MS letters from Jane Davis to John McGahern. Davis was editor of The Reader magazine, and writing from c/o the Dept of English, University of Liverpool. Davis writes seeking a story by McGahern for inclusion in a future issue of the magazine. He offers to include "Reading and Writing", previously published but offered as a re-print to the magazine. Davis sends comments and thanks for the offer.

Two manuscript letters from American poet, Jean Valentine. One letter writes in thanks for books given to Valentine by McGahern after meeting with John and Madeline McGahern. The other thanks McGahern for arranging medical consultation for Valentine on an injury.

File of manuscript letters from Jimmy Swift to John McGahern. Swift was a close personal friend of McGahern from Dublin. The letters discuss their respective literary interests, comments on McGahern's stories and novels, and general personal news and discussions.

File of MS and TS letters from Joe Dowling, Artistic Director of the Abbey Theatre, Dublin, to John McGahern, sending an expression of interest for receipt of a play by McGahern for consideration should he wish, and with further added comments on McGahern's writing from Dowling.

Letters from Joe Kennedy, journalist and friend of John McGahern.

Manuscript letters from Joe Slater, Colgate University, New York, to John McGahern, discussing Department matters and teaching within the department where McGahern worked, news of colleagues, travel and holiday plans, and related conversation.

Three manuscript letters from John Dillon, later (and final) leader of the Irish Parliamentary Party. Opens the letter dated 19 July 1890 mentioning David Sheehy "goes over tonight" and discusses agitations around evictions and tenants; Dillon has formed "a very bad opinion" of James Downey and arrangements for Sheehy to meet with O'Mara in Limerick.
Letter dated 11 Jul 1890 mentions enclosure of cheque for £18 for O'Mara for house repairs at Glensharrold.
Letter dated 5 Jul 1890 also mentions tenants, written on House of Commons Library headed paper.

Files of manuscript and typescript letters from John McGahern to various including writers, editors, family, and friends.
These are the original letters which are transcribed and published in "The Letters of John McGahern" edited by Frank Shovlin (Faber and Faber 2021). The files of letters present include from John McGahern to:
Patsy Murphy, Tom Callan, Jimmy Swift, Anne Annerson, Susannah Cappon, Patrick Gregory, Debbie Newt (Colgate), Neil and Mary Joy, Brian Friel, Nicholas and Eleanor Grene, Madeline McGahern, Mr. Charleton, Jason Epstein, Matthew Evans, Peter Lennon, Dympna McGahern, Tony Swift, Patrick Gregory, Stanley Van Der Ziel, Faber and Faber (re. Ligne de Fond Cover), Clare Rehill Robertson, J.D. Langton and Passmore (Colgate), Mary Keelan, Charles Monteith, Maggie Pernod, Donald, Ian Jack, Mary Kay Wilmer, and Dolores Cleary. Letter to a Sophie [ ], with comment "letters ...are never quite honest".
Also a piece of manuscript quotation by McGahern, with labelling as being "...Quoting Critique of "Walking along the Border".

Manuscript letters written by John McGahern to Sean Brehony, Galway over a period between 1962 and [1966]. The letters are written by McGahern from addresses such as 23 Forest Drive, London E. 11; 7 Powis Court, London, W.11; Almeira, Spain and also Helsinki, Finland. Letters are mainly personal in detail and discussion - topics relate to experiences of McGahern in and of the locations he is writing from. In one, he mentions "the book comes out May the 6th" and that he has sent a copy to Brehony but asks him not to loan it to anyone. Letter of 17 January 1966 discussing teaching and also adds that the B.B.C. hope to make a documentary "on the world of the Barracks and the Dark". These letters were received through the generosity of the Brehony family, Galway.

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.