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Book of newspaper cuttings relating to the Father Mathew Feis in Dublin. Annotations on the top of each page supply the name of the newspaper and (for later inserts) the date of the newspaper clipping. Includes clippings from the 'Irish Independent', 'Daily Mail', and 'Irish Times'. The clippings mainly relate to competitions and records of prize winners at the Feis. Some clippings relate to the history of the Feis and its connection with the Gaelic League and the National Revival. Biographies of various Capuchin friars involved with the Feis are also included (Fr. Michael O’Shea OFM Cap. and Fr. Aloysius Travers OFM Cap.). A manuscript annotation on the second to last page notes the ‘entries for Feis, 1938: Irish Dancing, 1,095; Others, 713; Total, 1,808’. Inserts include a typescript timetable for the Feis an Athar Maitiú, 1937, signed by Fr. Michael O’Shea OFM Cap., President.

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).

Two photographs of the Father Mathew Hall Orchestra on stage. The group includes Fr. Gerald McCann OFM Cap. (front row, fifth from the right). Ink stamp on the reverse of one the prints reads: ‘Thomas Mathews, photographer, 6 Wynnfield Rd., Rathmines, Dublin’.

Hall-marked silver and bronze Father Mathew Feis medals of uniform Celtic Cross design. Some of the medals have an orange ribbon fastener. The medals are engraved on the reverse with:
• ‘1st prize Drawing & Designing (Class B). 1924’.
• ‘Club Swinging Seniors. 1929’.
• ‘Physical Culture – 1928-29-30. Maggie Hamilton’ (digital image above).
• ‘Swedish Drill. Maggie Hamilton. 1930’.
• ‘2nd Prize / Domestic Science / Crochet / 1925’.
• ‘2nd Prize / Domestic Science/ Overall / 1925’.
• ‘2nd Prize / Sewing / Class D / 1926’.
• ‘Senior Club Swinging / 1930’.
• ‘Senior Club Swinging / 1931’.
• ‘Physical Culture / 1931’.
• ‘Senior English Elocution / 1931 / Second’.
Three of the Celtic Cross Feis Maitiú medals have no engraving on the reverse. The file also includes the metal die used to strike the Feis medal.

Expenditure and receipt book for Father Mathew Hall, Church Street. The inside cover is annotated with a ‘History of Fr. Mathew Hall – copied from the other ledger (1881-1926)’. The history reads: ‘1891: Hall in Church St. formally opened up by Archbishop Walsh. Fr. Columbus Maher OSFC (President)’. The history chronicles extensions, leases and other financial matters concerning the Hall property. The remainder of the volume is made up of expenditure and receipt accounts from Sept. 1934-Sept. 1937. Expenditure is listed under the headings of details, cash and cheques. Receipts are listed under details, cash, total and lodgements. The entries include figures for rents (to the Merchant Tailors), rates (to Dublin Corporation) and the sales of tickets for pantomimes and for various badges, medals, certificates and other paraphernalia.

Programmes for concert performances at Father Mathew Hall. The file includes fliers for concerts by the Father Mathew Choral Society, in aid of the Brian Boru Fete (1914), by the Colmcille Branch of the Gaelic League (1918), for the Annual Colmcille Concert (1920), 'The Colleen Bawn' by The Mathew Choral Union (Easter 1920), and for a pageant titled 'Scenes from the Life of St. Patrick' (1921).

Annual reports and statements of accounts of Father Mathew Hall, Church Street. The booklets provide reports on annual general meetings, activities, speeches and events held in the Hall and provide annual accounts of receipts and expenditure. The 1901 report (pp 20-3) gives an account of a speech by Pádraig Pearse in the Hall on 2 March 1902 commending the giving of classes ‘for the study of our native language, and forms of self-culture amongst our members.’ He added ‘There is a certain bad old tradition that one cannot be a good Irishman unless he “takes a dhrop”. Now, I think you will all allow if there is one body in Ireland which is concerned more than another for the maintenance of genuine Irish traditions, that body is the Gaelic League … [and] in the ranks of no body in Ireland will you find proportionally so many total abstainers as in those of the Gaelic League’. Pearse suggested that there should be more cooperation between the Gaelic League and the temperance movement. In 1906, it was reported (p. 20) that ‘owing to several exceptional expenses, rendered necessary by the increase of membership and the extension of temperance work, we have not been able to reduce our indebtedness to the Bank’. The statement of accounts noted that £1,405 6s 5d was owed to the National Bank by December 1906. The front covers of the booklets have ink drawings of the Hall fronting onto Church Street.