Denny Lane Papers Descriptive List (Ref. U611)

The collection is of particular interest for those studying the nationalist political and cultural activity in the mid-19th century, especially The Nation newspaper and the Young Ireland movement. Contains a significant amount of political correspondence related to some of the nationalist figures and events of the 1840’s and later on in the 19th century. Lane’s friendship and political association with Thomas Davis is documented by letters to Lane in 1843/1844, mainly concerning content for The Nation, and written in a most familiar tone (U611/6 - /9, /11). Also present are letters written to Davis by other figures, such as Michael Doheny (U611/5) and Thomas Wallis, (U611/4) which Lane may have acquired for study. Correspondence of Lane’s cousin, Daniel Owen Madden, includes a letter mentioning a visit by Daniel O’Connell (U611/13) and another from Thomas Wallis concerning a publication of the life of Thomas Davis (U611/14). Lane’s earlier association with Charles Gavan Duffy, is documented by a few letters from 1842 to 1849, relating to The Nation, the Irish Confederation and the Young Ireland movement, including the disagreements and splits in the Repeal movement in 1846-1847 (U611/21) and following the period of the government's suppression of the Confederate Clubs (U611/23). The 1848 revolutions in Europe sparked much excitement in Ireland, as evidenced by a letter from Duffy to Lane in March 1848 (U611/22). Lane resigned from the Repeal Association in September 1846 (U611/40), with the rest of the Young Irelanders, and in October John Mitchel (later, publisher of the United Irishman) asked Lane to contribute to a section of The Nation newspaper with the title ‘Young Ireland’ (U611/42). Clues as to Lane’s political activities in 1846 may be found in his correspondence with Sir David Roche, accused of mistreating his tenants by Lane in a public statement (U611/35). The collection contains some correspondence from William Smith O’Brien, M.P. mainly concerning O’Brien’s impending visit to Cork with Thomas Francis Meagher, and the organisation of the Irish Confederation in Cork and nationally (U611/26, /27). Of particular note is a letter from Denny Lane in April 1848 describing the political situation in Cork (U611/28). The sense of crisis in Ireland during the Great Famine in 1847 is evidenced in a letter from O’Brien to Michael Joseph Barry (U611/25). The remainder of the 1840’s political correspondence includes one or two items from various figures, including Richard O’Gorman (U611/39, /48), T. Devin Reilly (U611/43), Thomas D’Arcy McGee (U611/45), Terence Bellew McManus (U611/46), Thomas Mathew Halpin (U611/49), Thomas England (U611/50), Richard Deasy (U611/51), and John Martin (U611/54). These items mainly relate to the organisation of the Confederate Clubs. A few much later letters show Lane’s ongoing contact with Gavan Duffy, mainly in connection with the latter’s literary work on the Young Irelanders (U611/58 – U611/60). The Collection also contains material of a more personal nature, such as, a list of members of the Munster Bar (U611/62), a letter from a friend concerning a fishing trip on the River Lee (U611/65), a letter from Eugene Curry of the Royal Irish Academy concerning the genealogy of the O’Liathain family (U611/66), and also some draft notes and writings by Lane (U611/69). Also found are a small number of lyrics which document Lane’s great interest in poetry and music, including lyrics of ‘The Lament of

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