Letter from James Finn to May Fay, 11 March 1916 Letters 1916-1923 James Finn

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 Austrian Centre for Digital Humanities Vienna, AT 2026

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Letter from James Finn (1877-1922) to May Fay (1897-1976) concerning the watch James had ordered from Hopkins for Fay and their upcoming marriage. James Finn was a civil servant, working in the National Health Service Commission on Mount Street. While neither James nor May were politically active their letters provide a very unique insight into the affairs of Easter Week and its aftermath. James died in 1922 as a result of the flu epidemic, May was pregnant with their fourth child at the time.May Fay became engaged to James Finn in January 1916. Despite the twenty year age gap their letters show a very personal and private insight into courting in early 20th century Ireland. She held on to his letters as her reminder of him. May never remarried and focused her attention instead on her businesses in order to provide for their children.

 Finn Family Collection NULL, NULL https://letters1916.ie/item/1335 English James Finn 1916-03-11 National Health Insurance Commission, Pembroke House, Upper Mount Street, Dublin, Irelans May Fay Togherstown, Ballinea, Westmeath, Ireland Male Personal Relations

The data in these XML files was generated based on a data dump from the Magellan database (https://github.com/Maynooth-Center-for-Digital-Humanities/Magellan). Each database record has been converted to a JSON file (https://github.com/letters1916static/letters-data/tree/main/json). The element section of the JSON file contains the TEI-encoded contents of the letters. The TEI XML has been cleaned and made well-formed using a Python script (https://github.com/letters1916static/letters-data/tree/main/src).

 for two people to live together day in day out without little quarrels (I suppose even you and I will quarrel sometimes — I know I have a rather sullen temper) but I think you are both too sweet— tempered to be out for very long. With God’s blessing we will all live happy and contented together and when I get out of temper, I hope I will always think of the sweet trustfulness and confidence so freely shown to me by the dear girl who gave herself to me in the first flower of her youth and beauty. Now that may sound a bit high flowing but it is all, my darling, true and sincere and heartfelt. Glad to hear that Christy is doing so well. Give my regards to your mother, Nano and all. I send you a thousand kisses and warmest and most heartfelt love. Yours for ever & ever James NATIONAL HEALTH COMMISSION (IRELAND), PEMBROKE HOUSE, UPPER MOUNT STREET, DUBLIN. 11th March,1916. My ever dearest darling, I was more disgusted and disappointed this morning than I can explain when I saw from your letter that you had not received the watch. Hopkins people made it up in a box in my presence on Thursday and sealed it for dispatch at onceto the post. They wouldn’t let me take it myself as they assured me that it would go off without delay. This was at 3 o’clock and I can’t understand why you should not have got it yesterday morning without fail especially as it was registered. I trust however it has turned up this morning. I was so anxious yesterday that there should be no hitch that when I got your letter saying you had been invited to Mary Kelly’s I called up O’Leary, the manager, on the telephone and questioned him closely as to whether the watch had certainly gone off all right on Thursday. I am very much annoyed over it, especially as I wanted to give you the pleasure of the surprise in getting it a day sooner than you had expected. I hope I may have a note from you in the morning to say that it arrived all right. You say that you are anxious to have the watch for a reason that I can guess. Well you can understand how anxious I am that you should have it for the very same reason, that I love my dearest girl above and far beyond anything else in this world. I’m not ashamed to say that to you although you seem to be shy of saying the same. Still I hope that it is true although you don’t say it. Thanks, love for the kisses. You wouldn’t ask “who is good in the holy season to send them”. I know very well that my dear sweet girl is always good so that I hope you won’t expect me to take too seriously the references to loaded consciences and sin and all the rest of it. I imagine the priest must have a job to keep from laughing sometimes when he hears your “sins”. I was very much amused to hear about the rush of marriages in Mitchelstown. I don’t imagine our case would have been so bad if we had suddenly taken the sweet madness of getting married last week. Anyhow the hurry and little difficulties of that sort add to the pleasant romance and the dear happiness of carrying off your own little wife almost by main force and marrying her out of hand. The more I think of it, the more I’m sorry I didn’t do it so there’s no use your trying to frighten me by horrible examples from Mitchelstown. I taxed my mother with what you told me about Father Moran and she only laughed so I don’t think she is inclined to be too downhearted over our marriage. I feel quite sure that you and she will get on famously and will grow to like each other more the more you see of each other. Of course it’s not always easy James Finn Letter from James Finn to May Fay, 27th May 1916Letter from James Finn to May Fay, 30 May 1916Letter from May Fay to James Finn, [1916]Letter from May Fay to James Finn, 29 May 1916Letter from May Fay to James Finn, 1 June 1916.Letter from James Finn to May Fay, 1 June 1916Letter from James Finn to May Fay, 13 January 1916Letter from James Finn to May Fay, 16 January 1916Letter from May Fay to James Finn, 14 January 1916Letter from May Fay to James Finn, 19 January 1916Letter from May Fay to James Finn, 22 January 1916Letter from James Finn to May Fay, 21 January 1916Letter from James Finn to May Fay, 23 January 1916Letter from May Fay to James Finn [24] January 1916Letter from May Fay to James Finn, 25 January 1916Letter from James Finn to May Fay, 27 January 1916Letter from James Finn to May Fay, 20 Feb 1916Letter from May Fay to James Finn, 21 February 1916Letter from James Finn to May Fay, 22 February 1916Letter from James Finn to May Fay, 6 March 1916Letter from James Finn to May Fay, 8 March 1916Letter from James Finn to May Fay, 11 March 1916Letter from James Finn to May Fay, 13 March 1916Letter from James Finn to May Fay, 22 March 1916Letter from James Finn to May Fay, 29 March 1916Letter from James Finn to May Fay, 2 April 1916Letter from James Finn to May Fay 18 May 1916Letter from James Finn to May Fay 23 May 1916Letter from James Finn to May Fay, 26th May 1916Letter from May Fay to James Finn, 26 January 1916Letter from May Fay to James Finn, 27 January, 1916Letter from James Finn to May Fay, 9 February 1916Letter from May Fay to James Finn, early February 1916Letter from James Finn to May Fay, 11 February 1916Letter from May Fay to James Finn,14 February 1916Letter from James Finn to May Fay, 15 February 1916Letter from May Fay to James Finn, 19 February 1916Letter from James Finn to May Fay, 19 February 1916Letter from May Fay to James Finn, 23 February 1916Letter from James Finn to May Fay, 24 February 1916Letter from May Fay to James Finn, 25 February 1916Letter from May Fay to James Finn, 4 March 1916Card from May Fay to James Finn, 6 March 1916Letter from May Fay to James Finn, 7 March 1916Letter from May Fay to James Finn, 7 March 1916Letter Card from May Fay to James Finn, 9 March 1916Letter from James Finn to May Fay, 9 March 1916Letter from James Finn to May Fay, 14 March 1916Letter from May Fay to James Finn, 15 March 1916Letter from James Finn to May Fay, 19 March 1916Letter from James Finn to May Fay, 21 March 1916Letter from James Finn to May Fay, 23 March 1916Letter from May Fay to James Finn 23 March 1916Letter from May Fay to James Finn, 24 March 1916Letter from May Fay to James Finn, 29 March 1916Letter from May Fay to James Finn, 30 March 1916Letter from James Finn to May Fay, 30 March 1916Letter from May Fay to James Finn, 31 March 1916Letter from James Finn to May Fay, 31 March 1916Letter from James Finn to May Fay, 1 April 1916Letter from James Finn to May Fay, 3 April 1916Letter from James Finn to May Fay, 4 April 1916Letter from James Finn to May Fay, 5 April 1916Letter from May Fay to James Finn, 6 April 1916Letter from James Finn to May Fay, 12 April 1916Letter from May Fay to James Finn, 12 April 1916Letter from James Finn to May Fay, 13 April 1916Letter from James Finn to May Fay 14 April 1916Letter from James Finn to May Fay, 15 April 1916Letter from May Fay to James Finn 16 April 1916Letter from James Finn to May Fay, 19 April 1916Letter from May Fay to James Finn, 19 April 1916Letter from James Finn to May Fay, c. 30 April 1916Letter from James Finn to May Fay, 3 May 1916Letter from May Fay to James Finn, 7 May 1916Letter from James Finn to May Fay, 8 May 1916Letter from James Finn to May Fay, 10 May 1916Letter from May Fay to James Finn 10 May 1916Letter from James Finn to May Fay 11 May 1916Letter from James Finn to May Fay 16 May 1916Letter from James Finn to May Fay 19 May 1916Letter from James Finn to May Fay 22 May 1916Letter from James Finn to May Fay 20 May 1916Letter from May Fay to James Finn 22 May 1916Letter from May Fay to James Finn 23 May 1916Letter from May Fay to James Finn 29 May 1916Letter from May Fay to James Finn 31 May 1916Letter from May Fay to James Finn 1 June 1916 May Fay Letter from James Finn to May Fay, 27th May 1916Letter from James Finn to May Fay, 30 May 1916Letter from May Fay to James Finn, [1916]Letter from May Fay to James Finn, 29 May 1916Letter from May Fay to James Finn, 1 June 1916.Letter from James Finn to May Fay, 1 June 1916Letter from James Finn to May Fay, 13 January 1916Letter from James Finn to May Fay, 16 January 1916Letter from May Fay to James Finn, 14 January 1916Letter from May Fay to James Finn, 19 January 1916Letter from May Fay to James Finn, 22 January 1916Letter from James Finn to May Fay, 21 January 1916Letter from James Finn to May Fay, 23 January 1916Letter from May Fay to James Finn [24] January 1916Letter from May Fay to James Finn, 25 January 1916Letter from James Finn to May Fay, 27 January 1916Letter from James Finn to May Fay, 20 Feb 1916Letter from May Fay to James Finn, 21 February 1916Letter from James Finn to May Fay, 22 February 1916Letter from James Finn to May Fay, 6 March 1916Letter from James Finn to May Fay, 8 March 1916Letter from James Finn to May Fay, 11 March 1916Letter from James Finn to May Fay, 13 March 1916Letter from James Finn to May Fay, 22 March 1916Letter from James Finn to May Fay, 29 March 1916Letter from James Finn to May Fay, 2 April 1916Letter from James Finn to May Fay 18 May 1916Letter from James Finn to May Fay 23 May 1916Letter from James Finn to May Fay, 26th May 1916Letter from May Fay to James Finn, 26 January 1916Letter from May Fay to James Finn, 27 January, 1916Letter from James Finn to May Fay, 9 February 1916Letter from May Fay to James Finn, early February 1916Letter from James Finn to May Fay, 11 February 1916Letter from May Fay to James Finn,14 February 1916Letter from James Finn to May Fay, 15 February 1916Letter from May Fay to James Finn, 19 February 1916Letter from James Finn to May Fay, 19 February 1916Letter from May Fay to James Finn, 23 February 1916Letter from James Finn to May Fay, 24 February 1916Letter from May Fay to James Finn, 25 February 1916Letter from May Fay to James Finn, 4 March 1916Card from May Fay to James Finn, 6 March 1916Letter from May Fay to James Finn, 7 March 1916Letter from May Fay to James Finn, 7 March 1916Letter Card from May Fay to James Finn, 9 March 1916Letter from James Finn to May Fay, 9 March 1916Letter from James Finn to May Fay, 14 March 1916Letter from May Fay to James Finn, 15 March 1916Letter from James Finn to May Fay, 19 March 1916Letter from James Finn to May Fay, 21 March 1916Letter from James Finn to May Fay, 23 March 1916Letter from May Fay to James Finn 23 March 1916Letter from May Fay to James Finn, 24 March 1916Letter from May Fay to James Finn, 29 March 1916Letter from May Fay to James Finn, 30 March 1916Letter from James Finn to May Fay, 30 March 1916Letter from May Fay to James Finn, 31 March 1916Letter from James Finn to May Fay, 31 March 1916Letter from James Finn to May Fay, 1 April 1916Letter from James Finn to May Fay, 3 April 1916Letter from James Finn to May Fay, 4 April 1916Letter from James Finn to May Fay, 5 April 1916Letter from May Fay to James Finn, 6 April 1916Letter from James Finn to May Fay, 12 April 1916Letter from May Fay to James Finn, 12 April 1916Letter from James Finn to May Fay, 13 April 1916Letter from James Finn to May Fay 14 April 1916Letter from James Finn to May Fay, 15 April 1916Letter from May Fay to James Finn 16 April 1916Letter from James Finn to May Fay, 19 April 1916Letter from May Fay to James Finn, 19 April 1916Letter from James Finn to May Fay, c. 30 April 1916Letter from James Finn to May Fay, 3 May 1916Letter from May Fay to James Finn, 7 May 1916Letter from James Finn to May Fay, 8 May 1916Letter from James Finn to May Fay, 10 May 1916Letter from May Fay to James Finn 10 May 1916Letter from James Finn to May Fay 11 May 1916Letter from James Finn to May Fay 16 May 1916Letter from James Finn to May Fay 19 May 1916Letter from James Finn to May Fay 22 May 1916Letter from James Finn to May Fay 20 May 1916Letter from May Fay to James Finn 22 May 1916Letter from May Fay to James Finn 23 May 1916Letter from May Fay to James Finn 29 May 1916Letter from May Fay to James Finn 31 May 1916Letter from May Fay to James Finn 1 June 1916 National Health Insurance Commission, Pembroke House, Upper Mount Street, Dublin, Irelans Letter from James Finn to May Fay, 11 March 1916 Togherstown, Ballinea, Westmeath, Ireland Letter from James Finn to May Fay, 13 January 1916Letter from James Finn to May Fay, 16 January 1916Letter from May Fay to James Finn, 14 January 1916Letter from May Fay to James Finn, 19 January 1916Letter from James Finn to May Fay, 21 January 1916Letter from James Finn to May Fay, 23 January 1916Letter from May Fay to James Finn [24] January 1916Letter from May Fay to James Finn, 21 February 1916Letter from James Finn to May Fay, 22 February 1916Letter from James Finn to May Fay, 6 March 1916Letter from James Finn to May Fay, 8 March 1916Letter from James Finn to May Fay, 11 March 1916Letter from James Finn to May Fay, 13 March 1916Letter from May Fay to James Finn, 29 March 1916Letter from May Fay to James Finn, 30 March 1916Letter from James Finn to May Fay, 1 April 1916Letter from James Finn to May Fay, 3 April 1916Letter from James Finn to May Fay, 4 April 1916Letter from James Finn to May Fay, 12 April 1916Letter from May Fay to James Finn, 12 April 1916Letter from James Finn to May Fay, 3 May 1916Letter from May Fay to James Finn, 7 May 1916