The file comprises the following: an undated first edition of 'Freedom' containing an ‘extract from a letter from Rory O’Connor’ regarding the attack on the Free Courts; 17 Sept. 1922 (no edition number) with a portrait of Lawrence Ginnell by Constance Markievicz; 24 Sept. 1922 (No. 7) with a drawing of the ‘the branded arm of James O’Reilly sketched from life’ by Constance Markievicz; 22 Oct. 1922 (No. 11), 3 copies; Dec. 1922.
Celtic Cross label. Ringed cross with shamrock leaves; in the four ‘corners’ and inscriptions of ‘Éire’ and ‘Sinn Féin’ (twice) on cross. The difference between the two years being only colour. Commissioned by Arthur Griffith and designed by Lily Williams this stamp depicted the Cross of Cong with ‘ÉIRE’ at centre. Sinn Féin members paid a halfpenny each for the stamps and affixed them to letters as a propaganda move. The 1908 Post Office Act outlawed their use after protests by MPs in the House of Commons. They were continued however up to 1916 and beyond. The Cross of Cong design was adopted by the Irish Free State for some values of Irish definitive postage stamps- 3d, 10d and 11d - which were in use up to 1968. Hibernia and Wolfhound Label. Hibernia (Erin) with harp, with arms of the four provinces of Ireland (at corners) and wolfhound; inscriptions ‘Éire’ (top panel) and ‘Sinn Féin’ (left and right panels). The labels were printed by James Walker & Co. Ltd., Dublin in 1908, and again in 1916. The 1916 version was re-drawn and thus differs from the 1908 version.
Circular letter from Seosamh Mac Donnchadha (Joseph MacDonagh), Minister for Labour, Dáil Ėireann, to the Superiors of all Religious Houses in Ireland, enclosing a copy statement, written by a Belfast priest, detailing ‘the Orange atrocities committed on Catholic workers and others last July and August’. MacDonagh asks the Religious Superiors to use ‘their wide influence to assist in the rigid enforcement and maintenance of the Belfast Trade Boycott’. MacDonagh was elected unopposed as a Sinn Féin MP for the Tipperary North constituency at the 1918 general election. He was Director of the ‘Belfast Boycott’, an attempt in 1920–21 to boycott goods from Ulster that were being imported into the south of Ireland. With a printed flier titled ‘Black list, Belfast Economic Boycott’ listing the principal firms acting as distributors for ‘Belfast goods’ in Dublin and in other parts of Ireland.
A collection of street ballad leaflets assembled by Fr. Stanislaus Kavanagh OFM Cap. (1876-1965), a Capuchin friar, in 1921. The handbills relate to events in the War of Independence from 1919-21. This contentious period produced its share of controversial literature mainly in the form of leaflets, handbills, ballads and other forms of popular street literature. The treatment of prisoners during the War of Independence was the subject of political and social outrage and was reflected in popular ballads celebrating the lives of Kevin Barry, Patrick Moran, Thomas Traynor and other republican prisoners executed in Mountjoy Jail in Dublin and in other locations following courts martial from 1920-1. Most of the ballads recounted popular stories told in simple metre, and set to (mostly) traditional airs. The ballad titles include: 'Kevin Barry' 'The Bould Black & Tan' 'God Save the Peelers' 'Commandant McKeown' 'My Little Grey Home in Mountjoy' 'Thomas Traynor / Died for Ireland / Mountjoy Prison / April 26 '21' 'Brave sons of Granuaile' 'The Standard of Green, White & Gold / A Song of Truce' 'Latest Hit / If you're Irish We're goin' to Suppress you'
Passes signed by Mervyn Richard Wingfield, 8th Viscount Powerscourt, Assistant Provost Marshal, Dublin, permitting Fr. Aloysius Travers OFM Cap. and Fr. Columbus Murphy OFM Cap. to travel between ‘Dublin and England via North Wall or Kingston’ and to the ‘Capuchin Convent, Church Street’.
Recollections by Fr. Aloysius Travers OFM Cap. of the fighting of Easter Week, the surrender of the rebel forces and subsequent execution of their leaders. He provides an eye-witness account of the executions in Kilmainham Jail most notably that of James Connolly. The typescript copies are incomplete: 17 pp + 11 pp. With an undated typescript copy of ‘Connolly’s death speech’ taken from the 'Gaelic American'.
Newspaper cuttings book compiled and annotated by Fr. Stanislaus Kavanagh OFM Cap. Printed stamp on inside front cover: ‘Franciscan Capuchin Library, Church Street, Dublin’. The pages have been numbered by Fr. Stanislaus. The cuttings book includes: 53-54: Reports on the raid by British forces on the Capuchin Friary, Church Street, and the subsequent detention of Fr. Albert Bibby OFM Cap. and Fr. Dominic O’Connor OFM Cap. 'Dublin Evening Mail', 18 Dec. 1920; 'Evening Telegraph', 17 Dec. 1920. Includes some cuttings of photographic prints of Fr. Dominic. 55-66: Reports on the court martial and conviction of Fr. Dominic O’Connor OFM Cap. Jan.-Mar. 1921. 67: Reports in the 'Cork Examiner' referring to the ministries of Fr. Albert Bibby OFM Cap., Fr. Dominic O’Connor OFM Cap.,and other Capuchin priests to republicans. 7-9 Nov. 1923. 119-120: Articles referring to the trial and sentencing of Fr. Dominic O’Connor OFM Cap. 'Evening Herald', 10 Jan. 1921; 'Irish Catholic', 5 Feb. 1921.
Newspaper clipping of a letter by Fr. Dominic O’Connor OFM Cap. published in the nationalist newspaper the 'Cork Free Press' (8 Nov. 1911). The letter is titled ‘The Brown Friars: their education in “the dark days”’ and refers to the long history of the education of Irish Capuchins in continental colleges. The article was sent to the editor of the 'Cork Free Press' and was signed 'Segan Eireannac'. With cover and annotation by Fr. Stanislaus Kavanagh OFM Cap.
The poem reads: ‘Thy favours still, O Lord bestow; Through Mary’s hands may grace still flow; Give me the Cross or pain or woe, But give to Eire Liberty’.
