Item 51 - Letter from Bill Roe, 28 January 1955

4pp

Confidential letter to Canon Hayes from Bill Roe warning that 'there may be trouble ahead for Muintir na Tíre' as the newer leadership within the organisation may not be in touch as frequently with Canon Hayes and his message of charity as the 'Old Guard'. Roe writing that 'You will be hearing from Stephen Rynne re: Publicity Committee as he is Secretary but I would like to give you my opinion of how things stand.' Based on a note from National Secretary Frank Lyddy, Roe went to a meeting at Wynn's Hotel, Dublin under the impression that the Publicity Committee had the sanctioning of the National Executive. Roe describes the meeting, attended by himself, Miss O'Sullivan, Oliver Reilly, Stephen Rynne, Myles Shevlin, and Mr. O'Dwyer. Roe writes that he did not know the background of the Leinster Publicity Committee or of the 'abortive Naas meeting, etc.' Roe writes that Shevlin challenged the legality of the committee and said they could not carry on. Roe writes that he sees both viewpoints ('Myles is sincere. He is Chairman of the Leinster Federation and is I find anxious to uphold its prestige. Also his whole training is in red tape and it must be second nature to him by now. Rynne is a farmer – a king on his own land – and doesn't understand all this manoeuvre of proper authority. He wants to get down to the job.' Eventually the group 'met as a group of people not a Committee and Myles agreed to keep quiet whilst we discussed publicity with Mr. Owens of [illegible] Advertising Agency.' Roe asks for the proper formation of a National Publicity Committee and hopes Canon Hayes will mend matters at the Federation Meeting. Roe lists the points of discussion and advertising conditions that came from the meeting with Owens, and notes that 'On the illegal committee O'Dwyer is Chairman, Rynne Sec & I am Treasurer.'

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