Letter from Louis J. Walsh

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LUGAID BREATNAC, BPEITEAIN TOE'N GUIPT TUITCE. (LOUIS J. WALSH, JUSTICE OF THE DISTRICT COURT) LEITIR-CEANAINN, 1 TIR-CONAILL. (LETTERKENNY. CO. DONEGALL) March 29th. 1930. My Dear Father. We have all heard with pride and joy and gratitude to God that " Ards" has become " Ard- Mhuire"; that the brown habit of St. Francis has come back to Donegal, I hope for ever; and above all that the Holy Mass is being offered up every morning in the halls where alien lords revelled and plotted against our religion and our race. " Is iomda cor ar an tsaoghal", mar adeir na sean daoine, and God is a wise avenger,- gloir dA Ainm! I hasten to welcome you to the county. Your monastery will add wonderful richness to the spiritual life of Tirchonaill and of Ulster and bring down countless blessings on us all. I hope that now you have become part of Ulster, you will make it a special intention in your Community to ask God each day to restore the unity of our dismembered province. Only prayer will achieve that for us. I pass Ard- Mhuire twice every month on my way to Courts in Dunfanaghy and Falcarragh, and if you permit me I would like to call to see your house and all of you some time. If you could spare a few hours some day I would bring you along to Falcarragh where you will hear a great deal of my Court work done in the national language. My Falcarragh Court is on the 4th. Tuesday. I will have a card- load in April, as I am bringing a couple of the children to leave them in Rann na Feirsde for a month's Irish; but I might be able to arrange to take you with me in May. One thing we need very badly in this part of Ulster is a place in which laymen could make retreats. If your students are ever away on holidays, Ard- Mhuire would be a xxx delightful spot for such a purpose. If the Bishop would sanction such a proposal, and you could make the necessary arrangements, I think it would be possible to arrange for a Retreat in the Summer under the auspices of the Vincent De Paul Society. If the project is feasible, let me know; and I would bring down the President of our Conference,- Dr. MacGinley, a very fine young man, full of faith,- some evening to discuss details with you. I have a boy,- my eldest son,- going in for the Solicitors' " Final" next week ( 2nd. and 3rd. April). I enclose xxxxxxxx offering (15/-), and I will be grateful if you can arrange to have a Mass celebrated on Wednesday and Thursday for his success. Anois, cuirim ceud mile failte romhaibh go TirChonaill, agus ' si mo ghuidhe go dtugaidh Dia gach beannacht orraibh agus ar bhur gcuid oibre. Is Mise Do Chara, Lugaid Breatnac. Pray for me and for my family and my intentions. L. J. W.