• Correspondence relating to the position of Librarian following the resignation of Fr. Burke Savage. Dr. M.B. Crowe is the favourite candidate. Includes letters following the appointment of Dr. Crowe as well as a report on the Library, written by Dr. Crowe and Maureen O’Byrne, Dublin City & County Librarian. Earlier general memo on Circulating Libraries in Ireland also enclosed. 1 March 1971

Letter from Fr. Michael Troy, Terenure to +McQuaid regarding the use of the +Byrne Hall by the National Film Institute. They wish to use it for a lecture by Fr. Declan, O.F.M., editor of the Catholic Film Journal ‘Focus’.

Copy of a typed letter to Mrs. Byrne from Kathleen MacLarnon Wells, Hon. Sec., IHA. Refers to visit to Mrs. Byrne by Mrs. Andrews, Mrs. Skeffington and herself and was inviting Mrs. Byrne to attend the next Committee Meeting. A form was given to Mrs. Byrne and she was asked to sign it. It asked her to unreservedly withdraw any words of hers spoken at the Crumlin Catholic Action Circle which may have implied that the IHA is or ever has been connected to Communism. Asked to apologise to the IHA for any damage her statement may have caused.

Typed letter to Fr. Martin from [Una Byrne?]. name and address redacted / torn out. Informed that 47 to be closed down. Debts incurred by Kavanagh were of his own making. He should have been less ambitious. Writes that she asked IHA what they were going to do about Hilda’s membership and the fact that there were Communists in the IHA?

Handwritten letter to + McQuaid [from Una Byrne – name and address redacted] informing him that the International Alliance of Women were holding their Congress in Athens. If Mrs Byrne could not go Mrs Tweedy would ask Mrs Brown or Mrs Lloyd both of whom have no religion. If all failed Mrs Tweedy herself would go. If Mrs Byrne refuses to go Ireland will be represented by somebody of different spiritual and political views from those of Catholic Ireland.

Typed letter to Fr. Martin [Una Byrne]. The following items are mentioned: gave her point of view on divorce, birth control, marriage. Considered second marriage “legalised prostitution” advantages of education in Ireland being controlled by religious bodies Congress a waste of money countries with women working outside the home face monster Gene Kerrigan worried at Branigan’s return to union Civil Liberties plan to hold meeting outside Mansion House regarding IRA prisoners Tom Boyle seriously ill.

Report of the meeting of the International sub- committee of the IHA. Letter received by Mrs Lucy Kingston from the Japan Council Against A. & H. Bombs looking for help for the forthcoming World Conference. Mrs. Reynolds had asked that an article on Nuclear Disarmament, to be written by Mrs de Courcy Ireland, be printed in the IHA magazine. This was opposed by Una Byrne on the grounds that the IHA was a non-political organisation.

Reports on the Fabian Society, Trinity College, between 28 February and 29 October 1962. John Byrne spoke on the Capitol system in Ireland. Said that unless the power of the Catholic Church was restricted there was no hope of getting a decent wage for workers. Religious Orders held wealth of the country. Jesuits were dictators. The Catholic Workers’ College was set up to train people to take over trade unions. Maynooth College did not pay its workers a living wage. Jeffers was a lecturer in Trinity but forced to leave due to his work for Communism. Michael O’Riordan deplored Ireland being used as a cushion between Russia and America. Trade should be encouraged between Ireland and the Socialist countries. Michael Foot and John Collan were unable to attend a meeting due to the unsettled state of the world.

Telephone number for Mrs. Byrne.

Typed Report 1963. The following items are included: Adoption Amendment Bill. Mrs. Byrne suggested they write to the Minister. He was smashing and shot down both Miss Odlem, Protestant Society, and Dr. Brady on all issues turn-over tax next Congress in Italy, 1964 International Alliance of Religion other business.