Historical research can be tedious, painstakingly mundane work. Occasionally, however, if you are lucky you might strike a rich vein that produces some excitement. Once in a lifetime's work you could make a discovery so exhilarating that you wish to raise your voice and shout "Eureka!" My Grecian moment occurred recently in the manuscripts room of the National Library of Ireland on Kildare Street.
I was collecting material for an edition of the collected writings of Major John MacBride. The most extensive of these concerned his long account of organising and co-leading the Irish Transvaal Brigade in the Anglo-Boer War of 1899-1902. MacBride had written that during the course of the campaign several contingents travelled from Belfast, Chicago and Dublin to join his brigade. He names one of the Belfast group: "Jack Donnelly - who brought me a letter and some shamrock from Eithna [ sic] Carberry".
Eithne Carberry was the pen name of Anna Johnston, the poet. She wrote for The Nation and the United Irishman and together with Alice Milligan had founded the Shan Van Vocht in 1896. Her father was Robert Johnston, the northern representative on the Supreme Council of the IRB. She had played an important role in the revival of the national cultural movement and was a friend of Maud Gonne, Arthur Griffith, Willie Rooney, James Connolly and W.B. Yeats. She is best remembered today as the author of the ballad Roddy McCorley, celebrating an Antrim hero of the 1798 rebellion.
MacBride's reference to her, together with advice from a friend, eventually directed me to the National Library of Ireland to see if I could possibly locate her letter. I had my own reasons for pursuing it, as I had long since ascertained that MacBride was particularly attractive to women. Could Eithne Carberry have been among them? It was indeed a long shot, but all leads had to be followed. Eventually, after ploughing through many files, I found the actual letter and opened it with trepidation.
It was dated February 21st, 1900 and addressed from Lisnaveane, Antrim Road, Belfast:
"Dear Major MacBride,
May I recommend the bearer and his companions to you. They will acquaint you with their business. I trust you may find them of service. Any favour done them (and others who will follow shortly) will be greatly appreciated by your friends here. . . We could send you a larger number - hundreds in fact if the means to do so were forthcoming. But you know how it is with us. I wrote you some time ago and would have written again, but that I fear you may be beyond the reach of correspondence. Occasionally I hear of you from the Editor of the United Irishman and your brother, and every scrap of news is welcomed, I need hardly say. We were greatly grieved that you were wounded at the Tugela, but sincerely hope that you are quite strong now. We watch the success of the fight with intense interest and pray for the success of our friends with all our hearts.
"Beannacht leat a Sheagain and keep the Green Flag and the Vierkleur flying. Success and glorious victory; and that our own dear land may soon be a free nation! When shall we see you again and shake hands once more? I wonder. But believe this, that your friends in Lisnaveane send you warmest regards and heartiest wishes for your success and safety and hope you will live, as you say, 'to lead a charge in old Ireland'.
"With kindest regards from every one of us. Always your friend, Anna Johnston.
"P.S. I meant this letter to be a letter of introduction but I must send you shamrock; it would never do to miss it. We pray for you every day. . . My mother, father and sister send you regards."
There was another, closely folded page within the envelope. I opened it carefully and saw within some deteriorated substance. After a moment's investigation, I realised that it was the remains of the shamrock sent to Africa all those years ago. John MacBride had retained her letter up to his execution in 1916!
As I made this discovery I did feel like shouting aloud in the quiet manuscripts room, telling all what had just transpired. Instead, tears filled my eyes, as I felt privileged to come so close to such a romantic yet real story, waiting over a hundred years for rediscovery.
But how fared their relationship? When MacBride left South Africa in late 1900, he felt unable to return to Ireland least he be charged with treason for his activities in the war. Instead he went to live in Paris, where he became involved with Maud Gonne, and with whom he entered into a disastrous marriage.
Anna Johnston had known a teacher from Donegal named Seamus MacManus. She married him in August 1901 and moved to live at Mount Revlin House on the Eske estuary near Mount Charles in Donegal. She died on April 2nd, 1902, aged 36 years. Among the funeral wreaths was one from Major John MacBride in Paris. Alice Milligan commemorated her death in the poem House of the Apple Tree:
I was summoned, I am here
With those in all the world to
Her most dear;
I had no welcome from Her
when I came,
No quick hand drew me in
from the rain and wind,
And shut the door behind,
And led me to the warmth of
the leaping fire.
The apple trees upon Her
garden lawn
Stand gaunt and bare-
branched in the shine of dawn,
I know they will be
beautiful in May,
But - She has gone away.