Letter from Henry O’Hanrahan, prisoner no. q. 150, Lewes Prison, to Fr. Albert Bibby OFM Cap. and Fr. Augustine Hayden OFM Cap., thanking the Capuchin fathers for their services during the Rising. He also refers to increasing clerical support for the republican cause. O’Hanrahan fought at Jacob’s Biscuit factory during the Rising. The letter reads: ‘Just a short note from an Irish felon to thank you both very much indeed for your many enquiries, for your words, and also for your many kindnesses to my dear mother and sisters. It will indeed be a while till we here, our friends, or Ireland forget what we owe to “Church St[reet]” – of course it did not and does not surprise some of us, even though we had not met some you till a very memorable Sunday. That indeed was a Sunday which we will all remember till we “surrender” to the God of Nations and I wonder what has He in store for our little country. Would we had some of your over here. … on that particular Sunday – the difference – but then in all her struggles religious and otherwise – Ireland’s friends were the [Religious] Orders. Thank God, from all we hear the young men of Maynooth etc. are “making good” and God knows its time. Now I know you are pretty conversant with our life etc. here and perhaps before you read this you will have seen or heard of [Gerard] Crofts who is next for invaliding and as I know you are both such friends and also that you are aware space (even in paper) with us is limited, you will excuse my coupling you in this short note’.
Letters from D. O’Callaghan, prisoner no. q 128, Portland Prison, to Fr. Albert Bibby OFM Cap., Church Street, referring to his health. The official letter states that O’Callaghan is in ‘bad health’ and notes that if he behaves well, shall ‘be allowed to write another letter about 19 Jan. 1918’. A letter M.H. Smith, medical officer, Portland Prison, reports that O’Callaghan ‘is in his usual health’. With cover
Letter from James Joseph Walsh, prisoner no. 899, Mountjoy Prison, to Fr. Albert Bibby OFM Cap., referring to the gradually improving conditions for prisoners. Walsh also refers to the public who ‘in large numbers still crowd to the gate’ of the prison. He informs Fr. Albert that three prisoners are still deprived of the privilege of a daily visit: ‘Sullivan, Cork; Shaw, Stradbally; and Fleming, Galway’. The letter is written on an official form with regulations governing prisoner regulations printed on first page.
Photographic copy print of a letter from Erskine Childers, Beggars’ Bush Barracks, Dublin, to Fr. Albert Bibby OFM Cap., declaring that he is ‘to die tomorrow at 7’. He states he will ‘die happy and undefeated and at peace with God and men’. Fr. Albert referred to this letter in his statement titled ‘The Case of Farther Albert, O.S.F.C.’, defending his actions and declaring his ‘absolute impartiality’ during the War of Independence and later at the outbreak of Civil War hostilities in Dublin in 1922 (CA IR-1-1-2-4-6).
Souvenir publication for the funeral of O’Donovan Rossa at Glasnevin Cemetery, Dublin, 1 Aug. 1915. 2nd edition. Includes the text of Pearse’s graveside oration and other contributions by Thomas Mac Donagh, Seamus O’Sullivan, and James Connolly’s statement on The Citizen Army.
Souvenir programme for Heuston & Colbert Commemoration Aeridheacht, Croke Park, 12 May 1918. The event was organised in aid of Fianna Ėireann – Battalion II.
The sub-series comprises papers relating to the ministries undertaken by Fr. Aloysius Travers OFM Cap. to various republicans detained after the Easter Rising. The section includes authorisations and passes from British forces allowing him to visit Kilmainham Jail and extracts from various letters written by republican prisoners in the immediate aftermath of the Rising.
