Michael Gorman was one a large Catholic family living at a farm in Ballinalug, County Laois (then Queen's County). Susan Fitzgerald (d. 1980) 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.The letter was written before Susan had come to Dublin for her role in the Voluntary Aid Detachment, a voluntary group organised to give medical aid to wounded British army soldiers. She mentions that she will not be able to come to Dublin until after 31 January as she will be busy making her hospital clothes (uniform). She will then be staying in Mount Street for a night and afterwards in the Nurse's House. She refers to daily life, asks about mutual friends and requests that Michael hold on to a copy of Byron's poetry until she meets him.