Hurley Family Emigrant Letters (Ref. U170)

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4 September 1932 Letter from Denis Hurley, Carson City, Nevada to his niece, Catherine Hurley, Tawnies, Clonakilty, County Cork. Her letters are very instructive and contain much information. Observes that the Eucharistic congress ‘would be galling to the old time spirit of Trinity College’ and that some of that spirit survives in the Orange communities in the North of Ireland. ‘Dublin Castle’s former tenants would rub their eyes could they revisit their former haunts…Thank God for the change. Ireland showed the visitors….what the faith is in Ireland.’ Mentions the national convention of the Knights of Columbus, with the unveiling of a statue of Cardinal Gibbons. He is retired from that organisation and is an honorary member. The economic depression is showing ‘some signs of letting up’. Hopes the Ottawa Convention will improve relations between the Free State and England ‘…they both need friendship and not emnity between them’. 2pp 27 November 1932 Letter from Denis Hurley, Carson City, Nevada to his niece, [Catherine] McCarthy, County Cork. Congratulates Catherine on her marriage, ‘It is a nice thing…that you were not forced to roam, a comfortable living at home is more desireable than seeking one’s fortune abroad’. Concerning America he writes that ‘In this land of plenty the economic conditions are upside down…farm products very low, millions out of employment and many hungry…a dozen of our banks had to close’. He was fortunate in being a bank shareholder for many years, but now the stock value has been ‘wiped out’. Asks concerning the crops on the new farm. Observes that European Governments ‘don’t like to pay their loans’. 2pp 25 October 1933 Letter from Denis Hurley, Carson City, Nevada to his niece, Mary Deasy, Ahafore, Timoleague, County Cork. Congratulates her on the birth of her new baby, ‘You are doing your part to increase the population of Ireland’. Mentions his new pastor Father O’Grady, a native of Tipperary, who attended the Eucharistic Congress in Dublin and reported that people followed the services over the radio, and that ‘the people were generally well off and giving big fortunes to their daughters’. Observes that the United States government is making every effort to provide employment and to increase prices for farm produce. Changes in the courts may effect his position, but ‘It is about time I should retire anyway’.

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