Mystery of volunteer’s romance solved as letter provides link to Cork man killed in Rising

1916 letter provides a link to only Cork man killed in the Rising, writes Niall Murray

When British soldier John O’Brien wrote home to a pal in his native East Cork in June 1916, he could hardly have imagined a single line would help solve a romance mystery a century later.

But by referring to his sister Kathleen’s boyfriend being killed in the Easter Rising, he has done just that.