Lovely surprise for Nora Dunne ...

In 1958 Nora Dunne from Letterkenny was working in the Children’s Hospital in Philadelphia and she wrote a letter to her cousin Nora Fegan in Derry. Nothing much more was thought about the letter until last month when Joanne Casey was clearing out an old suitcase belonging to her late mother, Nora Fegan and she came across the letter. It is in perfect condition and she decided to contact Nora Dunne and return the letter. The letter written 68 years ago remains in perfect condition and is a treasure for both family circles who are cousins. Nora Fegan went on to marry Jerry Devine and they had a family of three. There was great excitement in the White Harte Bar in Rathmullan on Saturday evening, when Nora Dunne along with her daughter Ailbhe was joined by Joanne (Fegan) and her husband, cousin Cormac Fegan and nephew Brian McElhinney for the occasion. 93 years old Nora Dunne is still hale and hearty and recalls writing the letter during her four years in Philadelphia from 1955 to 1958. The letter was written on Philadelphia Children’s Hospital paper and she recalls writing it during one of her night shifts. In the letter Nora spoke of buying three dresses which she would be bringing home to Glenvar for later life. She recalls in her letter going on dates with some of the doctors in the hospital. She said she was not overly keen on any of them but really enjoyed getting out for meals and seeing the sights of the city. She also talked about having her first drink in the States and how she was enjoying the experience but missing her family and friends at home. She talked about coming home and going to stay for the day with her sister, a nun in Strabane and how she was looking forward to that and also hearing Eugene O’Donnell from Derry playing the fiddle on the radio in America. On returning home she met and married John Dunne who had a shop on the High Road in Letterkenny and they went on to have a family of four, the late Niamh, Nessa, Ailbhe and Eimear.