Letters of Sean O'Casey to Mai McCarthy,
1954-1964.
In his letters to Miss McCarthy, O'Casey wrote about life, religion, his writing, the works of other writers, as well as personal matters such as his family, his health, Miss McCarthy's health and work, and her tendency to overdo it, which he mentions often. A warm friendship clearly existed between them. Amongst the writers O'Casey mentions are Joyce, Frank O'Connor, Denis Johnston, Swift, Dickens and Henry James.
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| Main Creator: | |
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| Contributors: | |
| Format: | Manuscript |
| Language: | English |
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| Notes: | Manuscript letters from Sean O'Casey to Mai McCarthy, an Irish woman who lived in New York. There is also one letter from Miss McCarthy to O'Casey and one letter from Eileen O'Casey to Mai McCarthy. Many of O'Casey's letters are single-sheet air letters; several have separate envelopes included. Physical description: 30 items. more |
| Arrangement: | Fonds |
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Typescript letter, signed, from Sean O'Casey to Mai McCarthy,
1956 Nov. 21.
| In Collection: | Letters of Sean O'Casey to Mai McCarthy |
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| Description: | O'Casey talks about the beauties of autumn and says he misses the autumn colours that he knew in Buckinghamshire, as, in Devon, the green lingers the whole year, and he can see mainly evergreens from his window. He describes the garden in detail. He agrees with McCarthy about the Irish trying to be either Saxon or Italian and says 'when they cease to be themselves they become pitiful nobodies'. He speaks about 'the sad tale' of McCarthy's brother, who was possibly infected with tuberculosis; reflects on the unfortunate life of a friend of his, addicted to alcohol, and tells her that her brother's life depends first of all on himself, and his willingness to fight the disease in every way possible. The letter ranges over his own fight against ill health, the efforts of Noel Browne to introduce the Mother and Child Bill, the opposition of the Catholic bishops, the overcrowding and lack of facilities of the schools in Ireland. He says Ireland is not a pleasant place now, and agrees she is better not to try and go there, that she needs to look after herself. He concludes with some news about his family. The postscript in pen, seems to refer to a production of Shaw's 'St. Joan', which starred Siobhán McKenna. |
| Main Creator: | |
| Language: | English |
| Extent: | 1 item (2 pages). |
| Format: | Manuscript |
| Call Number: |
MS 49,744/16
(Manuscripts Reading Room) |
| Rights: | Reproduction rights owned by the National Library of Ireland. |