Sir, – Once again Frank McNally demonstrates diligent research and originality with his article on Louisa May Alcott and her antipathy to Irish-born housemaids (An Irishman’s Diary, December 1st).
Frank informs us that Irish housemaids were widespread in the US at that time. The residence of the US presidents was not immune and a Miss Mary Campbell from Killian in Co Donegal was the cook for President Franklin D Roosevelt’s mother and then for him. Mary Campbell also prepared meals for Pope Pius XII but it is for introducing Irish stew to the White House that she was probably best known! – Yours, etc,
ENDA CULLEN,
Armagh.