Thomas Power to Mary Davitt, 14th September 1907. IE TCD MS 9376/1049

IE TCD MS 9376/1049: Letter from Thomas Power of Thomas Power & Co., makers of Blackwater Cider, Dungarvan, Co. Waterford to Mary Davitt, Glenageary, Co. Dublin dated 14th September 1907 in response to Mary's call for letters written by her late husband Michael: "Seeing by the public press that you have asked for the use of any letters etc written by your late much lamented and patriotic husband Michael Davitt I have pleasure in sending you herewith two letters that I have come across written in connection with a labour demonstration held in Dungarvan in the year 18 Mr. Davitt came down from Dublin on Saturday afternoon. Spent the night in Clonmel with Mr. Tom Condon M.P. and drove over to Dungarvan 24 Irish miles on Sunday morning. He left Clonmel on that morning in an outside car at 5 o'clock. I drove over with my friend Mr. John Greene in a carriage and pair of horses to meet him, and met him midway on the journey. It was raining heavily at the time and myself and friend felt much for Mr. Davitt seeing him drenched almost to the skin. On our arrival in Dungarvan the day had cleared beautifully. We subsequently drove to the village of Ballinagoul, Ring where Mr. Davitt examined the hovels of the poor labourers and fishermen and found that he only saw one other village in Ireland that could compare with it in the squalor of the habitations. On our return from Ring a public meeting was held in the Square, Dungarvan. There was an immense crowd of labourers, fishermen, farmers and townspeople and Mr. Davitt received a remarkably warm and enthusiastic reception.He was met outside the town and on his return from Ring by the Dungarvan brass band. He stayed in town that night and was accompanied to the railway station in the morning by the band and a large number of townspeople. There was no man either living or dead that did so much for the betterment of the Irish labourers - especially as regard their proper housing as the late Mr. Davitt. May he rest in peace... P.S. The resolution i.e amnesty shows the unremitting zeal displayed by the dead patriot on behalf of the political prisoners."