1 28 th May, 1916 51, QUEEN'S ROAD, RICHMOD, SURREY. Dear Madame O'Rahilly, Your note now received
will have my immediate attention, as well
as any further facts that you or any friends
are good enough to send me. I feared to write to you during the terrible
time that has passed, feeling that it would
be an intrusion amounting to desecration.
Of late needless to say, my heart bleeds for you.
I watched the papers closely during the early
days, looking for a certain name. At length
it appeard, first in the Globe, and I thought my
heart would break. The soul of frankness and
chivalry in the bloom of youth cut off. I was
alone Mrs G. being in Ireland unable to return here. 2 No on to speak to who could understand.
When at length she returned, I threw myself
on her lap and cried bitterly. English servants
thought I had gone mad. 'My poor dear
O'Rahilly dead. So manly, so grand looking,
so grander still in manner and at heart.' If I suffered so, God alone knows
how much you must have suffered.
there is, of course, the vast consolation that
he laid down his life in the cause and in
the manner that makes him immortal to
our race. It would be terrible if no
photograph remained of one who was so
dearly loved by countless thousands.
We must do all we can to avert that. I wish you to know about two
schemes we have in hands, so that you
may give us the benefit of any suggestions that occur to you, and may mention
them to friends willing to co-operate. 1. We want as soon as possible, all
authentic facts of the insurrection, while they are
fresh in the minds of witnesses, to have a
connected narrative codified by a competent
hand, done in English, French, Spanish, etc.
and circulated all over the world; to
counteract the lies of the enemy. 2. We are energetically organising the
collection of a friend in London and throughout
Britain for relief of dependants of all sufferers
but especially of those whose men are dead,
and who what will neither get nor take from any
other source. We are trying to get a committee formed
in Dublin for each of those great purposes. With deepest sympathy from Mrs. Ginnell
and myself, I remain, Dear Madam O'Rahilly Sincerely yours L. Ginnell