Digital Archive
Padraig Cundun, Deerfield, near Utica, Oneida County, New York, to Phartolain Suipeal, Cluain Aird, Cluain Priost parish [Clonpriest], County Cork, 17 December 1834
Luaigh an doiciméad seo Amharcóir IIIF
Bailiúchán Cundun Letters
Title Padraig Cundun, Deerfield, near Utica, Oneida County, New York, to Phartolain Suipeal, Cluain Aird, Cluain Priost parish [Clonpriest], County Cork, 17 December 1834
Description Very good letter, interspersed with several poems, by a monolingual Irish-speaker. Initially, Cundun was a canal laborer, now a farmer; it took him seven years to pay for his farm, at $10 per acre, but he succeeded and is now "independent." He had emigrated in 1826, but wouldn't write until he had established himself in as good a situation as he had left behind in Ireland. Cundun praises American opportunities and criticizes Irish Catholics' purported reluctance to emigrate. Cundun stresses the importance of settling near Catholic churches and priests; his family is close enough to Utica to attend Mass there. He was brokenhearted when he left Ireland, but he is now satisfied--at least materially--with his fine American farm. And yet, Cundun also complains of his "depressing," "frightful" life in America, which has "made a mush of [his] mind" and makes him unable to write decent Irish poetry anymore. Letter is fascinating in its ambivalences--also for being a letter from an Irish-speaker. [Letter transcript shows the original text in Irish, alongside an English translation.]
Date 17/12/1834
Date Issued 27/03/2023
Cineál Acmhainne Text
Archival Record Id p155/25/2
Publisher University of Galway
Extent 4pp
Topic Cundun Letters
Geographic Clonpriest (civil parish),Cork (county),Ireland,Deerfield (town),Oneida (county),New York (state),United States
Temporal Nineteenth century,Eighteen thirties
Genre Transcript
Note Translation from Irish language to English by Dr. Bruce D. Boling (collaborator of Professor Kerby Miller). Irish language version of the letter included alongside the translated text. Transcript text, title and description by Professor Kerby Miller. Letter transcribed from: O'Foghludha R. (1932). Padraig phiarais cun'dun 1777-1856. Oifig diolta foillseachain rialtais.
Creator / Author Name Padraig Cundun