Letter from Susan Fitzgerald to Michael Gorman, 8 January 1916

Foo, Bar; Bar, Foo

Letter from Susan Fitzgerald to Michael Gorman, 8 January 1916

1 RAHEENAHONE HOUSE, STRADBALLY, QUEENS CO. Friday Night My dear Mickie I was awfully
sorry to hear of your
Mother's death. It must
be a great relief to
her to be at rest, considering
how much she has
suffered and what a long
mass card from Nonnie 2 time she has been ill. It
is a very sad time
for you. I hope you
are not worrying too
much. I was away
staying down at Ballybrophy
and only arriving back
last night. How are you
getting on? I was delighted
to get your nice long
letter last week, & I'm
sure you couldn't miss
me half as much as I
miss you. I often think of
the very pleasant time
we had together. I had
al letter from the Matron
saying she might be
able to have me in
February & I 'm looking
forward to seeing you
again even though it
may be only occasionally
I might be staying in
the Nurse's Home, Mary's Rd.
I wonder where is that? 3 I have joined the V. A.. D.
Maryborough. The Commander
wanted me to stay & get
experience in Maryborough, but
that just wouldn't appeal
to me in the least. I
was expecting McAuley over
one evening last week, but
M r Barrett motored over
to say he alone had to go to
England & I don't know if
he is back yet. Did he
ring you up. I believe they're
going to Cahir soon & that is
an awful hole â€” not even a
Picture House . I have a few q With love Ever Yours 4 M D Gorman Esq; Albert Agricultural College Glasnevin Dublin

A letter from Susan Fitzgerald (1891-1980) to Michael Gorman. The letter was written while Michael was in the Agricultural College and Susan commiserates Michael on the loss of his mother after a long illness. She mentions that she had joined the Voluntary Aid Detachment (V.A.D.), a voluntary organisation providing nursing to wounded British army soldiers, but that she would not like to stay in Maryborough (now Portlaoise) to train.Michael Gorman was one of a large Catholic family living at a farm in Ballinalug, County Laois (then Queen’s County). Susan Fitzgerald was one a Church of Ireland family living in Raheenahone House near Stradbally, County Laois, also in the Slieve Bloom mountains. At the time the letter was written they were involved in a courtship but owing to the religious difference the love affair had to be kept secret. Eventually both were in Dublin: he in the Albert Agricultural College in Glasnevin (where he eventually became Professor of Agricultural Botany and Biochemistry and she as a volunteer nurse in the Royal Hospital in Baggot Street. They eventually went to London to marry.

Susan Fitzgerald
Michael Gorman
1916-01-08
World War I (1914-1918) Personal Relations

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How to cite

Letters 1916, published by the Austrian Centre for Digital Humanities, Vienna, 2026 (https://letters1916static.github.io/letters1916-static/item__0519.html)