The flier refers to the foundation by Fr. Benvenutus Guy OSFC of St. Joseph’s League which was approved by the Most Rev. William J. Walsh, Archbishop of Dublin, and provides details of its government and organisation. Article 6 notes that ‘members [are] to wear a badge to distinguish them from other boys. By the wearing of this badge they are expected to avoid the company of wicked boys, and to do all in their power to crush vice of every kind, especially evil speaking in those with whom they have to come in contact with’.
A carte de visite of members of the Catholic Boys' Brigade founded on Church Street in Dublin in March 1894. The photographic print (on card) was produced by W.F. O’Connor, 1 Wellington Quay, corner of Parliament Street, Dublin.
Circular letter from the Catholic Boys’ Brigade Committee, Capuchin Friary, Church Street. The circular refers to the enrollment of over two thousand young boys and the need for subscriptions for the organisation. It reads: ‘The work is Catholic and essentially non-political … The premises at 156 Church Street have been purchased in fee, and are undergoing the necessary alterations. Good Brass and Fife and Drum Bands are in course of organisation; uniforms have to be provided for the boys, many initial expenses are incurred’. The file contains three copies of the document.
The clippings relate mainly to notifications of public meetings, events, entertainments, and parades associated with the Boys’ Brigade, Church Street. Some of the clippings also provide lists of subscribers and details of fund-raising efforts. Includes clippings from the 'Freeman’s Journal', 'Daily Nation', 'Daily Express', and 'Evening Telegraph'. Some of the annotated clippings were loosely inserted into a hard-covered volume (21 cm x 14 cm) which was ink-stamped on the inside cover ‘Catholic Boys’ Brigade, Church Street, Dublin’.
A letter from the examiner of claims in relation to an application for an income tax exemption (charity) for the Catholic Boys’ Brigade, Church Street.
Letter from James J. Darragh, 154 North King Street, to Lieutenant McNamara thanking Boys’ Brigade members for their messages of condolence on the death of his mother. Darragh added ‘All I can say is that as long as I am connected with the Brigade (and which I intend to be for many years I hope, in spite of the many mean tricks that are being resorted to try to get me out of it), I will always look after the interests of the officers …’.
Letter from the Most Rev. Abraham Brownrigg, Bishop of Ossory, to Fr. Peter Bowe OSFC, Provincial Minister, referring to an anonymous letter published in the 'Kilkenny Journal' appearing to advocate ‘the introduction of a Boys’ Brigade into Kilkenny to be worked by and under the supervision of your fathers in Walkin Street’. Brownrigg expresses his disapproval of such a proposal. With a letter from Fr. Jarlath Hynes OSFC assuring the Bishop that ‘our fathers in Kilkenny have no knowledge whatsoever of the anonymous letter … nor has there ever been any question or thought amongst us … of having anything to do with a Boys’ Brigade in your city’.
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’.
Walsh, William Joseph, 1841-1921, Roman Catholic Archbishop of 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.
