Letter from Julia Breen, Upper Church Street, Tipperary, to Fr. Albert Bibby OFM Cap., thanking him for all ‘the trouble you took with our prisoners while they were suffering in Mountjoy, it was prayer and the masses for our prisoners that saved them from death’. With an annotation in Fr. Albert’s hand on the first page: ‘Letter from Commandant Breen’s (I.R.A.) mother. He was on hunger strike at Mountjoy Jail and it was there I met his mother’
Letter from Joseph I. Bowe, jnr., 32 Addison Road, Dublin to Fr. Colman Griffin OFM Cap., Provincial Minister, seeking permission to rename Addison Road, ‘Fr. Dominic Road’ in memory ‘of that patriotic priest who died in 1935 at Oregon, USA, where he had been obliged to go into exile’. With a copy reply from Fr. Colman stating that he has no objection to the proposal.
Letter from James O’Sullivan prisoner no. q 100, Lewes Prison, declaring that ‘all the men here, look to the Capuchin Fathers, as their especial friends – they found the comrades in times of peril, true friends of the people, the ideal priests’. O’Sullivan adds that ‘Edmund Duggan (my dearest friend), Pierce Beasley, D. O’Callaghan, G. Crofts and Jimmy Brennan, wish to be remembered to you’. James O’Sullivan fought at the General Post Office during the Rising.
Letter from James O’Connor, solicitor, to Fr. Aloysius Travers OFM Cap., regarding a note from British military authorities affirming that ‘certain historical papers … [which] were returned to the late Archbishop Walsh ... . O’Connor advises Fr. Aloysius to ascertain from the Archbishop’s house what papers were returned.
Letter from James Larkin, Workers’ Union of Ireland, Thomas Ashe Hall, 5a, College Street, Dublin, to Fr. Aloysius Travers OFM Cap., assuring him that he will make arrangements for a meeting soon. Larkin declares that ‘the pressure has been so heavy that not only have I had to spend the last few Sundays at meetings of Union branches but have also had to work late and early hours over the week ends to deal with work for which I could not find time during ordinary week
Letter from James Joseph Walsh, prisoner no. 899, Mountjoy Prison, to Fr. Albert Bibby OFM Cap., referring to the gradually improving conditions for prisoners. Walsh also refers to the public who ‘in large numbers still crowd to the gate’ of the prison. He informs Fr. Albert that three prisoners are still deprived of the privilege of a daily visit: ‘Sullivan, Cork; Shaw, Stradbally; and Fleming, Galway’. The letter is written on an official form with regulations governing prisoner regulations printed on first page.
Letter from H.K. Greeaway, Governor of Wormwood Scrubs, to Fr. Aloysius Travers OFM Cap., Church Street, indicating that Fr. Dominic O’Connor OFM Cap. has been moved to Parkhurst Prison. He confirms that Fr. Aloysius’s letter and prayer book have been forwarded to the governor there.
Letter from Henry O’Hanrahan, prisoner no. q. 150, Lewes Prison, to Fr. Albert Bibby OFM Cap. and Fr. Augustine Hayden OFM Cap., thanking the Capuchin fathers for their services during the Rising. He also refers to increasing clerical support for the republican cause. O’Hanrahan fought at Jacob’s Biscuit factory during the Rising. The letter reads: ‘Just a short note from an Irish felon to thank you both very much indeed for your many enquiries, for your words, and also for your many kindnesses to my dear mother and sisters. It will indeed be a while till we here, our friends, or Ireland forget what we owe to “Church St[reet]” – of course it did not and does not surprise some of us, even though we had not met some you till a very memorable Sunday. That indeed was a Sunday which we will all remember till we “surrender” to the God of Nations and I wonder what has He in store for our little country. Would we had some of your over here. … on that particular Sunday – the difference – but then in all her struggles religious and otherwise – Ireland’s friends were the [Religious] Orders. Thank God, from all we hear the young men of Maynooth etc. are “making good” and God knows its time. Now I know you are pretty conversant with our life etc. here and perhaps before you read this you will have seen or heard of [Gerard] Crofts who is next for invaliding and as I know you are both such friends and also that you are aware space (even in paper) with us is limited, you will excuse my coupling you in this short note’.
Letter from Hanna Sheehy Skeffington to Fr. Albert Bibby OFM Cap., expressing her concern on hearing of his serious illness. She affirms that Fr. Albert’s name ‘is treasured by all who know you and who love Ireland and all dear dead who died for her. The widows and sisters of the men of 1916 whom you attended and consoled and of the later martyrs also will always remember you with affection’.
Letter from Gertrude Parry, Shelbourne Hotel, to Fr. Albert Bibby OFM Cap., affirming that she has heard of his offer ‘from my friends the Gavan Duffys and Miss Eva Gore Booth’. She adds ‘You will not know my name but I am a cousin of Roger Casement and there are several matters I should like to talk to you about’.
