Burkes of Ballydugan / Michael Henry Burke (1853-1935) / Letter from Michael H Burke to his son, William St George Burke
Congratulating him on the birth of his daughter, ‘I pray your little one may be a great blessing and comfort to you both’ (pp1-2). Recounts his ongoing worries about Ballydugan and reports that Costello, the herd, ‘has cleared out’ (p2) but due to his Agent’s (Joyce), ‘stupidity acting contrary to my written instructions...’ (p2) he has had to let Dempsey remain on in the South Gate house as a caretaker and also have 30 acres adjacent to it for grazing until 15 April 1931 at a minimal rent. ‘Joyce is one of those who likes to make things as easy as possible for himself at my expense and be a good fellow with certain objectionably parties’ (pp3-4).
He also goes into detail about some of his issues with Dunlop, the architect, who he feels has been ‘neglectful’ ‘in not looking after the reconstruction of Ballydugan house etc’ and delayed for 10 months in making his final instruction of the house. When he did there was a ‘nasty’ crack in the chimney in the new addition and other problems such as with the plaster work as a result he had to ‘grin and bear’ with Dunlop ‘otherwise he would pass every thing’, though Dunlop is at loggerheads with the building contractor, who is due hundreds of pounds, ‘my solicitor has the last few months been trying to back me up to make Dunlop stir himself and last week he got Dunlop to arrange an [hour] for him and myself to talk the matter over when the next turn my Solicitors had got laid up’, so he supposed they will have discussion in the coming week.