Lord Mulroy's Ghost

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I recently read an excellent book by Fiona Slevin titled: "By Hereditary Virtues, a History of Lough Rynn."

This non-fiction book is devoted to the history of Lough Rynn near the town of Mohill in County Leitrim, Ireland and more specifically the life and times of William Sydney Clements, 3rd Earl of Leitrim (1806 - 1878.)

In the book Fiona Slevin makes reference to an obscure Irish play which was written by Shane Leslie around 1954 titled "Lord Mulroy's Ghost." This play is supposedly based on the the 3rd Earl of Leitrim who was assassinated in 1878.

I have searched the Internet in an attempt to locate "Lord Mulroy's Ghost." Any suggestions as to where I may find it would be greatly appreciated. Smile

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If all else fails, you might try contacting Georgetown University, which has Shane Leslie's papers, according to

Sir Shane Leslie Papers

I searched the collection for "Lord Mulroy's Ghost" and found nothing -- there are extensive references to ghosts, suggesting that it was a topic in which Shane Leslie was interested, but none of them are Lord Mulroy's Ghost. However, even if the play isn't in the collecion, it's possible that an archivist at Georgetown could point you in the right direction.

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I also found no reference other than the Georgetown collection to which Bree refers. However, the Janus website of collections at Cambridge University lists, in the Churchill Archives Center, a book published in 1955 entitled Shane Leslie's Ghost Book, which is the only reference near the 1954 date which you gave. Another online reference which i came across lists the publisher as Hollis and Carter. A web page of "The Haunted Bookshop" of Melbourne, Australia lists the title, with the notation that they have a second-hand hard cover copy available for $30 Aus. So, the book is still available in some places.

Off to check the Library of Congress.

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http://www.pandora.ca/pictures26/301678.jpg

The Pandora's Books Online site, based for some strange reason in Canada, but listing an address in North Dakota, lists the first American edition as having been published by Sheed and Ward, 1956.

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The Library of Congress lists a single copy, under the rubric, Leslie, Shane, 1885-1971.

Ghost Book

2d. ed.

London: Hollis & Carter, 1956.

160 p.

There is no specific reference to Lord Mulroy's Ghost.

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Bingo!

Amazon-dot-co-UK lists:

Lord Mulroy's Ghost: A Play for an Irish National Theatre . . .

. . . and then states that there are no copies currently available.

It lists the publisher as "Sign of the Three Candles," 1954.

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I have found The Sign of the Three Candles, 6 & 7 Fleet Street, Dublin, in a reference to a book entitled The Irish Book Lover. However, i can't find anything more about the publisher than that it once existed, and i don't know if it still does. I've been looking at the Irish Libraries web site, but can't find anything about Shane Leslie or Lord Mulroy's Ghost, including a search done at Trinity College Library in Dublin, which is the largest library collection in Ireland. This has piqued my interest, so i might continue to search.

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I have come across a reference to an old theater supersition that it is unlucky to burn three candles together, which makes the reference to a publishing house named The Sign of the Three Candles all the more interesting.

Curiouser and courioser, Alice . . .

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Now i've found it at the Library of Congress:

Leslie, Shane, 1885-1971

Lord Mulroy's ghost; a play for an Irish national theatre. Prefaced by a historical note on the murder of the third Earl of Leitrim.

Dublin, At the Sign of the Three Candles [1954]

67 p.

It is listed as being in the Rare Book/Special Collections Reading Room.

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Quote:

The Pandora's Books Online site, based for some strange reason in Canada, but listing an address in North Dakota, lists the first American edition as having been published by Sheed and Ward, 1956.

Pandora is a Canadian firm with a branch "office" in North Dakota quite near the Niche, ND post office. This saves them a great deal of P&H costs when shipping to U.S. customers.

They are very pleasant people and I've enjoyed all my dealings with them.

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Lord Mulroy's Ghost

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