Letter from Taoiseach Eamon de Valera to Edward Maddrell

Date(s): 29 July 1952

Creator(s): de Valera, Eamon

Scope & Content: de Valera writes in Irish from the Department of the Taoiseach, Dublin to Ned Maddrell at Cregneash. A translation of the letter reads,

'Dear Friend,

'I received from [the magazine] Seabhac the photograph of the house in Cregneash which you sent to Comhgháil Cheilteach [Celtic Convention] to be given to me.
It was kind of you to remember to send it to me and I am very thankful to you (for it). I shall keep it as a memento of my visit to Cregneash and of the conversation we had together in the year 1947.

With thanks and blessing
I, your friend,
[sgd.] Eamon de Valera.

E. Maddrell, Esq.,
Cregneash'
Isle of Man.

Administration / Biographical History: With thanks to Professor George Broderick for the translation to English shared here. George Broderick contributes (October 2022),

'I was in Ned Maddrell's house in Glenchass, Cregneash, on Thursday 17 August 1972 when David Clement from the Scottish Gaelic Linguistic Survey, University of Edinburgh, was sent by Prof. Kenneth Jackson, Prof. of Celtic Studies in the University of Edinburgh, to make what turned out to be the final recording of Ned Maddrell. Walter Clarke was also with us, as he would speak to Ned in Manx to get him in tune. David Clement conducted the interview from the same questionnaire as Prof. Jackson had used during his visit to Man over the Christmas and New Year of 1950/51. During the course of the proceedings Ned mentioned the visit made on him in July 1947 by Eamon de Valera (he was then Taoiseach 1932-1948). And during the visit he said they had a conversation together, Ned in Manx and EdV in Irish. Then EdV asked Ned to say the Lord's Prayer, as Ned told us, and Ned began with the prayer in Manx. Then he said, I was half way through it when Eamon de Valera accompanied me in Irish to the end of the prayer. Ned told us, the visit that Eamon de Valera made on him that day was the one he most cherished.'

Broderick further share that the photograph referred to by de Valera can be seen on the back of the cover for the LP record of Chengey ny Mayrey which Broderick brought out in 1977. The photograph can also be seen in Foillan Films Chengey ny Mayrey.

Language: Irish

Extent: 1 page

Physical description: typescript

Item name: letter

Collection: Manuscript Archive

Level: ITEM

ID number: MS 15440

Record class: Private

Access conditions: No regulations or restrictions are implemented on this material. Viewable by request during library opening hours at the Manx National Heritage Library and Archives, Manx Museum, Douglas, Isle of Man. Advance notification of a research visit is advisable by emailing library@mnh.im

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