Hurley Family Emigrant Letters (Ref. U170)

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29 February 1932 Letter from Denis Hurley, Carson City, Nevada to his niece, Mary Deasy, Ahafore, Timoleague, County Cork. The winter has been ‘cold and stormy’, but it will promise an ‘abundance of water’ during the summer. Notes that De Valera won the election and hopes it will turn out for the best, but he would have voted for Cosgrave. There is ‘much clamour and legislation’ in America to aid the unemployed and ‘speed up the wheels of industry. A strange situation – hunger in the midst of plenty…’. It does not look like he can attend the Eucharistic Congress in Dublin, as he needs to hold on to his employment. He is much interested in the Congress and hopes the Irish nation ‘will show to the world that they knew how to preserve order and are worthy of their old reputation’. 2pp 9 June 1932 Letter from Denis Hurley, Carson City, Nevada to his niece, Mary Deasy, Ahafore, Timoleague, County Cork. He is glad they are all well. ‘Work gives health, health contentment and contentment happiness’. He hopes she will be at the Eucharistic Congress in Dublin. He had hoped to come to Dublin ‘and see the green flag floating from the Castle. As Thomas Davis said, ‘See from the Castle the green banner waves, bearing fit motto for uprisen slaves, now or never, now and forever’. He had a letter from her sister Aileen who was departing for Ireland. Hopes the economic depression will be ‘much helped’ before her return to the shores of America. Mentions upcoming national political conventions and nominations. He looks forward to news of her pilgrimage (to Dublin). 2pp 15 August 1932 Letter from Denis Hurley, Carson City, Nevada to his niece, Mary Deasy, Ahafore, Timoleague, County Cork. Congratulates her on her visit to Dublin to attend the Eucharistic Congress. Thanks her for the papers and souvenir card. Mentions the Chicago Congress where electric cars took 4 hours to go 40 miles. Notes ‘It must be galling to the spirit of old Trinity to see such a Catholic outpouring in Dublin’. Irish athletes with General O’Duffy are at the Olympic games in Los Angeles, where Pat O’Callaghan won the hammer throwing. Observes that the ‘government is making great efforts to help the country over the depression with only a small measure of success so far’. Hopes that her children do well at school and that the crops are good even if prices are low. 2pp

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