Personal correspondence between Florence J. Burke (1885 – 1975), a racehorse owner from Kildare town and his friend Joe Gorry, owner of Gorry’s Medical Halls in Naas, Co. Kildare and Baltinglass, Co. Wicklow. The letter shows how news of the Rising spread to and from Dublin in spite of fractured communication and transport channels in the city on April 24, 1916. Gorry’s counter assistant in Naas was Mick Cush, later O.C. of the Irish Volunteers Naas Company. Burke’s companions at the Dolphin included Irish Derby-winning jockey John Doyle and English Grand National-winning jockey-turned-trainer Algernon (Algy) Anthony. All three were at Fairyhouse on Easter Monday 1916 and on hearing news of the Rising, travelled to Dublin by car. Burke later recounted having seen injured men being carried by stretcher through the lane that runs alongside the Dolphin Hotel - it opens onto Dame Street, opposite City Hall. Burke asked bookmaker Arthur Burke (no relation) to give the letter to Gorry in Naas. It was returned to the Burke family by Gorry in 1946. Transcription of letter ‘Easter Monday night, 1916’ Dear Mr. Gorry, Would you please ring up No. 4 Kildare on [the] phone and say that Messrs. Burke are staying here [in the] Dolphin Hotel with J. Doyle and A. Anthony. All safe as there is very dirty work around here. There are no trams running and trunk phones are not working. Kindly tell them that we will be home tomorrow if possible. Don’t fail to ring them as they will be very anxious about us. Yours sincerely, F. Burke’