Item 6 - Letter from John O’Connor Power

9 pp; Manuscript

Letter from John O’Connor Power (1846-1919), St. Jarlath’s College, Tuam, County Galway, to a ‘dear friend’, referring to the possibility of forming an Irish brigade to serve in France. The letter reads ‘Late events in France have so depressed our people that, I do not see how anything can be done except in the vicinity of large towns. You will get no man in these parts to offer his life in the place of the “Garde nationale” who run away so frequently unless for a large consideration and since all can’t be officers the consideration will not be forthcoming’. He also refers to his friend ‘John Mahony of 32 Mill Street Cork’. A summary note is attached to the letter and reads ‘John O’Connor Power, St. Jarlath’s, Tuam, 2 Feb. 71 / “non arrival of the parcel / “Quirke” / “Mr John O’Farrell / “O’Phelan” / Mahony in Cork / J.N.’. Both the summary note, and the letter are endorsed ‘7199’.

For biographical information on John O’Connor Power (1846-1919) see https://www.dib.ie/biography/power-john-oconnor-a7457