Authorisation from Colonel H.V. Cowan, Assistant Adjutant General, Headquarters, Irish Command, Parkgate, Dublin, to Fr. Aloysius Travers OFM Cap. The note reads: ‘The General Officer Commander in Chief directs that every facility be given to his Revered Father Aloysius OSFC to visit rebel prisoners at any of the places of detention or internment, to hear confessions and administer the rights of his Church, at all times’.
Copy letter from Fr. Aloysius Travers OFM Cap. to the editor of the 'Irish Catholic' protesting against the ‘obvious and unkind suggestion’ made in relation to Thomas MacDonagh in a recent edition of the paper. Fr Aloysius declared: ‘I feel bound to emphatically assert that his preparation for his last moment manifested a depth of Catholic Faith and a tenderness of piety most edifying and impressive and that he received the rites of his Church with a devotion which not easily be forgotten by The Priest who assisted him’
Copy note from Major W.S. Lennon, Commandant, Kilmainham Detention Barracks, to Fr. Aloysius Travers OFM Cap. The note reads: ‘The Prisoner H.T. Pearse [sic] desires to see you and you have permission to visit him. Failing you he would be glad to see any of the Capucines [sic]’.
Declaration of Lillie Agnes Connolly’s (wife of James Connolly) reception into the Catholic Church. It reads: ‘I Fr. Aloysius OSFC declare that … I have this fifteenth day of August 1916 received into the Catholic Church Mrs Lily Agnes Connolly observing the prescribed rites and ceremonies’. The document is signed by Lillie Agnes Connolly and witnessed by Fiona Connolly (1907-1976)
Declaration of Muriel MacDonagh’s (wife of Thomas MacDonagh) reception into the Catholic Church. It reads: ‘I Fr. Aloysius OSFC declare that … I have this eighteenth day of April 1917 received into the Catholic Church Mrs. Muriel MacDonagh observing the prescribed rites and ceremonies’. The document is signed by Muriel Mary MacDonagh.
Letter from ‘Jimmy B’, prisoner no. “Q 161”, to Fr. Aloysius Travers OFM Cap. expressing his gratitude to Fr. Aloysius for his ‘two cards [and] also the Xmas card which were as rays of sunshine from Church St. to me in my exile’. He also adds ‘Eoin McNeill desired me to thank you for his Christmas message which he received alright and Gerard Crofts sends his best respects to you’.
Letter from Arthur Griffith, 'Nationality' Offices, 6 Harcourt Street, Dublin, to Fr. Aloysius Travers OFM Cap., apologising for being unavailable to meet Fr. Aloysius. He adds ‘My friend the bearer … can take any message for me or make any arrangements to suit you’.
Letter from Brian O’Higgins, Detention Barracks, Stafford, c/o Chief Postal Censor, to Fr. Aloysius Travers OFM Cap., regarding the conditions of his detention. He writes: ‘We are all in good health and in the best of spirits; we are treated very kindly and have little to complain of. We have the Rosary in public – the whole lot of us together …’. He also asks Fr. Aloysius ‘to call at 117 Capel St. and see if Mrs Doyle and her children are being looked after? Her husband asked me to give this favour of you …’.
