Tips for writing for Irish political prisoners





DO



  • Include your full address on each letter. 

  • Attach sufficient airmail postage on each letter. U.S. Postage to Great Britain and Ireland (3/97): 
      Aerogrammes 50¢
      postcards 50¢
       letters up to .5 oz (usually 1-2 pages) 60¢
      letters up to 1 oz. (most longer letters) $1.00
       greeting cards treated like letters.
    

    

  •  Include the prisoner number if any; avoid any overtly political comments/stamps/stickers on envelopes.

    

  •  Remember that all letters in and out will be censored.

    

  •  Tell prisoner about yourself (hobbies and interests, if you study Irish history, language, etc.). If necessary, let them know if you are male or female.

    

  •  Ask general questions about their hometown, family, hobbies/interests, if they are studying anything.

    

  •  Make the letter interesting - but keep initial letters short.

    

  •  If you want to start a regular correspondence, ask prisoner to forward the letter to someone else if they donÕt have the time to write back.

    

  •  Be friendly and upbeat - write to them as you would write to any pen pal.

    

  •  Write to as many prisoners as you can. Your first letter to each one can be very similar, but don't make it sound like a 'form letter' either.

    

  •  Consider sending magazines and books (paperback only) on almost any subject.

    

  •  Be prepared for a certain amount of flirtation.

    

  •  Expect at least 3 weeks before you receive a response to each letter, longer around holidays.

     
    

    
DON'T
    

    

  •  Ask about politics or political affiliations, or the prisonerÕs case at the outset - let the prisoner bring it up.

    

  •  Romanticize the struggle or their role - most IPOWs will be embarrassed to be treated like a ÔheroÕ.

    

  •  Ask - or offer - anything of a very personal nature, due to the censors.

    

  •  Take it personally if you don't receive a reply - some prisoners will have no interest in writing or will be too busy. Don't be discouraged! Always write back and ask - sometimes letters in either direction Ôgo missingÕ

    

  •  Send valuable, perishable, electronic or remotely controversial items without asking first.

    

  •  Write with the intention of keeping a regular correspondence and then not follow through. 

    

Return to the IPOW information page
    
Go to list of prisoners
    
Go to list of prisons
    


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