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Letters of the Most Rev. William J. Walsh, Archbishop of Dublin, to the Provincial Ministers of the Irish Capuchins (Fr. Matthew O’Connor OSFC, Fr. Peter Bowe OSFC and Fr. Paul Neary OSFC) regarding the establishment and functioning of the Catholic Boys’ Brigade in Dublin. Walsh wrote to Fr. Matthew on 2 May 1895: ‘I should be glad if you could see your way to letting one of your fathers take it in hand. Of course, the rules should be approved in detail so that at any time we could withdraw our connection and our sanction if things were going wrong’. He later averred (27 May 1895) that the ‘organisation ought to be a useful one, if it is well looked after, and good provision for this seems to be made in the Rules’. He later referred (21 June 1895) to an article in the draft rules of Brigade: ‘In par. X, it seems to be left open to Protestants to have a voice in the management. This, of course, would not work in a Catholic organisation for Catholic Boys only’. On 27 Feb. 1900 Walsh wrote: ‘Our religious communities in Dublin are actively engaged in carrying on many good works, works which undoubtedly could not be carried on at all but for them. But I think it is generally understood that as I am exceedingly careful to avoid anything like interference, or bordering on interference, in the affairs of religious bodies, it is far better that I should not be in any connected with their good works’. He later referred to the Capuchin friars’ decision to discontinue work with the Brigade: ‘I observe there is a special point insisted on by the critics of the Boys’ Brigades – that such Brigades are really training schools for the army. On the whole, it may be just as well that your good fathers have got clear of the work’ (15 June 1902). In 1904, Walsh affirmed that he ‘had always remained aloof the organisation’ and claimed that it was not possible for him to interfere ‘in any way [with] the question as to the holding of the trust property’.

Letters from William Mooney & Sons, solicitors, 16 Fleet Street, Dublin, to Fr. Mark McDonnell OSFC regarding the possession of properties held by John Butterly in May Lane and their transfer to the lay trustees of the Catholic Boys’ Brigade, Dublin.

Letters from Jonathan J. Fitzgerald, 26 Lower Stephen Street, Dublin, to Fr. Paul Neary OSFC, Church Street, recommending a play titled ‘Dick Whittington’ for performance by the Boys’ Brigade. He later commends the Brigade for the ‘exquisite programmes’ rendered. Aloysius Johnson, 1 Glenarin Villas, Drumcondra, asks Fr. Paul if he intends holding Brigade troop meetings during the summer months.

Letter of William Kavanagh, brass plate engraver, 28 Wellington Quay, to Fr. Laurence Dowling OSFC, guardian, Church Street, referring to the designs and illustrations of brass memorial tablets for St. Mary of the Angels. With printed enclosure of various brass memorial templates which could be used.

Letter from W.V. Nagle, National Bank, 34 College Green, Dublin, to Fr. Augustine Hayden OSFC, guardian, Church Street Friary, referring to the ‘American draft’ of £59 5s 6d and enclosing copies of two accounts of the Capuchins with the aforementioned Bank.

Letter from the Most Reverend Henry Henry, Bishop of Down and Connor, to [Fr. Mark McDonnell OSFC], referring to a request made by one of his Belfast priests to establish a Boys’ Brigade similar to the one founded on Church Street. Archbishop Henry asks for a copy of the rules and inquires whether ‘the results produced would justify the expenditure of time and trouble and I suppose funds’.

Letter from the Hibernian Fire and General Insurance Company, 49 Dame Street, to Fr. Laurence Dowling OSFC, guardian, Church Street, regarding fire insurance of £18,625 to cover the buildings and contents of the Friary and Church. Reference is also made to the lack of insurance for the Sacred Heart Chapel.

Letter from C. J. Murray, Honorary Secretary of the Church Street Disaster Fund Committee, regarding the case of William Carthy, a five-year-old child living at 33 North Brunswick Street. The author writes: ‘I am of the opinion from what I have seen of the surroundings of the place that the Committee ought to take immediate steps to have the child taken from his aunt and placed in a boarding school’.

Letter from Michael J. Dwyer, Main Street, Roscrea, to Fr. Peter Bowe OSFC, expressing his joy in having a branch of the organisation established in Roscrea.