The subseries comprises a small collection of papers relating to the Irish scholar and writer An tAthair Peadar Ó Laoghaire (Peter O’Leary). Ó Laoghaire was a prominent Irish language activist and member of Conradh na Gaeilge (Gaelic League). He published numerous books and articles on a range of topics, including an autobiography (‘Mo Sgéal Féin’), the first drama in Irish (‘Tadhg saor’), original prose, Irish translations of the Gospels, and translations of medieval Irish texts. The collection includes his letters to Fr. Augustine Hayden OFM Cap. and Fr. Albert Bibby OFM Cap., two Capuchin friars who shared Ó Laoghaire’s enthusiasm for the promotion of the Irish language. This collection also includes some material relating to Ó Laoghaire’s published work, particularly clippings of his transcriptions and translations of Irish texts, and a manuscript draft of ‘An Craos-Deamhan’. Fr. Senan Moynihan OFM Cap. was interested in Ó Laoghaire’s career and sought to promote his contribution to the Irish language. He seemingly acquired most of this material for personal research. The Ó Laoghaire collection was later preserved among Moynihan’s personal papers.
This section contains scale drawings used for building construction. The construction drawings include depictions of the Hall’s exterior, the interior electrical systems, the heating, ventilation and air-conditioning installations, and plumbing, structural systems and other building elements. The sub-series also includes blueprints and working print drawings used in construction and renovation.
The 'Feis Maitiú' was established in 1909 by Fr. Aloysius Travers OFM Cap., who saw the need for a festival to encourage people interested in preserving Irish culture and language. The programme for the annual Feiseanna gradually expanded to include competitions for singing, instrumental music, speech and drama, in both English and Irish. The collection consists of organizational records and promotional materials which document the activities of the Father Mathew Feis from its inception. Correspondence and financial records document the development of the Feis, while other records such as competition results, photographs, posters and fliers primarily document competition productions and performances.
This section contains records relating to the sale by the Capuchin Franciscan Order of Father Mathew Hall, Church Street, and the Bow Street Friary building. The principal agents for the sale of the two properties (sold as lots) were Hamilton Osborne King (HOK). The old Friary consisted of a four storey L-shaped building of circa 2,675 m2. The original portion of the building was built towards the end of the nineteenth century, with a northern wing added in the early twentieth century. Access to this portion of the Friary was from Bow Street. The sub-series contains solicitors’ and auctioneers’ correspondence relating to arrangements for the sale. The collection includes legal material connected with the tender for sale and representations made to the Capuchins from various individuals for the preservation of Father Mathew Hall as a cultural and community amenity. This section also includes correspondence from Dublin Corporation regarding provisions for the protection of certain architectural features of the Hall’s interior.
The sub-series contains a collection of printed books, church plate, relics and ephemera associated with Fr. Theobald Mathew OSFC. Some of these objects were used for exhibition purposes by the Capuchin friars at commemorative events marking anniversaries associated with the temperance campaign.
