Sylvia Mary Duffin (Molly)

Born on 7th September 1892, Sylvia Mary Duffin (Molly) received, like her siblings, a good education at an English boarding school. Her mother Maria and sisters Emma and Ruth also feature in this timeline.

At age 18, Molly continued her education in Karlsruhe in Germany, where she studied German, sculpting, music, cookery, and enjoyed the culture of the city at concerts, opera and balls.

While there, she mixed in the upper circles of German society, attending functions where the Kaiser and Kaiserina were present. However, at the weekends she also enjoyed playing in mixed hockey matches, as well as touring some of the notable places nearby.

Her diary evolves from a stilted schoolgirlish hand to a more mature, flowing writing style as she travels from Germany back to Ireland, maintaining along the way a sharp focus on national and social traits.

Researcher: Linda English

PRONI Reference for Diary: D2109/18/1 (Thanks to Mr. Michael Duffin)