Eamon De Valera E-Mail

Dear Sir

I wonder if you could tell me about a large silver coin/medal that I have, it is quite large & hallmarked around the edge with what looks like a serial number, I've never seen another like it & I can't find any information on the internet, on the front of the coin/medal is the head of Eamon de valera along with his mane & the dates 1882-1975, I understand the dates etc & I'm sure it's a commemorative coin/medal but what I don't know is who had them & how many were made, I would also like to know the value if it's known, I've had it for about 10 years & it's just wrapped up & tucked away in a draw, on the back of the coin/medal are the words CUIMHNITEAR AIR GO BRACH & what looks like a stone pillar, I would appreciate any information that you could give me.

Many thanks
Ian

As someone with De Valera, Bruee and Limerick blood in me i have never been so disgusted with the film and comments i have found in biographies website and other media forums.

1)I have several points to make, first it when the film michael collins was made the rainbow government was in power strange eh???.

2)Most people that claim de valera lost his mind in boland mills went on to become fine gael T.D's, 17 men held off over 400 crack troops and dev is widely credited with that.

3)Recent attempts to blacken bertie Aherns name are a carbon copy of these tactics and are morally wrong.

I am extemely pround of my roots and my country, i have a tri-colours, a united Ireland flag and a copy of The 1916 proclamation in my room, everything Irish flows through me Including the G.A.A. but sadly i never really mastered the art of the Irish lanague, but i'm only 25 so time is on my side.

My father grew up in De Valera's cottage in Buree and kept hold of the property till the mid 1980's and which he donated it the the Dev Valera museum in Bruee.

Also recently Bruee won the Limerick senior Hurling title for the first time in 113 yrs which i'm sure Eamon would be extremly proud.

Regards
David
Limerick

I was so surprised to find this!!! I'm glad someone is doing this - I don't know how old it is. The movie was ridiculous, and the so called "biography" it was based on was in itself prejudiced, authored by a man who has an axe to grind. American audiences don't realize how the Civil War still divides attitudes towards the great man. Thank God for de Valera - he steered Ireland through World War II so skillfully it is breath-taking - and from a hospital bed, at times. Yes, he was one of the great leaders and statesmen of the 20th century. I too wish an accurate movie were made of him - you don't have to make anything up - just tell the facts.

Mary

I read on a Cuban news paper about a Cuban historian who is trying to prove president De Valera was a son of a Cuban inmigrant from Matanzas City famous De Valera family -spaniards descendants- Could it be possible?

By the time De Valera was born (188?) Cuba was Spain's territory therefore cuban were officially registered as spaniards (not cubans) that should be the reason why De Valera's father nationality appears on De Valera Birth Certificate as "Spain" (?) This is just especulation. Thanks, J. Mayo

My Grandfather was the chauffer for De Valera. He actually spent time in prison with him in the 20's and it was during this time that De Valera taught him how to read and speak fluent Irish. He said he was a very well educated and charming man. Is there any way I can find more about this time of De Valera's life or about his chauffer ?
My Grandfather, Michael Francis Duff, born in Wexford, migrated to Australia, corresponded with De Valera for many years. He visited Ireland in the 20’s or 30’s?and brought back letters from DeValera to Archbishop Mannix. Unfortunately, when he died in 1977, Grandmother threw out all the letters as she thought they were of no value… so we will never know how this correspondence started.
Several years ago my mother (deceased) had told me I was related to this man. I knew little of who he was or what he had done. Your site is very informative and has inspired me to find out more about my link to him and his place in history. I would be interested in knowing more about his family, his mother's side. Any additional info you could share is appreciated.

A chara

As a history student (just about to graduate) and the grand-daughter of a staunch Fianna Fáiler and War of Independence veteran, I naturally have an interest in Dev's career. In that regard your website is very helpful, and I certainly agree with your comments on the film 'Michael Collins'. Indeed, I have argued (in an essay in a book entitled 'Irish history: a research yearbook') that the standard characterisation of de Valera's role in the Treaty negotations and the lead-up to the Civil War is flawed. Even academics sometimes go with the ridiculous notion that de Valera opposed the Treaty for personal reasons - i.e. slight or spite. De Valera's intention in the negotiations was to give Britain, on the one hand, and the Unionists (north and south) on the other, something they could accept by proposing that Ireland (as a whole) remain in the Commonwealth in name, but that its institutions would be that of a Republic. This innovative idea was adopted by India when it became a Republic inside the British Commonwealth in 1948, and was what de Valera put into effect with the 1937 Constitution (for the 26 counties). It should be noted that this was the most de Valera was prepared to concede to Britain: any further would, he knew be opposed by republicans, and the basis of his opposition to the treaty was, not only that it was in direct opposition to Irish national aspirations, and rubberstamped partiton, but that it would never be accepted by those who had fought the War of Independence. His peace efforts (Document No. 2 and the Collins-de Valera pact) should be remembered, as should the fact that they were relentlessly attacked by the pro-treaty side.

I think it is not too much to say that de Valera was one of the most democratic leaders of the last century, and probably Ireland's greatest ever leader. He made Ireland respected on the world stage in a way that subsequent leaders never could. Just to comment on a couple of things. Someone said that it should be recognised that Collins assisted in de Valera's jailbreak. I don't think such facts have been denied by de Valera's supporters or anyone else. It should also be remembered that de Valera himself planned the whole operation. Also de Valera's supposed comment that 'in the fullness of time, history will record the greatness of Collins, and it will be recorded at my expense'. As Professor John A. Murphy pointed out in the Irish Examiner (21 Aug 2001):

"There is no firm evidence that de Valera ever said this. Our only source for it, as far as I know, is Tim Pat Coogan in his Collins biography (1990) who says the late Michael Collins, nephew of the General, apparently heard it from Joe McGrath to whom de Valera is supposed to have said it in 1966.

Leaving aside the improbability of Dev’s actual words being reproduced accurately at third hand after two or three decades, the whole thing smacks of dubious hearsay, or dubhairt sé dábhairt sé. The myth was compounded when Neil Jordan emblazoned it across the screen at the beginning of his Michael Collins film.

The background, of course, is the fashionable glorification of Collins and denigration of de Valera."

Slán agus beannacht

Claire

Dear makers of this page i am greatly touched to see that there are people out there who love irish present and past and its great heros such as Eamon DeValera as much as i do.

Several years ago my mother (deceased) had told me I was related to this man. I knew little of who he was or what he had done. Your site is very informative and has inspired me to find out more about my link to him and his place in history. I would be interested in knowing more about his family, his mother's side. Any additional info you could share is appreciated.
It is my understanding that my great grandfather, Mark Kinstler, was a very great friend of Eamon de Valera. Is there any way to corroborate this information? Thank you.
To: DeValera site: My father was a fireman in Belfast during the Blitz in 1940/41. After fighting night and day without a rest they were relieved by firemen sent from the Irish Republic by Eamon De Valera.

A few years ago before he died my father told me that he thought in many ways De Valera was a better man than Churchill. Considering he was a staunch Ulster Protestant it was the highest praise that he could give.

Incidentally I am the proud grandmother of a three-day old grandson called Eamon.

God Bless You for speaking up for "Dev." God blessed Ireland by sending Eamon De Valera when they needed a man who would not settle for half a loaf.
As a Scotsman I know only to well of the history of the raping of both a countries assets and people by the former British Empire. Did Devalera get wrongly portrayed in the movie" Michael Collins". Only the Irish can answer. However I do feel your website should give Collins the credit for Devaleras prison escape from Lincoln
erin go bragh
Dear management of the de Valera web site

I feel it my duty as an Irishman to inform you that there never was an Irish Prime minister.There have been many taoiseach in Ireland and De Valera was one of the greatest men ever to be taoiseach.De Valera was greatly wronged in the film "Michael Collins".I feel that the Movie company should be legally ordered to appologise to The family of the man Who devoted his life to the cause of Irish Independence and who himself suffered imprisonment to help free our great country.

Going threw your site was interesting, however relating to the film, the de Valera issues which came to surface, and for the first time could be openly discussed was the real triumph, no what he was to have alleged to have done. He is the most outstanding states man of the past century, however the path for him was most certainly laid in the tender years of the state. D’ont forget that he did leave the Dail in 1922, and with in four years was back there declaring there treaty was an empty formula. I d’ont believe he did directly or indirectly order the shooting, I think it was an inside job under British orders, for this reason therefore there was no inquires. Sean Halyes commander of the free state army in the area Collins was shot, wanted an inquiry was also gunned down. These arguments were not taken into account by Jordan and many, many other. Therefore DeV’s legacy of the mystery man will live on after all he did say that the true greatness of Collins would come at his expense. It was a joy to read the site. well done.

Michael

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