No. 185 NAI DT S5858
Memorandum from Colonel Joseph O'Reilly1 to William T. Cosgrave (Dublin)
(Personal)
Dublin, 22 February 1929
The President2
While I was in America recently a number of your friends whom I met asked me to put the following notes before you:-
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(1) Last year some American Bishops with their Secretaries paying their first visit to Ireland were landed in Queenstown about 2 o'clock one morning and they could not get accommodation in any of the Hotels; neither could they get motor cars to take them to Cork City. The result was that they waited the rest of the night in the Railroad premises. John J. Gallagher said that when he was landed in Queenstown last summer at about 3.30 a.m., he saw a number of people hanging about the Railroad premises, they having been landed from another Liner before him. Among the crowd was a Bishop, his secretary and several other priests. As he knew it was their first visit he put his car at their disposal to take them to Cork City. He and his family had to wait until his car returned from Cork. At the Banquet I attended the whole cry was why the Government did not take up the question of Hotels. P.J. Lawlor and John J. Gallagher suggest that the Government raise a bond drive to erect a number of hotels: the Government to have them built and to let them to private managements for a period until the cost of building etc., had been cleared. Then the Government could sell them. Gallagher and Lawlor said that there is a number of Hotel Managers in America ready to jump at them. (2) A complaint was made by a number of persons who spoke at the Banquet I attended that the Free State Government should abolish the very high duty they have put on American tourists who take their cars into Ireland for touring purposes. They stated that in other European countries their tourists were not taxed. They asked me to mention the matter to you, and to ask you to give it your kind consideration, as this duty on cars is stopping a great number from entering Ireland. They also asked that information on the matter be sent to America as soon as possible so as to get it publicity before people decide on their vacation. (3) Mr. Carberry, Editor 'Boston Post,' Boston, a great friend of Ireland. Not a day passes but he has some story in his paper about the good work of the present Government under the Presidency of President Cosgrave. This man asked me to put before you a scheme he has drawn up to get people interested, to talk about and visit Ireland. Suggestions:- |
| (a) | Why should I go to Ireland? | |
| (b) | What is there in Ireland? | |
| (c) | How can I enjoy a stay in Ireland when I know few people there? | |
| (d) | Is the scenery in Ireland as nice as people say? |
Mr. Carberry said a prize should be given of two free first class (return) passes to Ireland and would be a great hit for the best story written by any person on any of the above suggestions. The story will run in his paper 'which has an enormous circulation' for six or seven weeks, and he wants you to say what you think of the idea and if the Free State Government will help in the matter. Mr. Carberry spent the whole time in Ireland writing up the debate on the Treaty in University Building, and during his stay got very intimate with the late General Collins. He would like you to let him know as soon as possible what you think of his suggestion.
(4)3 Cardinal O'Connell, Boston, sends his regards and thanks you again for your kind invitation. He is very much interested in Ireland, but he is not able to say definitely yet if he will be able to visit Ireland this year. He is anxious to do so, but it all depends on what time is taken up in Rome. He told me to ask you not to have any fuss if he does come to Ireland - that he wants to see it quietly and at his ease.
(5) Another suggestion which was given out at the Banquets was that you be asked to arrange with the Free State Foreign Office that a good man or two be always at hand to meet well-to-do Americans when they arrive in Ireland, so that these Americans would get in touch with the proper people in the State. They said that this is done in other countries. If it were done in Ireland something useful might come of it. Mr. Sterling also mentioned this matter to me when returning home on the S.S. Majestic.
(6)4 Ex-Congressman J. O'Connell, 11, Beacon St., Boston, asks that the Government should appoint somebody to look after the preservation of the old abbeys around Ireland. One he mentioned in particular which requires special attention - St. Kevin's Oratory, Gougaunbarra, Co. Cork.
(7)5 Mr. Reilly and Mr. W. McGlenin of Philadelphia, told me to ask if you are sponsoring a Mr. Mullan who is supposed to be a representative of the Munster and Leinster Bank, Ireland, and who is at present collecting money towards the helping of Irish Industries. Mr. Murphy, Visa Office, New York, informed me that there is a file in the External Affairs Department here about this Mr. Mullan.
(8) Mr. P.J. Maloney and others said that Liam Burke6 or somebody else should be sent out there as soon as possible to finish the collecting of money. Mr. Maloney said that when Messrs. Dolan and Burke were there it was a very bad time as everybody in America was engaged in the Presidential Election. He said there was plenty of money to be had.
(9)7 Judge Cohalan and the friends of the late John Devoy want to know if they can get a private plot within the Patriots' Plot for the remains of the late John Devoy. They would like to get this private plot as near as possible to that of O'Donovan Rossa. If this cannot be done they say they have permission to bury Devoy in O'Donovan Rossa's plot.
They ask the Government to take charge of the remains when they arrive in Ireland, and, if possible, they would like the remains to lie in state in the City Hall, Dublin, for one day. The remains are to leave America on the 5th June, and at present the Judge8 and friends are negotiating to have the Liner land the remains in Dun Laoghaire.
Harry Cunningham asked me to let him know soon after I got back if the private plot can be secured, and if everything will be all right for receiving the remains when they arrive in Ireland. He said there will be a small Committee of friends which will leave America with the remains, but when they arrive in Ireland this Committee will leave everything to the Committee the Government appoints for carrying out the arrangements for the funeral.
Everywhere I went I had people of American blood calling on me to wish you every success. You certainly carried the whole people of the United States. Some of them want to know if you would visit them soon again.
[signed] Joe O'Reilly
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