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Letters from Arnold Bax (1883-1953), 155 Fellows Road, London, and Grosvenor Hotel, Chester, to Fr. Michael O’Shea OFM Cap., President, Father Mathew Hall, Cork. In 1929 the Feis Maitiú Corcaigh invited Bax, a well-known composer and poet, to become an adjudicator marking the beginning of a 24-year friendship with the prestigious local music festival. Most of the correspondence relates to arrangements for the Cork Feis and other matters of musical interest. The file includes fifteen original items in Bax’s hand. With contemporary manuscript and later typescript copies of Bax’s letters. The file also includes a typescript appreciation of Arnold Bax possibly written by Fr. O’Shea. It reads ‘The way he [Bax] came to Cork was simple enough. I attribute his coming to the initiative of Frau Fleischmann in the meeting of the Feis Maitiú Committee that was considering adjudicators for the year 1929. I remember at the time that it was mentioned that Bax had rather a Celtic strain in his compositions and the he would like to come’. Also includes a newspaper cutting of a letter from Bax to the 'Daily Telegraph' referring to a performance by a choir at the Catholic Cathedral in Cork. In Irish and English.

Letter from Antoinette Reilly, Bord Fáilte, to Fr. Christopher Twomey OFM Cap. enclosing £200 in payment for permission to reproduce photographs of the plaster-work in Father Mathew Hall. With a copy of 'Ireland of the Welcomes', 49 (Mar.-Apr. 2000), which includes a feature on ‘Father Mathew Hall: A Celtic Revival Treasure’ by Nicola Gordon Bow (pp 14-21).

An image of Irish dancing prizewinners at the Father Mathew Feis in Dublin in 1938.

An image captioned as follows 'Pupils of the Mullholland School of Dancing, Belfast, who won the St. Michael's Cup for Hornpipe (under 16) at the Father Mathew Feis, Dublin'. The clipping was taken from the 'Irish Press'.

'Hymn to St. Columcille', performed in Father Mathew Hall for the ‘celebration of St. Mary of the Angels, Church Street, Dublin’. The manuscript annotation appears to be in the hand of Fr. Albert Bibby OSFC.

Flier seeking funds (£800) to complete the building of the Father Mathew Hall, Church Street. The opening paragraph affirms that ‘this Total Abstinence Hall, for one of the poorest and most crowded districts of Dublin, will cost £3,000. It will seat 1,200 people, and the building will also contain a gymnasium, reading rooms, a room for bagatelle and other games, a library, a coffee bar and a caretaker’s apartment’.

Flier for Brian Boru Fete and prize draw ‘to reduce a heavy debt of £3,800’ on Father Mathew Hall, Church Street. The first prize is a pony trap and harness, ‘a gift of a friend (the harness, a gift of J. Donnelly, North King Street)’.

Silver and bronze Father Mathew Feis ('Feis an t-Athair Maitiú') medals of uniform Celtic Cross design.

'Fáilte / Organ of Aonach na Bealtaine / Grand Temperance Fete / Father Mathew Hall, Church Street, Dublin / 1907'.
Publisher: Baile Atha Cliath: Ó Bruain & Árthr
Bound in contemporary soft covers with printed title to front cover.

Although the Irish Capuchins had a long tradition of involvement with the temperance movement, their connection with this apostolate was reinvigorated in 1905 when the Catholic hierarchy invited the Order to preach a ‘national crusade’ on the merits of total abstinence. The Capuchins’ commitment to sobriety as a moral and social ideal was promoted through the founding of lay sodalities and temperance halls where the pledge to abstain from alcohol was taken. The Father Mathew Memorial Hall on Church Street was opened in 1891. Funded by voluntary subscriptions, this temperance hall was built by Joseph Kelly & Sons of Thomas Street, Dublin. The total cost was about £4,000. It was designed by Walter Glynn Doolin and was initially plainly decorated. Before the addition of extensions in 1904 the main auditorium was 73 feet in length and 39 feet wide. In total, there was accommodation for about 900 people. There was also a coffee bar, a billiard room, and a reading room. The interior of the auditorium was greatly embellished in 1909 when an elaborate proscenium arch, stage and gallery were added. The plasterwork was executed by the firm of John Ryan of Upper Abbey Street to the designs of Anthony Scott of O’Connell Street, Dublin. This series comprises records relating to the Hall’s primary function to promote sobriety ‘by providing instruction and healthful amusement’. It should be noted that the Hall’s drama group, band, debating society and athletics’ club were initially only open to total abstainers. The records also reflect the varied social functions of the Hall.