ID2343
CollectionSighle Humphreys Papers
Collection DescriptionSighle Humphreys was born in Limerick in 1899, the only daughter of Dr David Humphreys and Mary Ellen (‘Nell’) O’Rahilly. Her father died four years after her birth, having spent much of the intervening time travelling in search of a cure for his tuberculosis. Her mother was one of the O'Rahillys of Ballylongford, County Kerry, her brother Michael Joseph, ‘The O'Rahilly ,’ being the Volunteer leader killed in 1916 leading a charge down Moore Street from the GPO during the Rising. The family background was uncompromisingly nationalist. Sighle’s two brothers, Emmet and Dick both attending Pearse’s school, St Enda's, and Dick served in the GPO with his uncle in 1916. They took the anti-Treaty position and the family home at 36 Ailesbury Road was the object of regular raids by government forces, the most significant involving the wounding and arrest of Ernie O'Malley in November 1922. Sighle own political involvement was centred on Cumann na mBan of which she was variously secretary, director of publicity and national vice-president. She maintained her republican convictions throughout her life, continuing her involvement with Cumann na mBan, contributing significantly to republican causes throughout the 1930s, and supporting political prisoners’ rights organisations until her death. She had married Donal O’Donoghue, a veteran of the IRA Dublin Brigade, in 1935. He had been interned during the Civil War and participated in the hunger strike of anti-Treaty prisoners in 1923. He became editor of An Phoblacht in 1934 and was imprisoned again in 1936 for making seditious speeches. He was actively involved with Clann na Poblachta, serving as Chairman of both the National Executive and Standing Committee and stood as a Clann candidate in the 1948 general election. [UCDA]
Collection Web Addresshttps://www.ucd.ie/archives/collections/depositedcollections...
ReferenceP106
Description

The papers of Ellen Humphreys and Annie O'Rahilly:

The Collection comprises papers of the Rahilly, O'Rahilly and Humphreys families with emphasis on the papers of Sighle Humphreys O'Donoghue (1899-1994) and Cumann na mBan. Also correspondence and papers of Donal O'Donoghue (1897-1957).

This is an important collection for the Republican and feminist history of late 19th and 20th century Ireland. Sighle, her mother and aunt, and her brothers were all imprisoned during 1922-1923 and there are a number of letters from members of the family to each other from prison.

Sighle Humphreys' aunt, Anna O'Rahilly, was committed to the Irish language and nationalism, her papers here include sections on Sinn Fein, 1914-1926, the Irish National Aid Association, 1901-c.1937, St Enda's School, Rathfarnham, 1910-1927, as well as correspondence in Irish and English, much of which is related to her subscriptions to and support of Irish language schools, and the work of Conradh na Gaeilge.

Among the records of Ellen (Nell) Humphreys are a number of letters written to her family from overseas, 1899-1903, where she was accompanying her invalid husband who died of Tuberculosis in 1903, but there is also a series of letters about the Easter Rising - Annie and Sighle stayed in Dublin throughout - the death and funeral of her brother, and the imprisonment of her son in Wakefield. She admits to feeling shame over the 'muddle' of her life, and admiration for her daughter, whom she used to consider 'unwomanly'. She was later arrested; prison life she commends as busy and organised and the food is quite good. Also some household and business papers, and photographs, many of her husband, herself and her children, and her houses.

Earlier records in the collection mainly contain correspondence relating to family and business matters and some photographs.

 

AccessBy prior appointment.
Datec.1841-1988
Century19th, 20th
Keywords
Note

A descriptive list for this collection is available for consultation in UCD Archives.

Produced for consultation in microform.

This collection was deposited in UCD Archives on 26 August 1991 by Cróine O'Donoghue Magan.

Repository NameUCD Archives
AddressJames Joyce Library UCD Belfield Dublin 4
EircodeD04 R7R0
Telephone(01) 716-7555
Email Addressarchives@ucd.ie
Repository Web Addresswww.ucd.ie/archives
latitude53.30671
longitude-6.22347