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525-N.20th St Phila, Dear Madeleine, An acquaintance of
my brother's, hearing of poor O' Rahilly's
death, has written expressing his
regrets. He had heard of O' R. in convntion ect
with Lady Aberdeen and was much
interested in him. He encloses a cheque for
26 - asking Dr to get a draft for that amount,
and send it to Mrs. O'R from 'A
Sympathizer', no name to be mentioned.
Dr wrote at once saying that he knew
nothing of Mrs. O'R's affairs and did we
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know whether the cheque would be
acceptable or accepted, and suggested
keeping the t cheque until he could consult
with you what you thought best to
do. Will you advice with your family
and tell what you'd like done. I assure
you that it is from a person you do
not know, probably never saw, and
of course was sent absolutely from the
man's own initiative. Love to the
dear little boys, and love and never
ceasing prayers for all my dear ones there E.N.G
An acquaintance of the writer's brother, anonymous and unknown to Madeleine, upon
hearing of the death of 'The' O'Rahilly, sends a cheque, asking that a draft for the
same amount be sent to Mrs. O'Rahilly - the donor only wanting to be identified as
'a sympathiser'.Michael Joseph O'Rahilly, self-described as 'The' O'Rahilly, (1875-1916)
was involved in the procurement of arms in the lead-up to the Rising and was involved
in the Howth gun-running incident. He fought in the G.P.O. During the Rising and was
shot in Parnell/Moore Street on 28 April 1916 and died some time later. Nancy O'Rahilly
(1875-1961), his wife, was a member of the Provisional Council of Cumann na mBan at
the founding in 1914. Nancy was pregnant at the time of her husband's death – the
child was born three months later.