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20th May 1916 My dear Nell I cannot tell
you how much I feel
for, & sympathise with
you, & dear Anna on the
death of poor Michael R.I.P.
Since the Post was allowed
to come here I've been
trying to write to you
but I feel things too
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much to be able to
speak of them, especially
as my letter must be public
& common property! However one thing must
ever be a comfort to
you, & that is that
Michael is surely in
Heaven. I cut (& mean to keep)
his Photo out of the Paper.
He died as a hero, & his
name shall live in History.
I am proud of being
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Irish. This Isle of ours is
indeed worthy to be called
'the Island of Saints & Martyrs'.
I must call to see you
as soon as I can. Poor
Dick, how I feel for him.
But we can only pray.
I know you'll be brave
& strong during this terrible
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time of trial. You
& Anna are far braver
than I should be
under the circumstances.
But enough now till
we meet, which I
hope shall be very
soon. With fondest
love to you & Anna
Shelia & Emmit. Yours affectionately
D.M.R.
This is a letter to Mary Ellen (‘Nell’) O’Rahilly. The letter concerns the death of
Mary O'Rahilly's brother, Michael, in which the author offers their condolence and
praises Michael for his actions. She informs Nell that she has cut Michael's photo
out of the paper as his name will 'live in History'.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. Nell was also involved in the Nationalist
movement as a member of Cumann na mBan and was imprisoned after the Rising for her
role.