The material relates to Fr. Richard Henebry’s career as a prominent Irish language academic and to the activities of Conradh na Gaeilge (Gaelic League) and general Irish language activism especially in Henebry’s native Waterford. His correspondence includes letters from leading contemporary Irish language scholars, linguists and celticists such as Whitley Stokes, Pádraig Ó Siochfhradha (‘An Seabhac’), John Strachan, Heinrich Zimmer, Kuno Meyer, Eleanor Hull, and Tadhg Ó Donnchadha (‘Torna’). The collection also includes letters to Henebry from Roger Casement and Douglas Hyde. The collection also includes material relating to the posthumous publication of Henebry’s ‘A Handbook of Irish Music’, edited by Tadhg Ó Donnchadha, and published by University College Cork in 1928. Fr. Senan Moynihan OFM Cap. was interested in Henebry’s career and was involved in the posthumous promotion of his contribution to Irish language scholarship and traditional Irish music. The files include letters from several leading academic, cultural and political figures including Sir Bertram Windle, Carl Gilbert Hardebeck, Fr. Michael Sheehan, William Frederick Paul Stockley, Mac Giolla Bhríde (William Gibson, 2nd Baron Ashbourne), and Frank Ryan. Fr. Senan seemingly acquired most of this material for several articles on Henebry published in ‘The Father Mathew Record’. The material was later preserved among Moynihan’s personal collection of papers.
A bound volume containing original letters from Roger Casement to Fr. Richard Henebry. The volume has a gilt title to spine which reads ‘Roger Casement to Dr. Henebry’. The letters refer to the Irish national movement, the language revival, and contemporary political matters. Casement writes ‘You should get “United Irishmen” for Dec. 9th, this week’s issue – and read Griffith’s speech to the delegates of the National Council. He touches the right note I think – and the historic truth of the economical aspect of our country’s plight is sound’ (8 Dec. 1905). In another letter, Casement refers to James Ward who is imprisoned in Castlebar in County Mayo and to efforts to establish an ‘Irish training college – a school rather, for Ulster Irish and Ulster teachers’ (5 Feb. 1906). Casement added ‘Some one writing as “Sinn Fein II” wrote up your “Urbs Intacta” in the “United Irishmen” of 3rd March. It is a terrible pity Waterford should have so little Irish spirit. It was not ever thus’. A letter of 19 March 1906 refers to a ‘great concert’ in Covent Garden Opera House organised by the Gaelic League. He adds ‘I wish I could help you in Waterford. You must be in a shoneen place … The Catholic shoneen is far worse than the Protestant – for the latter there is a historical, or often recent justification and his environment has so acted on him that he thinks his very patriotism – such that it is – is rather British than Irish – for the Catholic shoneen there is no such legitimate excuse’. Reference is also made to the South Dublin election and to the libel action against Arthur Griffith. A letter of 16 Oct. 1907 refers to Casement’s subscription for Ring College (Coláiste na Rinne) in County Waterford which he sent to Henebry while he was in Brazil.
Letters and cards from Fr. Michael Sheehan, St. Patrick’s College, Maynooth, to Fr. Richard Henebry. The correspondence refers mainly to issues associated with Irish language education, university administration, and to Ring College (Coláiste na Rinne) in County Waterford, which Sheehan co-founded with Henebry.
A file containing postcards sent to Fr. Richard Henebry. The correspondents include Fr. Albert Bibby OFM Cap. and Vicar A. Suppiger (Solothurn, Switzerland). Some of the cards seemingly relate to the cause of the sixteenth and seventeenth century Irish martyrs presented to the ecclesiastical authorities in Rome. Most of the images on the postcards depict scenes from the continent (including various sites in Rome). One of the postcards shows the Father Nicholas Sheehy Demonstration in Clogheen, County Tipperary, 1898. The card from Fr. Albert Bibby OFM Cap. shows the interior of the Church of St. Francis in Kilkenny (May 1905). The cards are extant in an elaborate leather pouch.
A postcard print of a demonstration in Clogheen in County Tipperary in 1898. The demonstration commemorated Father Nicholas Sheehy (c.1728-1766), a local priest who was executed following what were widely believed to be false charges of involvement in agrarian unrest during the Penal Law era.
A file of letters from William Frederick Paul Stockley and his wife Germaine Stockley to Fr. Richard Henebry. Includes two letters to Henebry from Germaine Stockley. A letter (12 December 1915) from William Stockley reads ‘My wife has a trouble upon her. Her good father is dead. He was old in age, 87, but I used to see him out early at Mass last year. … After Bavaria, I think he loved France, where he lived … and where he married. I never heard him speak against a foe. His daughter never heard him say a gross-ish word. Are they all Celts in Bavaria?’
Correspondence and papers assembled by John (Seán) Henebry (also known as Eoin de Hindeberg), a younger brother of Fr. Richard Henebry. John Henebry died in 1937. The file includes several postcards written (in Irish) by Fr. Richard Henebry to his brother while on the continent in 1913. The photographic print shows an unidentified coastal location. The file also includes a letter from Patrick J. Merriman (Registrar, University College Cork) to John Henebry on his regret that Fr. Richard’s ‘manuscript on Irish music cannot be found’, adding ‘it is a loss to the country’ (25 Apr. 1916). Other letters (Fr. Patrick Power and Joseph Downey, Secretary, University College Cork) express condolences on the death of Fr. Richard on 17 March 1916. A note from Sir Bertram Windle encloses two clippings from the ‘Manchester Guardian’ (28-9 March 1916) containing tributes to the late priest. The file also includes a letter (in Irish) to John Henebry from Seán Ó Currín (28 May 1921).
A letter from Carl Gilbert Hardebeck, 16 Limestone Road, Belfast, to Sir Bertram Windle. Hardebeck refers to the the value of Henebry’s manuscript on Irish music. Hardebeck writes 'Father Henebry, I understand played the Irish pipes and the violin in an inimitable manner, he had also excellent Gaelic, and surely, nothing could fit him better for writing Traditional music'.
A draft article titled ‘The Fair Host of the Books of Erin’ by Fr. Richard Henebry. A letter from Eoin Henebry to Fr. Senan Moynihan OFM Cap. refers to this manuscript which he suggests has already been published. (27 Aug. 1924). Evidently, Eoin Henebry gave this manuscript to Fr. Senan. (See CA CP/3/3/1/15).
