Daniel Enright

Drumboe Castle,
Stranorlar,
Co. Donegal.

13/3/'23.

My loving mother,

I am writing you my last letter. The sentence of death is just after being passed upon me, but I am taking it like a soldier should. I am glad to meet my God and our Mother, so They will keep me safe until you will come to me. Now, my dear mother, I don't want you to be worrying over me, for I will pray for you and the lads, so Mod, take this like the rest of the mothers who had to put up with the same when their boys went from them. I am quite happy this night, so don't trouble about me, and God will keep you safe and the lads. Well Mod, I am getting the photos on to you, and my clothes, also some letters and my Beads, also Prayer Book and some other things. I expect you will get them all right.

Well Mod, myself and Tim are in the best of form, also Charlie Daly and John Larkin, four of us, so I am sure all their mothers will take it well, and mother, let you be brave and trust in God. All I am sorry for is I can't see you before I die, but God will spare you, Jack and Paddy, so Mod, comfort the lads and they will make you happy. Now mother, it is just one o'clock. I have five more hours to spend on old Ireland and thinking of you and the lads, but we are quite content with our fate.

You know Mod, it could be much worse. We are having the priest at six in the morning to have Mass and we were never so happy. Now Mod, I will write you another letter after Confession, so good-bye for the present.

Your loving boy,
DANIEL.

Drumboe Castle,
Stranorlar,
Co. Donegal.

13/3/'23

My dearest mother,

I am just after Confession. The Priest came here to comfort us. He was very nice. He did everything he could to make us happy, so now after having our minds made up, we are willing to meet our God, so long as I think you and the lads are happy. All the officers and men here were in to say good-bye to us. It was very kind of them.

Well my dear Mod, I have not long more to spend in my cell until I will be in my God's country, when I will look down and pray for you and the lads. Just say that you are glad, for I might not be prepared in the way I am at present.

Well, mother, I know you won't take this very well, but Mod, be like all the mothers of Ireland and trust in Our Lord, and He will turn things all right. Also, mother, maybe this might be for the better for us and our dear country. God will send you peace soon again, and you will have Jack at home and the rest of the boys, and they will cheer you for me.

So now, dear Mod, be brave for my sake and be good to the lads, Jack and Minnie. Poor little Nan - if I could only make her happy. But of course I don't much mind, so long as you and Jack are there to make them all happy. I will pray for Janey and Paddy for us all to meet some day in our Father's Kingdom.

Well Mod, the Priest is going to write to you to tell how we died, also all the people of Donegal are praying for us, so I think I could never be so happy as I am at present. Well now mother, I must write to Jack, so this is my last goodbye until we meet again in God's Home and His Mother's.

From your fond loving son,
DANIEL.

Drumboe Castle,
Stranorlar,
Co. Donegal.

13/3/'23.

My dear brother,

I am writing this to you and your chums. I am just after getting my sentence, myself and Tim and Charlie, also John Larkin. But we are taking it like soldiers. Our God has called upon us, so we were never so happy, and I hope you will take it the same. Well, dear Jack, we are after having the Priest. Thank God for giving us such a happy death. We are willing to meet our God in that Loving Kingdom.

Well now Jack, don't forget my mother and Nan. Be always near them, because you are all they have to comfort them, also Paddy. You will find him when you get out, and take him home to cheer up my mother for me. And look after Jane and Minnie. I know this will come very hard to you, but for my sake don't worry, for we are dying as we should like to die. So Jack, just say, 'He died for his country', and then I will be looking down on you and the lads.

Well now, my dear Jack, I have only a few more hours to stay. I will be in my God's Kingdom at eight in the morning, and praying for you and all my pals, and for my poor country, hoping God will send you all peace soon and make you happy. Well Jack, I am just after writing to my mother. God give her strength to bear it. Drop her a line when you get this and comfort her, and tell the lads I died happy. Well now, Jack, I must write a few more letters, so remember me to all my pals, Harry, Bill and Humphrey Cahill. Well, I will say good-bye now, only for a while until we meet again.

From your fond loving brother,
DANIEL.

Jack, be careful of my mother and the lads. God bless you.
DAN.

Drumboe Castle,
Stranorlar,
Co. Donegal.

13/3/'23.

My dear sister,

Just a little line to keep in remembrance of me, hoping this will find you and Jim in the best of form, as I was myself never so happy, also the rest of the boys, Tim, Charlie and John Larkin. Well, Minnie, I wrote to my Mod and Jack, hoping they will be brave, and you too, also Jim and poor little Kat and John. I was hoping to see them some day, but the will of God must be done, so I will wish to see them some other time. I hope Jim will be good to them, and to you, and I won't forget to watch over him.

Well, Minnie, I am writing for you and Nan and Jane to be good, and don't worry, but comfort my Mod and trust in God and His Blessed Mother and we will all meet together in Heaven. Well now, tell Nan not to forget that little night prayer she used to say, also Jane. Minnie, write to Jack and let him know what way my Mod will take it, for he will be troubled over her.

So now it is getting late, it is half past three, so I must try and write another letter or two. Dear Minnie remember me to all, Deila and Ned, also, my uncle. Tell him I wrote to him. Remember me to Maggie, Willie and Eddie. Also to Moss Connor, Peggy Sullivan and her mother and father, Mrs. Leahy, Son. Dandy, Polly, Nora Connor, also Nora McElligott. Tell her I am sorry, as I can't get her next letter, hoping she got the last. Well now, Minnie, I will say good-bye for the last time, and to Nan, Jane, Jim and the kids. God bless you.

Your loving brother,
DANIEL.

Remember me to Mrs. Fitz and Mick, Bob Slemon. So long.
DANIEL.

To Minnie, Nan, Jane.