The subseries comprises a small collection of papers relating to the Irish scholar and writer An tAthair Peadar Ó Laoghaire (Peter O’Leary). Ó Laoghaire was a prominent Irish language activist and member of Conradh na Gaeilge (Gaelic League). He published numerous books and articles on a range of topics, including an autobiography (‘Mo Sgéal Féin’), the first drama in Irish (‘Tadhg saor’), original prose, Irish translations of the Gospels, and translations of medieval Irish texts. The collection includes his letters to Fr. Augustine Hayden OFM Cap. and Fr. Albert Bibby OFM Cap., two Capuchin friars who shared Ó Laoghaire’s enthusiasm for the promotion of the Irish language. This collection also includes some material relating to Ó Laoghaire’s published work, particularly clippings of his transcriptions and translations of Irish texts, and a manuscript draft of ‘An Craos-Deamhan’. Fr. Senan Moynihan OFM Cap. was interested in Ó Laoghaire’s career and sought to promote his contribution to the Irish language. He seemingly acquired most of this material for personal research. The Ó Laoghaire collection was later preserved among Moynihan’s personal papers.
A letter from An tAthair Peadar Ó Laoghaire to Fr. Augustine Hayden OFM Cap. referring to the Munster Feis. Ó Laoghaire wrote ‘I used to be mad when I used to see the citizens of Cork profiting by the Feis and contributing next to nothing to the cost of the Feis’. He adds 'The people of Cork would actually let a few earnest men work themselves to death and then pay the cost of their own funerals'.
A flier titled ‘In Memoriam Staff Captain Erskine Childers, IRA / Died for the Irish Republic, Beggars Bush Barracks, Dublin, 24th November 1922’. (Volume page 30).
A letter from Michael Knightly, Press Censor, to Fr. Senan Moynihan OFM Cap., re the restrictions in place of the publication of the number of people employed at any airport in Ireland. (Volume page 70).
‘Memorandum of Ambulance work & efforts for peace’ by J.P. Homan, Vernon Avenue, Clontarf, Dublin. The memorandum refers to his work with St. John’s Ambulance during the Civil War hostilities in Dublin in June and July 1922. Specific mention is made of Homan’s interactions with Fr. Albert Bibby OFM Cap. and the friar’s efforts to secure a cessation of the fighting. Includes a short clipping of an obituary for J.P. Homan (‘Irish Independent’, 6 Aug. 1944). (Volume pages 79-87).
A clipping of an article reporting on the unveiling and blessing of a memorial to Seán Heuston in the Phoenix Park in Dublin. The article was published in the ‘Irish Press’ (6 December 1943). The article includes a photographic print of Fr. Michael J. Heuston OP, a Dominican friar, and a brother of the 1916 leader. The memorial sculpture of Seán Heuston in the Phoenix Park was created by Laurence Campbell. (Volume page 192).