Letter from Patrick Frealy, Parish Priest of Clifden, Galway.

Clifden, Galway

Sep 26th 1881

My dear Sir,

I am glad to inform you that most of the girls assisted by you

to emigrate as far as I could ascertain have been fairly

successful in America. On the other hand not a few have turned

out badly. And others have not even been heard of since they

entered the emigrant ship.

Very many of the Carna girls want of success is attributable to their ignorance of the English language and of household work. No doubt a great number of others would emigrate it they could get larger aid than you have hitherto given.

A society for their protection on landing would be a great boom & blessing to these poor girls who have never been 10 miles from home I think it should not be difficult to establish such a humane society. All that is required is someone of influence to take it up in New York & Boston.

The crops in this part of the country are not all-in-all an average

one. The potatoes are very bad in some land, at least two

thirds are rotten. If the small tenants of Connemara had the

land for nothing they could not live. The holdings are so small

& the land so sterile that the people will be always steeped in

poverty.

With sincere respect, believe me yours very truly,