Northern Ireland

De Valera letters on display at St Killian's College

Fianna Fáil TD Éamon Ó Cuív with St Killian's principal Jonny Brady
Fianna Fáil TD Éamon Ó Cuív with St Killian's principal Jonny Brady Fianna Fáil TD Éamon Ó Cuív with St Killian's principal Jonny Brady

THE surrender note Éamon de Valera handed to British commander Edo Hinzen at the end of Easter week 1916 has been put on display at a Co Antrim school.

Fianna Fáil TD Éamon Ó Cuív, a grandson of de Valera, visited St Killian's College in Carnlough where he also addressed pupils.

De Valera and Hinzen began to exchange letters and from that a friendship arose with Commander Hickson visiting him in Dublin both while he was taoiseach and also president.

The full correspondence was on display at the college during the week, allowing all the students to come in to view.

Mr Ó Cuív gave an informal talk in which he discussed the various persona of Éamon De Valera, the family man, the grandfather who told him stories and allowed him to play hurling in Áras an Uachtaráin, the revolutionary, the Fianna Fáil leader, the taoiseach, the president.