| ID | 22802 |
|---|---|
| Collection | Sighle Humphreys Papers |
| Collection Description | Sighle 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 Address | https://www.ucd.ie/archives/collections/depositedcollections... |
| Reference | P106 |
| Description | Education, 1912-1927 Family and personal correspondence, 1909-1993, including letters from Jenny Wyse Power, 1921-1922, Ernie O'Malley, 1923-1932, Eithne MacSwiney, 1924-1944, Etiennette Beuque, 1927-1936, Tom and Leslie Price Barry 1969-1976, Francis McKay, 1973-1990, Donncha Nellis, 1983-1986, and with political prisoners, 1939-1985 Diaries and memoirs 1910-1987 Personal papers and photographs, 1901-1987 of herself and family, her wedding and some friends Correspondence, notes and presscuttings from her spells of imprisonment Cumann na mBan related material, including diaries and minutes, 1924-1946. These include material on prisoners, branch activities at home and abroad, position of the society in relation to Republican Government, possible spies, possibility of reforming the Federation of Women (1925), British propaganda films, fundraising, organisation of Easter Lily Day, National Aid and Auxiliary Prisoners' Committee, Cumann na gCailiní, resignations of Eithne Coyle and M. Hyland Cumann na mBan constitutional documents and reports (including the resignation of Constance de Markievicz as president over resolution to assist Free State Government in election campaigns, 1925, and report by Hannah Sheehy Skeffington and Marie Lavery on the examination of members on republicanism, socialism and Irish history, c1934]. Correspondence relating to the organisation, 1914-1943 Organisation documents for Cumann na gCailini, Easter Lily Commemoration Committee, Irish Republican Prisoners Dependants Fund, Irish Prisoners' Defence Fund Cumann na mBan historical records including members' questionnaires, Military Service Pensions, 1938-1950, handbills, pamphlets and photographs of Cumann na mBan members, Constance Markievicz, Madame O'Rahilly, Fiona Plunkett, Mary and Eithne MacSwiney. Republican Congress documents with record of Sighle Humphreys' resignation, 1934 Also material relating to the Ladies Association of Charity of St Vincent de Paul, Elizabeth O'Farrell Commemoration Committee, 1966-1969, Irish language campaigns, European Economic Community . Campaign, Northern Irish republican prisoners, 1971-1985, miscellaneous charitable and political organisations. See also Eithne Coyle O'Donnell (P61), Lily O'Brennan (P13) & Margaret Bourke (P30). |
| Access | By prior appointment. |
| Date | 1901-1987 |
| Century | 20th |
| Keywords | |
| Note | Among Sighle Humphreys, Personal and Political Papers. A descriptive list 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 Name | UCD Archives |
| Address | James Joyce Library UCD Belfield Dublin 4 |
| Eircode | D04 R7R0 |
| Telephone | (01) 716-7555 |
| Email Address | archives@ucd.ie |
| Repository Web Address | www.ucd.ie/archives |
| latitude | 53.30671 |
| longitude | -6.22347 |