Correspondence of Fr. Columbus Murphy OFM Cap., President, Father Mathew Hall, with Valentine Miley, solicitor, 12 South Frederick Street, Dublin, regarding the appointment of legal trustees for the Hall property. The file includes copy notices sent by Fr. Columbus to committee members regarding the amendment needed to the ‘General rule of the Father Mathew Hall OSFC and the “Sacred Thirst” Branch of St. Patrick’s Branch League of the Cross’. With solicitor costs for the completion of a deed assignment for the appointment of a new committee and trustees.
Copy deeds, leases and solicitors’ correspondence relating to legal issues connected with the Father Mathew Hall property including of the purchase of the ground rent from Lord Congleton. The file includes copy correspondence from Sean Ó hUadaigh, solicitor, referring to the ‘plot of ground on which 11-15 May Lane formerly stood’ (20 Mar. 1969). Other correspondents include Montgomery and Chaytor, solicitors, 16-17 Clanwilliam Terrace, Grand Canal Quay, Dublin (relating to the title of the Merchant Tailors’ Charity to the Hall property); Frank Ward & Co., solicitors, Equity House, Upper Ormond Quay, Dublin, regarding the purchase of the freehold interest by Stephen Ducie of 1 & 1A Nicholas Avenue from the Capuchin Order (11 Apr. 1994). These copy documents were probably prepared by solicitors to clarify title in respect of the Father Mathew Hall property and adjoining cottages.
Copy architectural, ordnance survey and sketch maps for an apartment and office development at the Bow Street Friary site. Includes copy plans by James Ahern, architects, 29 Belgrove Road, Clontarf, Dublin 3. (Scale: 1:500). The Bow Street Friary site comprised 1,544 square meters. Some of the plans relate to the proposal for the new Capuchin Friary on Church Street.
Blank contract form for the hiring of Father Mathew Hall, Church Street. The contract specifies the conditions under which the Hall Committee will permit the use of the Hall for performances. One of the conditions specifies that ‘under no circumstances whatsoever … [shall] any person be allowed to remain in the Hall who in the opinion of the committee … is under the influence of drink or in any way disorderly’.
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).
Programmes for Christmas Pantomime programmes at Father Mathew Hall. The file comprises programmes for 'Dick Whittington and his Cat' (1964-65); 'Babes in the Wood' (1966-67); 'Robinson Crusoe' (1968-69).
Application forms for the position of caretaker in Father Mathew Hall, Church Street. The file includes a draft contract and a memorandum on the duties and responsibilities of the position. The memorandum (which was approved by the Hall Committee on 28 June 1926) specified that the caretaker ‘must of necessity be a total abstainer and in person be well groomed and presentable on all public occasions’.
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.
Twelfth annual report of the Father Mathew Hall, Church Street, in 1891. The report notes that ‘in a few days prior to our last annual meeting, this whole building was formally opened by His Grace the Archbishop of Dublin for the advancement of the Total Abstinence cause, and of our Holy Religion in this district of the city’. The report refers to the various fundraising efforts undertaken in support of the local temperance movement. The file also includes a supplemental report (1892). The supplemental report states that an annual meeting ‘should have been held on the third Sunday in January but … His Eminence Henry Edward Cardinal Manning, Archbishop of Westminster, had gone to reap in a better world the reward of a saintly life in this’. The reports include references to attendances at weekly temperance meetings and to the staging of various lectures, exhibitions and performances in the Hall.
Adjudicators’ reports for the competitions held at the Father Mathew Feis in 1998. The reports include remarks made by various adjudicators at the Feis. The reports include entries under the title of competitor’s number, competition number and the title and marks awarded. The competitions assessed include solo drama and mixed verse speaking.
