A pamphlet relating to the trial and execution of Erskine Childers (1870-1922) who was convicted by a Free State military court on charges of illegally possessing a firearm and sentenced to death. While his appeal against the sentence was still pending, Childers was executed by firing squad at the Beggar’s Bush Barracks in Dublin on 24 Nov. 1922. The tract includes an elegy on Erskine Childers by Padraig de Brún. Published in London by Leslie Smith & Co., printers.
An anti-Treaty cartoon referring to Desmond Fitzgerald (1889-1947), Minister for External Affairs (1922-7), and Minister for Propaganda outside the cabinet (August 1921). The caption refers to Fitzgerald as ‘Liar in Chief to Publicity Department. Slave-State’.
Photographic print of President Seán T. O’Kelly at the Capuchin Retreat House, Raheny. Typescript annotation on the reverse reads: ‘One of the first events covered by Gael-Linn’s all-Irish newsreel – directed, edited, and produced in Ireland was the blessing of the Calvary at the Capuchin Retreat House Raheny on June 14 in memory of two patriot priests, Fr. Albert Bibby OFM Cap. and Fr. Dominic O’Connor OFM Cap., where Mr. O’Kelly and Mr. de Valera made their last appearance together as President and Taoiseach. The still from the ‘Amharc Eireann’ shows Mr. O’Kelly waving to the crowd as he leaves. With him are Rev. Fr. Hillary McDonagh OFM Cap, (left), Rev. Fr. Colman Griffin OFM Cap. and Rev. Fr. Theodore Murphy OFM Cap., Superior of the Retreat House. The file includes a colour photographic print of the ‘Calvary in memory of Fr. Albert and Fr. Dominic erected by the old boys of Fianna Éireann’.
Recollections by an t-Athar Eláir OFM Cap. (Fr. Hilary McDonagh OFM Cap.) of the re-internment of Fr. Albert Bibby OFM Cap. and Fr. Dominic O’Connor OFM Cap. in the cemetery of Rochestown Capuchin Friary, County Cork, in 1958. The notes were compiled by Fr. Nessan Shaw OFM Cap. The manuscript is incomplete.
The extensive and often lavish use of photographs in 'The Capuchin Annual' set the publication apart from many other periodicals of the time. Photography in the 'Annual' served a very clear purpose – it projected an idealised image of Ireland to its wide readership in a way that was arguably more effective than any prose. In the early years, scenic views such as ‘Evening in Dublin’ or ‘Killiney Bay’ would appear randomly, but in later years photographic features became far more extensive. The 'Annual’s' photographic archive is particularly rich and constitutes a valuable pictorial record of life in Ireland in the twentieth century.
