get out’, etc.
2.
A file including a good studio photograph of Eamon de Valera circa 1918, 8 ½ ins x 6 ½ ins; a document titled ‘Articles of Agreement for a Treaty between Great Britain and Ireland’, cyclostyled
typescript, 3 pp foolscap, apparently an early copy of De Valera’s ‘Document No. 2’, which he proposed as an alternative to the Treaty; a printed document titled ‘Mountjoy Atrocity’, unsigned, accusing
named Free State officers of attacking unarmed prisoners, scarce; a cyclostyled document headed ‘Belfast & British Trade Boycotts’, dated 25 January 1922, stating that the Dail Cabinet, having
considered the report of the meeting of Mr. Michael Collins with Sir James Craig in London , hereby direct that the Belfast Boycott be discontinued; and a one-page printed programme for a theatrical
performance by The Irish National Volunteers, Dundrum, October 2 [1914], with full lists of cast and performers, and similar programmes for October 3 and for October 4, with some variation among
the performers. No printer is named, but from their general appearance and provenance these could very well be Cuala Press printings.
3.
A file of letters and documents relating to Cumann na mBan and Sinn Fein including a cyclostyled copy of the constitution of Cumann na mBan (worn with some loss), a few pamphlets and about 25
autograph and typescript signed letters and notes, mostly relating to meetings and other arrangements, including one from F[iona] ní Phluingcéad (sister of Joseph Mary Plunkett) relating to materials
needed for field dressings, dated Dec. 1921.
4.
A file of about 20 letters and documents relating to camogie and the Camogie Association, of which Maire Gill was President for many years, including a circular about the Association’s withdrawal (for
political reasons) from the Tailteann Games 1924, a few letters about the propriety or otherwise of camogie pitches being used for lawn tennis, various notes about arrangements, typescript report of
an interview with Maire Gill about Irish Women in Sport, a copy of the camogie rule-book circa 1940, etc.
5.
A folder containing four large-format issues of Stop Press dealing with the Four Courts siege and withdrawal, dated Wednesday June 28 [1922], the first issue, Communique from the Four Court), Thurs-
day 29th, Saturday morning July 1 (no. 5) and Sunday July 2 (no. 6, the last of the large-format issues), much worn and frayed, with some loss, with a few cuttings about Countess Markiewicz and two
other Republican periodicals.
6.
A small folder containing mainly personal letters and documents, including a manuscript playscript (probably incomplete), letters, a prize certificate from a horticultural show 1920, a few tracings, etc.
Máire (Molly) Gill joined the Cuala Press as a young girl about 1908, and remained with Cuala throughout her working life. Cuala employed only women, and Molly and Esther (‘Essie’) Ryan became its
pressmen, setting type and operating the Albion hand-press on which the books and prints were made. As a young woman Molly was an active member of Inghinidhe na hÉireann, of Cumann na
mBan, and of Sinn Fein. She opposed the Treaty, and in 1923, during the Civil War, she was detained for a time in Kilmainham. Camogie apart, Molly was never a leader in the Republican movement,
but her collection gives a valuable illustration of the busy lives of those who were active supporters and foot-soldiers in the movement.
As a collection, w.a.f.
€ 1,500 - 2,000