Robert Brennan Papers.
Papers of Robert Brennan; Literary papers, including typescript drafts of Brennan’s novel ‘The Midnight Manuscripts’, correspondence from Padraic Pearce, Ernest Blythe, Rosamond Jacob and Thomas MacGeevy and related documentation, 1904-1962; Papers relating to Brennan’s early political activities in County Wexford, notably his involvement with Sinn Féin in 1909 and his participation in the Easter Rising in Enniscorthy, 1909-1917; Documentation relating to Brennan’s political career in the years following his release from prison, includes Sinn Féin and Fianna Fáil election material and documentation relating to his work as a diplomat in the United States, 1918-1945; Documentation relating to Brennan’s appointment and work as Director of Radio Éireann, 1947-1948; Papers relating to the family of Brennan, includes memoriam cards and family correspondence, 1920-1979; Correspondence between Robert Brennan and M. MacDonald of ‘The Irish Digest’, 1953; Photographs collected by Brennan and Brennan family photographs, 1917-1958; Books, printings and miscellaneous papers, 1891-1963.
| Main Creator: | |
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| Format: | Manuscript |
| Language: | English Irish Some text in Irish. |
| Subjects: | |
| Notes: | Physical description: 3 boxes & 1 phase box. |
| Arrangement: | Fonds I. Literary papers, 1904-1962, II. Political activism and career, 1909-1917, Political activism and career, 1918-1945, Directorship of Radio Éireann, 1947-1948, Family papers, 1920-1979, VI. Correspondence between Robert Brennan and M. MacDonald of ‘The Irish Digest’ concerning Maeve Brennan’s writings and her association with ‘The New Yorker’ magazine, 1953, VIII. Photographs collected by Robert Brennan, 1917-1958, VIII. Brennan family photographs, IX. Books and printings, ca. 1914-1956, X. Miscellaneous papers, 1891-1963. |
Robert Brennan Papers.
| In Collection: | Robert Brennan Papers. |
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| Description: | Papers of Robert Brennan; Literary papers, including typescript drafts of Brennan’s novel ‘The Midnight Manuscripts’, correspondence from Padraic Pearce, Ernest Blythe, Rosamond Jacob and Thomas MacGeevy and related documentation, 1904-1962; Papers relating to Brennan’s early political activities in County Wexford, notably his involvement with Sinn Féin in 1909 and his participation in the Easter Rising in Enniscorthy, 1909-1917; Documentation relating to Brennan’s political career in the years following his release from prison, includes Sinn Féin and Fianna Fáil election material and documentation relating to his work as a diplomat in the United States, 1918-1945; Documentation relating to Brennan’s appointment and work as Director of Radio Éireann, 1947-1948; Papers relating to the family of Brennan, includes memoriam cards and family correspondence, 1920-1979; Correspondence between Robert Brennan and M. MacDonald of ‘The Irish Digest’, 1953; Photographs collected by Brennan and Brennan family photographs, 1917-1958; Books, printings and miscellaneous papers, 1891-1963. Robert Brennan was born on 22 July 1881 at John’s Gate Street, Wexford. He studied for a RUI qualification and became an employee of Wexford county council as assistant county surveyor. He left in 1909 to join the staff of the Enniscorthy Echo as a reporter, he was also the Wexford correspondent of the Irish Times. Brennan was a founder member of the Wexford branch of the Gaelic League and became county secretary of Sinn Féin and organised the IRB in Wexford. As a leader of the 1916 Rising in the county, he narrowly escaped execution and was sentenced to commuted penal servitude. He was interned in English prisons, including Dartmoor and Lewes. His continuing political activity resulted in further imprisonments in 1917 and afterwards. In 1918 he was placed in charge of a newly formed Sinn Féin department of Propaganda/Publicity but was arrested again in November in the run up to the General Election. He became the Sinn Féin National Director of Elections in December 1918 and the Under-Secretary of Foreign affairs for Dáil Éireann from 1921-1922 and organised the Irish Race Convention in Paris in 1922. He was director of publicity for the anti-Treaty IRA during the Irish Civil War. He later became a founder and director of the ‘Irish Press’ newspaper in 1934.That year Brennan was appointed the Irish Free State’s first minister to the United States and the family moved to Washington D.C. He was Minister Plenipotentiary to the US from 1938-1947. He returned to Ireland in 1947 when he was appointed Director of Radio Éireann. In 1948 he retired and devoted his time to writing his memoirs, published in 1950 titled ‘Allegiance’. Between 1956-1957 he published a weekly column of reminiscences in the ‘Irish Press’ entitled ‘Mainly meandering’. Brennan died on 12 November 1964 at his home in Dublin. |
| Main Creator: | |
| Language: | English Irish Some text in Irish. |
| Extent: | 3 boxes & 1 phase box. |
| Format: | Manuscript |
| Call Number: |
MS L 356
(Manuscripts Reading Room) MS 49,686 (Manuscripts Reading Room) |
| Rights: | Subject to the provisions of the Copyright Act 2000, this collection remains in copyright. It is necessary to obtain the express permission of the copyright owner before reproducing any material from this collection. |