TCG Letter #1180

Tolkien spent some time in the 1950s in Ireland and while there he stayed with the Hogan family. The father, Jeremiah worked with Tolkien during his visits. He wrote many times but few details are known. Jeremiah Hogan's son Tom wrote an article, 'Tolkien's time in 'Erin'' for the irish Times (see reference) and it contained some minor extracts from Tolkien's letters. These regard Tolkien's apparent desire to visit Ireland again.


Wayne G. Hammond and Christina Scull make few mentions of Tolkien's time in Ireland but in Chronology the following details are noted:

pp. 458-9 (20 July 1954) Tolkien was awarded an Honary D.Litt from the National University of Ireland, held at Iveagh House. Jeremiah Hogan gives the address. Hogan had attended Tolkien's first lecture as Rawlinson and Bosworth Professor at Oxford.

pp. 462-3 (9 September 1954) Writing to Rayner Unwin (Letter #149, see Carpenter #149: Letter from J.R.R. Tolkien to Rayner Unwin • 9 September 1954 (#394)) in portions not included in Carpenter's Letters of J. R. R. Tolkien Tolkien asks Rayner to send copies of The Fellowship of the Ring to various people including Jeremiah Hogan.

pp. 470-1 (23 December 1954) Tolkien sends Jeremiah a copy of the unbound page proofs of The return of the King, which includes some corrections by Tolkien. He sends the package to University College Dublin.

p. 521 (c. 6-20 July 1956) Tolkien is in Ireland and stays with the Hogan's for some of this time. He is acting, most likely, as External Examiner for the National University of Ireland.