Toomevara writer donates correspondence from famous authors to National Library

Dublin’s National Library has just acquired a collection of letters sent by famous writers to Toomevara author Brendan Lynch.

They include some from the late John le Carré, with whom the Tipperary man corresponded for over a decade.

Also in the collection are a set of postcards from Maeve Binchy; novelist Aidan Higgins and historian, Maurice Craig. It further includes letters from Brendan Kennelly, Peter Kavanagh, brother of poet Patrick Kavanagh, and Stephen Joyce, grandson of James Joyce.

“I was sorry to part with them but I know they will be much safer in the National Library. We returned from a holiday last year to find the hallway awash from a leaking tap. Over 100 books were destroyed but a copy of Borstal Boy which Brendan Behan signed for me years ago escaped by a few inches from the downpour. That taught me a lesson,” said Mr Lynch.

He revealed that he still had some letters and manuscripts which will probably also go to the Library.

“Nenagh Heritage staged a display of some a few years ago but, sadly, they were not interested in taking any of them on a permanent basis. I would have liked some to stay in the town where I went to secondary school,” he said.

After over a year’s work, Brendan is now completing the first draft of his tenth book, which he hopes will see publication at the end of the year.