County Clare Letter
I am posting the letter below for whatever good it may be for other listers.
The letter was found in the personal effects of my uncle after his death in
Illinois in 1988. The stamps and postmark had been cut from the envelope,
probably by a stamp collector. The letter was dated by the writer on January 10,
1941. Here are some of my own observations about the contents:
1. Some of the most outlandish statements led some of us to conclude, at
first, that the letter was a hoax. Other statements are simply wrong. E.G. The
letter refers to Father Flaherty, "who baptized you," which does not comport
with facts -- Uncle Dick was born and baptized in the USA.
2. Other statements seem to relate to vaguely-known relatives in Tipp. E.G.
The reference to "your Auntie Bridget" might relate to the Bridget Breen who
Uncle Dick's Mother wrote to in 1911-12.
3. Dislike for the British is a part of every Catholic Irish family
tradition, whether expressed or not. It is expressed here in pungent terms.
4. "Cousin Patrick" may be a relative of the O'Donnell side of my family.
He has a keen appreciation for the money his rich American cousins might send
-- a popular theme in the Irish tradition. A cynic might say this letter was a
fiction conceived for the sole purpose of wheedling money from a gullible
American.
With that, you may read the letter for chuckles, or for serious reflection on
the Irish condition. I can only hope that someone out there knows something
about Hughie O'Toole, Jimmy Rodgers, Pat Muldoon, Nellie O'Brien, and Father
Flaherty.
////Pat////
===========================
Tipperary, Ireland
Jan 10, 1941
Dear Cousin Dick:
Your welcome letter received and me and your
Antie Bridget thank you kindly for the money you
sent. We had seven Masses said for your grand father
and grand mother. God rest their souls.
You have done well in America, God bless you.
I hope you will not be putting on airs and forgetting
your native land. Your cousin, Hughie O'Toole,
was hung in Londonderry last week for killing a
Policeman. May God rest his soul and may God's
curse be on Jimmy Rodgers, the dirty Informant and
may he burn in hell. God forgive me.
Times are not so bad as they might be. The hiring
is back and instead of all the spuds we have change
but nearly every one has a hard time making ends meet
and the price of fish is good, thanks be to God.
We had a grand time at Pat Muldoon's wake. he
was an old Blathershit and it looked good to see him
stretched out with his big mouth closed he is better off
dead and he will burn till the damned place freezes
over. he had to many friends among the Orangemen,
God curse the lot of them and may God forgive me.
Bless your heart, I almost forgot to tell you about
your uncle Dinny. He took a pot shot at a turncoat in
back of a hedge but he had to much of the dirty drinks in
him and missed. God's curse on the dirty drink.
I hope this letter finds you in good health and may
God keep reminding you to keep sending money.
The Brennans are 100 percent strong around here since
they stopped going out to America. they have kids
running all over the county.
Father Flaherty, who baptized you, is now feeble
minded and sends you his blessings. Nellie O'Brien,
the brat you used to go to school with,
married an Englishman. She'll have no luck.
May God take care of the lot of you and keep you
from sudden death.
Your beloved cousin,
Patrick.
P.S. Things look bright again, every police barracks
and every Protestant church in Tipperary has
been burned to the ground, thanks be to God.
P.S. Keep sending money