Letter 4th December 1938 From: Colm O'Brien London, England To: Deirdre MacKenna Belfast, Northern Ireland Dearest Deirdre, mo mhuirnín. It has been nearly five years since we last met, yet I can still hear the enchanting sound of your voice in my ears. As I draw nearer to completing my apprenticeship I've begun counting the days until I may return to Belfast, and to your side. Your last letter brought much delight to everyone, they delight in hearing tales of the misadventures of your students and agree that you must be the most understanding of teachers to put up with them! Work here has been neverending, which is useful for occupying my mind during the day and ensuring I fall quickly to sleep in the evening. I must confess that it's not just thoughts of missing you occupying my mind and keeping me awake. Germany is only becoming more aggressive, and since September I've been hearing whispers in the street that England is preparing for war. I've given it all the thought I can spare, and though as an irishman I will not be conscripted for war I feel it's my duty to volunteer for service in the British Army. I know what you will say, that we've been separated for too long already, that I need not risk my life, but I know I must do this. I've spent nigh on five years in England, and during this time it has been my home. Please forgive me mo mhuirnín dílis, a chuisle mo chroí. I await your [[reply|December 1938]]. Always and forever yours, Colm

Telegram From Deirdre MacKenna 16.12.1938 To: Colm O'Brien Are you mad STOP <i>From Colm O'Brien 17.12.1938 To: Deirdre MacKenna Is my duty STOP Please forgive me making you wait for me </i> From Deirdre MacKenna 19.12.1938 To: Colm O'Brien [[Would wait 10 years STOP worried for your life STOP]] [[I've waited for you long enough STOP]] [[You mustn't volunteer mo chroi STOP]]

From Colm O'Brien 20.12.1938 To: Deirdre MacKenna Do not fret love STOP my friends and I will protect each other [[Deirdre Reply 1]]

From Colm O'Brien 20.12.1938 To: Deirdre MacKenna Understand completely THE END

From Colm O'Brien 20.12.1938 To: Deirdre MacKenna My family has a tradition of serving STOP Following in my fathers and his fathers footsteps [[Deirdre Reply 1]]

From Deirdre MacKenna 22.12.1938 To: Colm O'Brien [[You mustn't volunteer STOP I'll leave you]] [[You mustn't volunteer STOP I'm pregnant]] [[I understand love STOP I pray daily that it won't come to war]]

From Colm O'Brien 25.12.1938 To: Deirdre MacKenna [[Love if I thought that true I would be back tomorrow STOP Merry Christmas mo chroi|Deirdre Reply 2]]

From Colm O'Brien 25.12.1938 To: Deirdre MacKenna [[We've not seen each other since 1933 STOP Give my congratulations to the father STOP Merry Christmas Mo Chroi|Deirdre Reply 2]]

From Deirdre MacKenna 27.12.1938 To: Colm O'Brien Merry Christmas mo mhuirnin [[September 1939]]

From Colm O'Brien 25.12.1938 To: Deirdre MacKenna [[I knew you would understand STOP Merry Christmas Mo Chroi|Deirdre Reply 2]]

From Colm O'Brien 02.09.1939 To: Deirdre MacKenna Have just received orders sending us to France STOP will write when I can [[Deirdre Reply 3]]

From Deirdre MacKenna 03.09.1939 To: Colm O'Brien [[Can they drop you off in Belfast on the way]] [[Watch out for the French girls]] [[Stay safe, send word as often as you can|Colm Reply]]

From Colm O'Brien 29.09.1939 To: Deirdre MacKenna Asked but alas they were not taking requests [[Deirdre Reply 4]]

From Colm O'Brien 29.09.1939 To: Deirdre MacKenna Alas but I already took a wife STOP I think you would like her [[Deirdre Reply 4]]

From Deirdre MacKenna 14.10.1939 To: Colm O'Brien Glad you keep your sense of humour STOP will write soon [[Colm Reply]]

From Deirdre MacKenna 16.10.1939 To: Colm O'Brien Always mo chroi [[Christmas 1940]]

*Narrative Text* The war intensifies. Colm and Dee exchange letters and telegrams through the year, Colm telling stories of his fellow soldiers and his time in France and Dee regaling them all with stories of her students, and life in Belfast. Together they plan for the future and Colm's return from the war, both refusing to acknowledge that it may never happen. [[Colm Reply 1940]]

From Colm O'Brien 23.12.1940 To: Deirdre MacKenna My heart is heavy at the thought of another Christmas away mo chroi [[Deirdre Reply 5]]

From Deirdre MacKenna 24.12.1940 To: Colm O'Brien [[Pray my last letter reach you before Christmas, that it may give you comfort]] [[Surely this must all be over soon mhuirnin STOP I can scarecely bare it]]

From Colm O'Brien 30.12.1940 To: Deirdre MacKenna it reached me just prior to your last telegram STOP it was a ray of sun on the cloudiest day [[April 1941]]

From Colm O'Brien 30.12.1940 To: Deirdre MacKenna I pray for a swift end to the war often but I do not trust a hope [[April 1941]]

From Colm O'Brien 16.04.1941 To: Deirdre MacKenna Received word of massive air raid in Belfast please send word of your safety mo chroi From Colm O'Brien 17.04.1941 To: Deirdre MacKenna Have not received word from you love please send as soon as able From Colm O'Brien 18.04.1941 To: Deirdre MacKenna I pray every day for word that you're alive my dear From Colm O'Brien 19.04.1941 To: Deirdre MacKenna I am beginning to lose hope that I will ever hear from you again [[Deirdre Reply 6]]

From Colm O'Brien 09.04.1941 To: Deirdre MacKenna Received word of raid in Belfast praying for news of your safety mo mhuirnin >>>>DEE REPlY<<< From Deirdre MacKenna: 10.04.1941 To: Colm O'Brien Am safe STOP bombs dropped elsewhere STOP will write soon LETTER 11th April 1941 From: Deirdre MacKenna Belfast, Northern Ireland To: Colm O'Brien Cyrenaica, Libya My Dearest, Mo mhuirnín dílis, I don't have much time to write, I just wanted to assure you I am safe and well for now. I took shelter under the stairs, but the bombs fell on the other side of the city and caused minimal damage. The thought of further attacks presses on me but I've taken to distracting myself by sewing my wedding dress and imagining what our lives will be one day. Easter nears soon, and I'm planning to attend the church service with Mam and Da before Easter Sunday lunch. I've bought a new hat for the occasion and I must say it rather brings out my eyes and makes me feel quite fashionable. I will write more soon Mo Stór, write back when you can. Love always and forever, Dee [[Easter 1941]]

From: Deirdre MacKenna 20.04.1941 To: Colm O'Brien Sorry for delay am safe ran to church shelter will write more soon [[Letter]]

Letter 22nd April 1941 From: Deirdre MacKenna Belfast, Northern Ireland To: Colm O'Brien Cyrenaica, Libya Colm, Forgive the delay of my letter but in the aftermath of the bombings it has been difficult to find the time, and the means to send mail. As I said in my telegram I am safe, though I confess myself rather shaken. The blitz last Tuesday was the second raid in as many weeks, and they said more are expected. I have heard in town that several young men at the football match spotted a lone Luftwaffe plane circling hours earlier. We had almost no warning, I had scarecely lain down to sleep when I heard the air raid siren begin. I roused myself as fast as I could and ran for the air raid shelter at Clonard Monastery. The shelter was located in the crypt underneath the sanctuary, and I found myself wondering if all we had done by gathering there was save the city the cost of moving our bodies after the raid was over. There was at least two hundred of us huddled in there, and it was a sombre mood to be sure. To keep the little ones calm and drown out the sound of bombs falling we said prayers and sung hymns. Finally when the air had been silent for a good while we ventured out to see what was left. It seemed half the city was on fire. People have been fleeing the city ever since, making for Dromara, Newtownards, Lisburn and even Dublin. I wish you were here with me. I will remain strong, have faith and look forward to the day we are united once more. Deirdre MacKenna [[Colm Reply 1941]]

From Colm O'Brien 23.04.1941 To: Deirdre MacKenna Words cannot express the relief felt to receive word from you dear [[Deirdre Reply 7]]

From: Deirdre MacKenna 24.04.1941 To: Colm O'Brien [[Further raids prevent me from writing too often STOP You are in my thoughts]] [[Thank the lord we are both safe and healthy and still have our future]] [[Think it best we stick to telegrams from now mail system unreliable after raids]]

From Colm O'Brien 29.04.1941 To: Deirdre MacKenna I understand STOP I have all your past letters to sustain me between telegrams [[Colm reply again]]

From Colm O'Brien 29.04.1941 To: Deirdre MacKenna

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