The sub-series comprises papers relating to the ministries performed by Fr. Albert Bibby OFM Cap. to republicans detained after the 1916 Rising. The section includes authorisations from British armed forces allowing Fr. Albert to visit detainees and extracts from various prison letters.
The note reads: ‘The General Officer Commander in Chief directs that every facility be given to his Revered Father Albert [Bibby] OSFC to visit rebel prisoners at any of the places of detention or internment, to hear confessions and administer the rights of his Church, at all times’. With typescript copy.
A clipping of an article reprinting a copy of Fr. Albert Bibby’s final letter to Éamon de Valera pledging his ‘unchanged and unchangeable, and uncompromising’ allegiance to the Republic and to you, its President’. He argues that ‘in the movement for the independence of Ireland I have always endeavoured to remember that I was a Capuchin Priest’. The volume also includes a covering letter from Fr. Dominic O’Connor OFM Cap. to de Valera enclosing Bibby’ letter and referring to the latter’s ailing health. O’Connor concludes by stating that it is ‘better to die in agony than for freedom than live in luxurious freedom’. (Volume page 116).
Printed facsimile of a letter from Fr. Albert Bibby to the editor of ‘The Monitor’ referring to his worsening condition in in St. Francis Hospital in Santa Barbara, California. He writes ‘It is hard to feel that that I may not see dear old Ireland again, or my good mother, sisters and friends there. It would lessen the sacrifice to be laid to rest with Rory [O’Connor] and the boys in Glasnevin’. He adds that he has no bitterness towards his political opponents’. (Volume page 91).
An original letter of Fr. Albert Bibby OFM Cap., to Br. Colman Cregan OFM Cap. referring to his treatment in St. Francis Hospital in Santa Barbara, California. He also thanks the ‘good people of Santa Yenz parish’ for sending him their good wishes. (Volume page 90).
A collection of the personal papers of Fr. Albert Bibby OFM Cap. relating to his involvement with participants in the national struggle primarily from 1916-22.