File of letters from Brian and Anne Friel (with one letter from Paddy Friel) to John McGahern.
Letters include re. rehearsals of "Translations"; discussions on "The Leavetaking"; translation of "Faith Healer" and comments re. Alain Delahaye (1 Jun 1985); Friel having received a copy of "High Ground" and asking McGahern if he might write a play (30 Aug 1985); artist tax and income; Letter relaying comments on "The Power of Darkness" relayed to Friel by Michael Colgan, and on wider scheduling of the play in Dublin (29 May 1991); Field Day season programme and not being able to do a McGahern play (9 Mar 1990) and wider discussions about Field Day Theatre Company and writing and productions/publications by both, as well as warm personal discussions.

MS letter from English writer Julia Jones, thanking John McGahern for his delivery of [his book] and is looking forward to reading it. Also discusses her own current writing projects.

File of letters and card from poet Paul Muldoon to John McGahern. Includes letter inviting McGahern to Princeton University as part of the Fund for Irish Studies speaker series events (15 Feb 2001); Letter sending warm comments on McGahern's new novel (Jan 2002); Letter on BBC headed paper sending comments on "Getting Through" - "An astoundingly beautiful book"; Also a sign card dedicated to John and Madeline McGahern, with woodcut image of a sandalled person walking through grass, with a printed excerpt from Horace: Book III ODE XVIII. (2001).

Letter and postcard from playwright Tom Murphy to John McGahern with comments on having seen his play, "The Power of Darkness " at the Abbey Theatre, describing it as wonderful and disagreeing with the negative Irish Times review of the play.

Letters form poet John Montague to John McGahern. Includes letters of feedback on a manuscript sent to Montague, with comments and comparisons on writing by Aidan Higgins (1961); a letter commenting on McGahern's terrible handwriting (1962); letter sending feedback having read The Barracks (1963); letter with details of a poem written by Montague and which could be dedicated to McGahern if he agreed; later letters and postcards through to 2001 discuss mutual writing projects and general conversation.

File of manuscript and typescript letters from Annikki Laaksi, first wife of John McGahern. Letters are all personal in detail and are written from Helsinki, Finland where stated. All relate to their relationship, marriage, time spent apart while McGahern was working in Hamilton, New York, family news and updates, visits with friends, travels, and later details and discussions regarding the breakdown of the marriage and later divorce.

File includes two manuscript letters from Mary Lavin to John McGahern, from 1985 and from 1989.

File of letters from Michael and Edna Longley to John and Madeline McGahern, includes thanks for support in "the Hewitt affair", separate letter thanks McGahern for pulling out of a summer school over the incident and with detail on the situation (1996), meeting with the McGaherns in Denmark; comments after McGahern visited to Belfast (1979); Letter from Edna to John from her base in Sweden as a Visiting Professor, thanking McGahern for reading at a Festival and adding comments on Seamus Heaney's Nobel Prize win (1996); Letter from Edna to John inviting him to read at Queen's University Belfast (1978).
Card with poem "The Blackthorn" from Edna Longley, with added comments about the breakdown of marriage of John and Janey Banville; Poem from Michael Longley, "The Rainbow" with note sent to John (!999); Poem in dedication to John McGahern, "Hawthorn", by Michael Longley and sent to Madeline McGahern following the funeral of John McGahern. (2006).

MS letters from Tom and Peggy Leen, sending personal good wishes, news of McGahern family members, and comments on the public attitude to McGahern's books, from The Barrack to the Dark and later public attitudes towards McGahern that he encounters in the local pub.

File with two letters, one from Tom McGurk, RTÉ broadcaster, making contact since he and his wife Miriam O'Callaghan, had with McGahern in 1982, updating on personal family news and asking id McGahern had thought of a film treatment for The Leavetaking.
Second letter is from RTÉ broadcaster Miriam O'Callaghan, writing following her watching of the "Arts Lives" documentary on RTÉ on McGahern. She talks in detail in response to McGahern's writing and life, calling him "truly one of life's special people".