No. 168 NAI DFA 401/13/1
Dublin, 31 July 1946
Dear High Commissioner,
You may like to know that the Taoiseach sent G.[eorge] B.[ernard] S.[haw] a personal telegraphic message for his 90th birthday. The message read:-
'An chéad go mairir i bhfus - agus an tsiorraíocht ins an Bhflaitheas.
Éamon de Valera.'
It is an old Irish aspiration, meaning, of course, 'May you have a hundred years here - and eternity in Heaven'.
The Taoiseach was amused at the idea of G.B.S. in Heaven, but, as the old man will hardly understand the message, it will probably be lost on him.
Yours sincerely,
(Signed) F.H. Boland
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