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Lady Augusta Gregory
Published by Good Press, 2021
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St. Stephen’s Day. The darling children arrived this evening last week, well and bright, happy and simple as ever. Margaret came on Saturday, all very happy days, and yesterday we were all at church, and had the Christmas tree very pleasantly, though with only the Johnson children and their parents, and Rita and Georgie Daly, and all has gone well.
The only annoyance was yesterday afternoon; just as I was getting things ready for the tree, a deputation called: A., B., and a newcomer, C., lately come to D.’s old cottage. They, or rather A., the only speaker, asked if they might give a dance in our barn. (I had had a hint of this request coming.) I said I was very sorry they had not asked for something I could give; that this was impossible as our hay is in the barn. A. said that didn’t matter, “We took a look at it as we came and there is plenty of room for us!” I said there was the danger of burning and I couldn’t give leave. He said they would guarantee it to be kept safe, and went on to say they wanted to give the dance towards paying for a Gaelic teacher they have had, so that it is for the Gaelic League. I said I had brought the first Gaelic teachers here long ago and was in sympathy with the League, and that though giving the barn was impossible, if they could get another place for the dance I would give £2 towards the fund. They said they had no other place, that they were getting Kiltartan School for one dance, but Father Cassidy would not give it a second time, that they were so sure I would not refuse that they had put it on the posters that it would be here. I said it was impossible, that even if I had no other reason I had not power. He said they would ask the “young lady.” I said, “No, I would not have the unpleasantness of a refusal put on her; that she could but say as I did, that it was impossible.”
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