Catholic Freeman’s Journal, 21st February, 1935 p.39
Headford, Co. Galway, Ireland.
Dear Gumblossom,
You were very kind to remember me after my long silence and I was very pleased on Christmas Day when I found a letter form you. Well, Gumblossom, I hope you had a happy Christmas. I enjoyed myself greatly and the holidays I thought were long when we were let home have slipped away and tomorrow is going back day. I was at parties and a card drive and my first ceidhle. I suppose you know a ceidhle (pronounced kaylee) is an Irish concert and dance combined. The one I was at was held in the Town Hall; it started at 8pm and was over at 1 am. There was a great crowd. First a dance was called, then someone sang, then another dance, and while we were resting after that an exhibition was given by a boy and girl in some fine step dancing. The dances we had were “The Seige of Ennis,” “The Walls of Limerick,” “The Bridge of Athlone,” and the “Fairy Reel.” Every man has two girls for the fairy reel.
You wanted to know what kind of a game camogie was last time I wrote. Well it is like hurling, but is played by girls and we use smaller hurleys. It is a great favourite in the winter when tennis is impossible. We play matches with the schools around us.
I must say good-bye now Gumblossom. Wishing you a very happy New Year.
Your friend, Ruby Canavan.
I need not say that I was more than delighted to hear from you once again Ruby, and though I have only room to give short answers to my Pageites because of so many lovely Christmas letters from them, I must send you a longer one as you are so far away from us. I enjoyed your letter, especially since I know what the ceidhle and the camogie are, and I know all my Little People will be interested, too. I do hope you will write again, please, Ruby, My love – Gumblossom
The Burren and Beyond 