A ‘Savage Model 1907’ Pistol reputed to have been used by an Irish Volunteer during the 1916 Rising. The weapon was found by a Capuchin friar on North King Street after the conclusion of the hostilities. With leather holster and spare bullet cartridge. A manuscript note found with the pistol in the gallery of St. Mary of the Angels, Church Street reads: ‘These are souvenirs of the 1916 Rising’. A revolver used in King Street. A scissors used in the Four Courts’. Fr. Col[umbus Murphy OFM Cap.]’.
File of loose newspaper clippings relating to the Capuchins in Cork and their ministries. The file includes: • 'The Pioneer', Aug. 1956. The magazine contains an illustrated article on the Father Mathew Rally held in Mardyke in Cork on 24 June 1956. The rally was attended by many Capuchin friars from Holy Trinity Church and the keynote address was given by Fr. James O’Mahony OFM Cap. • Photographic print of the exterior of Holy Trinity Church, Father Mathew Quay, Cork. It is noted that the Church is listed for preservation in the Cork Draft Plan. 'Evening Echo', 27 Nov. 1968. • Article (with photographic) print regarding the conferring of Papal award on Bernard Curtis for his loyal and longstanding service as organist in Holy Trinity Church, Cork. The group includes Fr. Alexius Healy OFM Cap. and Fr. Colga O’Riordan OFM Cap. 'Cork Examiner', 24 Nov. 1972. • Photographic print of the Holy Trinity community on the occasion of the Golden Jubilees of Fr. Brendan O’Callaghan OFM Cap., Fr. Edward Walsh OFM Cap. and Fr. Columbus Murphy OFM Cap. The photograph was taken on 22 Sept. 1948 and was reproduced in the 'South Gate', 22 Sept. 1988.
The file includes: • Reports of the seventh centenary celebrations of the Franciscan Order at St. Mary of the Angels, Church Street ('Irish Catholic', 5 Jan. 1927; 'Irish Independent', 31 Jan. 1927). Includes photographic prints of Fr. Edwin Fitzgibbon OFM Cap., Fr. Aloysius Travers OFM Cap. and Fr. Angelus Healy OFM Cap. An image of the High Altar in the Church decorated with a banner (‘Saint Francis / Pray for Us’) is also included. • Report of a talk on ‘Industrial Conciliation Boards’ by Fr. Thomas Dowling OSFC in the Rotary Club, Dublin. 'Evening Herald', 6 Nov. 1922. • An article on the Irish Tertiary Pilgrimage to Rome led by Fr. Aloysius Travers OFM Cap., Fr. Columbus Murphy OFM Cap. and Fr. Canice Bourke OFM Cap. of the Church Street Friary. 'Irish Independent', 12 Oct. 1926. • ‘The Franciscan Year / Solemn Opening / Ceremonies at St. Mary of the Angels, Dublin / Eloquent Sermon by the Most Rev. Sylvester Mulligan OSFC, Definitor General, Rome’. 'Irish Catholic', 7 Aug. 1926. • ‘The Capuchins / A Great Franciscan Reform / Foundation of the Irish Province’. c.1925. • ‘Honouring the memory of the men of Easter Week’. A clipping of a print showing a procession organised by Cumann 1916 which left St. Mary of the Angels, Church Street, for Glasnevin Cemetery. 'Freeman’s Journal', 25 Apr. 1922.
An image of the performers in a production of ‘Aladdin’ in Father Mathew Hall in Cork for the 1923-4 pantomime season. The Capuchin friar (second row, first on the right) is Fr. Columbus Murphy OFM Cap. (1881-1962).
A letter from Fr. Augustine Hayden OFM Cap. to Elizabeth O’Farrell recounting the events of the Easter Rising. The letter is dated 7 February 1953 and reads: ‘… I was very pleased to read your very accurate account of when and where you met Father Columbus [Murphy] at that time when I happened to be Guardian (superior) of our Friary at Church Street. It will interest you to learn that actually I did not hear of the surrender at the GPO, nor at the Four Courts until the following (Sunday) morning at 6.55 when Fr. Columbus returned to the Friary and told me when I was waiting to say the 7 o’clock Mass. For some reason or other the military concealed both surrenders from me though I had been speaking to them twice that afternoon and evening. I actually spoke to our grand boys from the street where North King Street crosses Church Street above the Father Mathew Hall where I had been all that afternoon. I actually got a truce until the following morning [between] the boys and the military each promising not to fire if the other did not fire. …’.
Correspondence with the Performing Right Society Ltd., Chatham House, 13 George Street, Hanover Square, London. The correspondence relates to the granting of licences to perform and make use of music controlled by the members of the aforementioned Society at entertainments held in Father Mathew Hall. The correspondents include the Presidents of Father Mathew Hall, Fr. Columbus Murphy OFM Cap., Fr. Charles Brophy OFM Cap., Fr. Michael O’Shea OFM Cap. and Fr. Nessan Shaw OFM Cap. Responding to the claims of infringement of copyright, Fr. Columbus referred to the amateur status of the performers in the musicals and the philanthropic nature of the Association which ran the Hall (21 Nov. 1927). The file includes printed literature from the Society and newspaper clippings reporting a judgement made in a court case taken by the Society against Bray Urban District Council for infringement of copyright ('Irish Independent', 16 Nov. 1927). The dispute was eventually settled when the Father Mathew Hall Committee agreed to pay £3 3s for performing rights’ fees at the Hall. A letter of 12 Oct. 1943 referred to the intention of the Hall Committee to apply to the Metropolitan District Court for a licence to stage dances in St. Brigid’s Hall
The fonds consists of the correspondence and papers of Capuchin friars detailing their involvement with participants in the national struggle. The majority of the material dates from 1916-1925 and includes many records highlighting the roles played by Irish Capuchins in ministering to republican leaders and their relations. Of particular interest is a large collection of prison letters including the correspondence of some of the leading figures of the Irish Revolution. The fonds also contains a large collection of republican publicity material, newspapers and miscellaneous items of ephemera and artefacts mostly relating to the military and political campaign organised by nationalists for Irish independence. A smaller collection relating to the repatriation of the bodies of Fr. Albert Bibby OFM Cap. and Fr. Dominic O’Connor OFM Cap. from the United States to Ireland in 1958 is also extant.
A group of Capuchin friars in Kilkenny in about 1907. The title, ‘Conradh na Gaeilge’ (Gaelic League), has been superimposed on the original glass plate. Many of the Capuchin friars were fluent Irish speakers. Some like Fr. Augustine Hayden OFM Cap. and Fr. Albert Bibby OFM Cap. were also enthusiastic members of the Gaelic League, regularly preaching in the native language in Gaeltacht areas. This group includes Fr. Albert Bibby OFM Cap. (standing, first on the right) and Fr. Columbus Murphy OFM Cap. (standing, fifth from the left) who later ministered to rebel combatants in the 1916 Rising. Other friars in the group include Fr. Stanislaus Kavanagh OFM Cap. (standing, fourth from the left) and Fr. Bonaventure Murphy OFM Cap. (standing, third from the right).
An image of a group of Capuchin friars on a excursion to Inistioge in County Kilkenny in about 1907. Identifiable individuals include: Third row, first on the left: Fr. Ignatius Collins OFM Cap. (1885-1961) Second row, first on the left: Fr. Colman Griffin OFM Cap. (1886-1971) Second row, second on the left: Fr. Sylvester Mulligan OFM Cap. (1875-1950) Second row, first on the right: Fr. Dominic O'Connor OFM Cap. (1883-1935) First row, second on the left: Fr. Cyril O'Sullivan OFM Cap. (1887-1921) First row, first on the right: Fr. Columbus Murphy OFM Cap. (1881-1962)
