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161 KATHLEEN McKENNA NAPOLI [secretary to the Irish Bulletin, and later to and to the Irish Treaty del- egation in London]. A collection including a fine photo of Arthur Griffith, signed by him to rear in Irish and English; photos of the Treaty secretaries including Ms. McKenna; a page from a cancelled passport with her photo, 1923; a miniature rolled-up Tricolour flag (probably from Treaty talks period); two books of receipt stubs, 1921 (relating probably to Irish Bulletin expenses; an empty envelope postmarked ‘Irish Republican Post Dublin’, in- scribed ‘1916’; a travel card issued to Ms. McKenna’s spouse Gen. Vittorio Napoli 1978; manuscript signed statements of Ms. McKenna’s service before the Truce by David Neli- gan and Piaras Beaslai; a TLS from the English writer Hilaire Belloc, saying he wishes to continue to receive the ‘Irish Bulletin’; an ALS signed EC [Erskine Childers] dated 30.6.21 to Ms. McKenna advising her to take a few days off due to her illness, mentioning problems with accounts etc. (2 pp, single sheet); a note to Erskine Childers from D.F. [Desmond FitzGerald] on Dail notepaper, 7 Sept. 1921, about a cheque for the ‘Irish Bul- letin’; two signed notes to Ms. McKenna from Riobard O Breandain [Robert Brennan] on Sinn Fein notepaper, Oct. 1919, offering her work [with the ‘Irish Bulletin’]; an envelope containing two sheets of parchment bearing coloured Oriental drawings; a cyclostyled copy of the shooting script for RTE’s production of ‘The Treaty’ by Brian Phelan; and various other items. Kathleen McKenna, from a staunch Republican background, was recruited to work on production of the clandestine ‘Irish Bulletin’, 1919-1921. She quickly made herself in- dispensable, and was later personal secretary to Arthur Griffith during the Treaty talks. In the late 1920s she married an Italian general, and lived in Italy thereafter. Her ‘Rev- olutionary Recollections’ have recently been published, a copy of which is included in this lot.

As a collection, w.a.f. Provenance: by descent.

€600 - 800

163 The Kathleen Napoli McKenna Newsreel of the Treaty Delegation 1921 An original 35mm newsreel film compiled by Pathé Gazette, duration circa one minute. titled ‘Irish Peace Congress/Sinn Féin & Government delegates meet and everyone hopes for a happy settlement’ The film opens with a prolonged shot of the Irish delegates coming from the boat train. Kathleen McKenna (Griffith’s confidential secretary) is in the centre beside Griffith, others in the shot include Duggan, Barton, Gavan Duffy and Griffith (identified as For- eign Minister) followed by “the elusive Mr Collins”, a short but very rare clip of Collins speaking with force and emphasis from a platform.

Provenance: Provenance: by descent.

€500-1000