PADRAIG PEARSE (1879 - 1916)

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€3,000 - €5,000

PADRAIG PEARSE (1879 - 1916)

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An autograph letter on St Enda’s College, Rathfarnham headed paper (27 June 1912).
A letter from Padraig Pearse to an unknown recipient, in relation to St Ita’s College, indicating that their issue would be brought before the Board of Directors’ meeting the following month. By the time Pearse wrote this letter, the school in question was either on the point of closure or had already closed.
Padraig Pearse is best known as a leader of the Easter Rising in 1916. He was also an inspired educator and co-founder, with Thomas MacDonagh of St Enda’s (Scoil Éanna) The bilingual day and boarding school for boys. The school opened at Cullenswood House on Oakley Road, Ranelagh, Dublin, on 8 September 1908. In 1910, St Enda’s moved to The Hermitage at Grange Road, Rathfarnham. In September of that year St Ita’s College (Scoil Íde), a school for girls, opened at Cullenswood House. It was intended as a sister establishment of St Enda’s with Pearse as director and Gertrude Bloomer as principal (known as house mistress). Both establishments were named after mythic Irish saints. Both were soon in financial difficulty. The short-lived St Ita’s closed for good in 1912, but Pearse was to struggle with the finances of St Enda’s until the end of his life.
There are few studies of St Ita’s and primary research material is scarce. In an article for History Ireland (Issue 2, Mar/April 2006, Vol. 14), David Limond writes: “Amongst the few sources available for knowledge of the girls’ schools are Pearse’s letters, which contain a good deal of valuable detail about the business affairs both of the perennially penurious St Enda’s and its equally cash-strapped sister school.” Much of Pearse’s correspondence with Gertrude Bloomer, including piecemeal efforts to repay her what he owed, are in the National Library of Ireland. They include a letter from Padraig H. Pearse dated 22 April 1916. The letter enclosed £5 towards his debt and concludes by wishing Gertrude Bloomer a very Happy Easter. Two days later, on 24 April, the Easter Rising had begun.

17 cm. high; 11 cm. wide;
Approximate Time: 14:11
Lot Number: 267