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The sub-series contains research notes, document transcriptions, correspondence and publications on Fr. Theobald Mathew OSFC compiled by Fr. Nessan Shaw OFM Cap. (1915-1997). The Waterford-born Capuchin friar, Brother (later Father) Nessan Shaw OFM Cap. completed a thesis titled ‘The Life and Times of Fr. Theobald Mathew’ for an MA degree in University College Cork in 1939. He retained a life-long interest in the subject and accumulated a large number of documentary sources, publications and notes pertaining to Fr. Mathew and his campaign against intemperance.

Excerpts (probably compiled by Fr. Nessan Shaw OFM Cap.) referring to missions given by various Capuchin friars to tertiaries and sodality groups in the parish of Mount Bellew in County Galway. The extracts appear to have been taken from contemporary editions of the 'Franciscan Annals'.

• Letter to Fr. Nessan Shaw OFM Cap. from the Public Record Office of Ireland sending on information in relation to Fr. Mathew’s family history and ancestry. 28 June 1939. Manuscript, 1 p.
• Copy article by the Most Rev. David Mathew titled ‘Father Mathew’s family / The Mathews in Tipperary’, 'The Capuchin Annual' (1956-7), pp 143-52. Copy print, 10 pp.
• An article by Fr. Nessan titled ‘The Mathews of Thomastown’. Typescript, 5 pp.
• Cutting of an article by Padraig Ó Maidin titled ‘“Grand George Mathew” and Thomastown’.
• 'The Father Mathew Record', Vol. 49, No. 1 (Jan. 1957). The publication is a souvenir edition which includes articles covering the Father Mathew centenary celebrations. The cover has a photograph of the Fr. Mathew marble bust by John Hogan.
• Cutting of an article titled ‘Thurles honours Diana’s ancestor’, 'Cork Examiner', 5 Feb. 1990. The article refers to Lady Elizabeth Butler, an ancestor to Fr. Theobald Mathew OSFC and supposedly Diana, Princess of Wales.
• Copy of an article by Fr. Nessan titled ‘A Great Irish Capuchin’, published in 'The Capuchin' magazine. The article refers to the celebrations in 1988 of the 150th anniversary of the inauguration of the temperance campaign by Fr. Mathew. With typescript copy, 5 pp.
• The Mathew family tree compiled by Fr. Nessan. Manuscript, 1 p.
• Letter to Fr. Nessan from Rev. Christy O’Dwyer, President of St. Patrick’s College, Thurles, enclosing a copy of an entry in the Skehan Index of Clergy, re Fr. Theobald Mathew (1834-1872), a nephew of the Apostle of Temperance. 8 Feb. 1994. Typescript, 2 pp.
• Copy cutting of an article advertising the Ursuline Convent School in Thurles. The advertisement notes that prospectuses can be obtained from Fr. Theobald Mathew OSFC. 'Cork Examiner', 22 May 1844.
• Copy extracts from the archives of the Ursuline Convent, Thurles, re the presentation of Fr. Mathew’s sister as a boarding pupil at the school, and to a donation made by him to the Ursuline Sisters. 1815-45. Copy manuscript, 3 pp.
• Copy newspaper cutting of an article by Nicholas Farrell titled ‘Dickensian litigant quits Bar for the pub’. The article refers to the legal travails of Thomas Mathew, a great-grandson of Sir J.C. Mathew who was a descendant of Fr. Theobald Mathew OSFC. (1991). Cutting, 1 p.
• Notes by Fr. Nessan on Elizabeth Poyntz (1587-1673) who became Lady Thurles in 1608 when she married Thomas Butler, Viscount Thurles. The notes refer to her genealogical relationship with Fr. Theobald Mathew OSFC. Typescript, 3 pp.

Letter from Fr. Nessan Shaw OFM Cap., President, Father Mathew Hall, Cork, to Fr. Conrad O’Donovan OFM Cap., Provincial Minister, outlining the financial position of the Hall. Fr. Nessan affirmed that finances are ‘a matter of real concern because of the rising costs and reduced theatre patronage. At present we are losing money. It costs over £2,000 a year to run the Hall’. Fr. Nessan also refers to the changing nature of the activities in the Hall and to his intention to attract a ‘younger and wider audience’. A statement of financial accounts is enclosed.

Letter from Fr. Nessan Shaw OFM Cap., President, Father Mathew Hall, Cork, to Fr. Anthony Boran OFM Cap., enclosing a notice from the Cork Corporation Fire Department regarding the use of the Hall for bingo.

Circular letter to friars from Fr. Nessan Shaw OFM Cap. regarding a forthcoming sale of work in aid of the Capuchin Foreign Missions. With an enclosure re the contributions from the Seraphic Mass Association (SMA) towards the welfare of the African missions (1973-6).

List of friars of the Capuchin community in Kilkenny. Includes a daily duty list for the priests. The list was compiled by Fr. Nessan Shaw OFM Cap.

Letter from Fr. Nessan Shaw OFM Cap. (1914-1997), the presbytery, Gurranabraher, Cork, to Fr. Padraig Ó Cuill OFM Cap. enclosing newspaper cuttings of his articles published in the 'Evening Echo' from 18-21 Aug. 1982.

A collection of photographic prints assembled by Fr. Nessan Shaw OFM Cap. for an exhibition on the life and temperance campaign of Fr. Theobald Mathew OSFC. The prints have been annotated on the reverse by Fr. Nessan. The file includes:
• Thomastown Castle, County Tipperary, birthplace of Fr. Mathew.
• Rathclogheen House, Golden, County Tipperary, where Fr. Mathew lived until he joined the Capuchins.
• St. Patrick’s Church, Kilfeacle, County Tipperary, Fr. Mathew’s parish church.
• The old Capuchin Chapel on Blackamoor Lane, Cork.
• Holy Trinity Church, after it was opened (without steeple) in 1850.
• House in Cove Street where Fr. Mathew Lived. Fr. Nessan notes that ‘it was No. 8 but it has since been demolished’.
• Portrait of Fr. Mathew. An annotation on the reverse reads: ‘This photograph … is an exact reproduction of the original painting at present in the Bon Secours Convent, Cork. On the back of the original painting is the following inscription “The original portrait of Fr. Mathew which I painted for himself / James Butler Brennan RHA”’.
• Father Mathew Statue on St. Patrick’s Street, Cork.
• Fr. Mathew Tower (with copy engraving). An annotation on the reverse reads: ‘Fr. Mathew Tower / built in Kilcoolishal, Dunkettle, by William O’Connor, a merchant tailor of Cork, to commemorate the hospitable reception which Fr. Mathew received in London in 1843. It was completed in 1846 and opened on November 10th’.
• Fr. Mathew’s grave in St. Joseph’s Cemetery, Cork.
• ‘A specimen of Fr. Mathew’s handwriting’.
• Plaque on a wall of a house on Cove Street commemorating Fr. Mathew’s residence in a house nearby.
• A gong presented by Fr. Mathew to the Ursuline Sisters of Thurles.
• A cup and saucer with images of Fr. Mathew and some temperance symbols emblazoned upon them. Fr. Nessan notes that these items are in the possession of the Foy family in Philadelphia, United States. He adds that the family ‘claim a relationship with Fr. Theobald Mathew through a great-great grandfather, Michael Moore, whose mother was Rose Anna Mathew’.
• The unveiling of the Fr. Mathew Statue on O’Connell Street, Dublin, on 8 Feb. 1893.
• Solemn High Mass at Thomastown Castle to commemorate the centenary of the inauguration of the temperance campaign by Fr. Mathew. 19 June 1938.