This letter was written by Denis Mangan (1894-1981) to Anna O'Rahilly (d.1958), offering his condolences upon the death of her brother Michael. In the letter Denis, who is on a mission in Africa, comments on the Rising, stating that it was a hopeless affair but that he believes the rebels had the best intentions and that hopefully some good can come from the sacrifice. Michael Joseph 'The' O'Rahilly (1875–1916) was a nationalist and a journalist. In 1916 he aligned himself with Eoin MacNeill and Bulmer Hobson who opposed a preemptive rising. Although O'Rahilly played a large role in delivering MacNeill's countermanding order he felt obligated to stand with the men he recruited and trained. O'Rahilly was fatally wounded on the Thursday 27 April when the GPO was being evacuated.