Item 83 - Fr. Theobald Mathew Centenary Celebrations, Cork

A view of a large crowd at the centenary celebrations for the birth of Fr. Theobald Mathew OSFC in Cork on 10 October 1890. The location is Holy Trinity Church which was originally commissioned by Fr. Mathew in 1825. The principal speaker at the celebration was Sir John Pope Hennessy (1834-91), a Cork-born MP and British colonial administrator who had previously served as governor of Hong Kong. He is visible in the centre of the crowded platform, standing with arms folded. In his speech, Hennessy referred to the part that Fr. Mathew had played in improving the conditions of the working population of Cork.