Handwritten letter from John A. Costello
to Brother Edward F. Clancy¹ (Dublin)

I am very grateful for your thoughtfulness in writing to sympathise with me on the death of Joe Walshe. I have lost a very old and very valued friend and advisor. In addition he was nearly part of my family. My wife and children loved him and he was my daughter’s Godfather. In fact it was he who gave her her name – Eavan. He was always full of kindness and hospitality to us all. I had been eagerly looking forward to his return as there were many points on international matters on which I wished to hear his wise views or seek his prudent counsel. In his private life he was unostentatiously saintly and I feel sure that he is now enjoying his eternal reward. It’s doubtful if it will be fully appreciated how much the Irish nation owes to his work in building up the institutions of the State, formulating and guiding national external policy and bringing closer our relations with the Holy See. It was plain to me, when I was privileged to have an Audience during the Holy Year, that the Holy Father held him in high esteem and affection.

His death is a grievous loss to us all.