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.
The file contains the issue: 1 Nov. 1920 (vol. CLIII) referring to the prominent role of Fr. Dominic O’Connor OFM Cap. at the funeral of Terence MacSwiney, Lord Mayor of Cork.
The file contains the following editions of this illustrated weekly newspaper: 8 July 1922 (No. 4,342. Vol. 161); 15 July 1922 (4,343. Vol. 161). The editions contain numerous photographic prints of the fighting in Dublin at the outbreak of the Civil War. Includes a photograph of ‘Father Dominic [O'Connor OFM Cap.], who was reported to have been with the Rebels in the Four Courts’.
An image of several Capuchin friars posing on a donkey and cart in the countryside near Inistioge in County Kilkenny. The group includes Seated on donkey: Fr. Ignatius Collins OFM Cap. (1881-1961) Standing at rear, second on the left: Fr. Dominic O'Connor OFM Cap. (1883-1935) Standing at rear, third on the left: Fr. Columbus Murphy OFM Cap. (1881-1962) Seated on cart, front, first on the left: Fr. Cyril O'Sullivan OFM Cap. (1887-1921) Seated on cart, third on the left: Fr. Sylvester Mulligan OFM Cap. (1875-1950)
An image of a group of Capuchin friars. The group includes (second on the left), Fr. Ignatius Collins OFM Cap., (second on the right), Fr. Dominic O'Connor OFM Cap. and (first on the right) Fr. Colman Griffin OFM Cap. A manuscript annotation on the cover is addressed to Fr. Stanislaus Kavanagh OFM Cap. (1876-1965).
A group of Capuchin friars in the Kilkenny Friary garden. The group includes (seated, first on the left), Fr. Cyril O'Sullivan OFM Cap. (1887-1921); (seated, centre), Fr. Dominic O'Connor OFM Cap. (1883-1935); (seated, first on the right), Fr. Ignatius Collins OFM Cap. (1885-1961); (standing, first on the left), Fr. Colman Griffin OFM Cap. (1886-1971).
An image of a group of Capuchin friars in Kilkenny. An annotation on the cover indicates that (seated, second from the right) Fr. Camillus Killian OFM Cap. (1872-1941) was the house superior. Fr. Killian was superior in Kilkenny from 1907-10. Other friars in the group include: (seated, first on the right): Fr. Dominic O'Connor OFM Cap. (1883-1935) (seated, second on the left): Fr. Sylvester Mulligan OFM Cap. (1875-1950) (standing, third from the left): Fr. Cyril O'Sullivan OFM Cap. (1887-1921) (standing, fourth from the left): Fr. Colman Griffin OFM Cap. (1886-1971)
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)
An image of a large group of Capuchin friars. A cover annotation reads: ‘Fr. Edwin and students’. Identifiable individuals include: Second row, second from the right: Fr. Edwin Fitzgibbon OFM Cap. (1874-1938) Second row, third from the right: Fr. Albert Bibby OFM Cap. (1877-1925) First row, second from the right: Fr. Ignatius Collins OFM Cap. (1885-1961) Third row, first from the right: Fr. Colman Griffin OFM Cap. (1886-1971) Third row, third from the right: Fr. Bonaventure Murphy OFM Cap. (1880-1968) Third row, fifth from the right: Fr. Dominic O’Connor OFM Cap. (1883-1935)
Draft recollections of deceased Irish Capuchin friars compiled by an unknown author (but certainly by another friar). The texts are titled ‘Some who have gone before’ and ‘Predecessors / A Capuchin Reverie’. The text includes personal recollections of: Fr. Leonard Brophy OFM Cap. (1869-1930) Fr. Albert Bibby OFM Cap. (1877-1925) Fr. Matthew O’Connor OFM Cap. (d. 27 Apr. 1930) Br. Felix Harte OFM Cap. (d. 11 Jan. 1935) Fr. Fidelis Neary OFM Cap. (d. 22 June 1932) Fr. Sebastian O’Brien OFM Cap. (1867-1931) Fr. Paul Neary OFM Cap. (d. 20 June 1939) The text also refers to several friars who have been given pseudonyms such as ‘Philemon’, ‘Junius’, and ‘Marcion’. The text includes references to Fr. Albert’s role in the 1916 Rising and in the later revolutionary period. It reads: ‘He felt, as few did, the piercing griefs of the young widows of Easter Week. Often would he visit them of an evening. … He made friends with the wistful little son and daughter who were orphaned by the bullets that took [Thomas] MacDonagh’s life away, and who were made motherless by the cruel waves that closed over the drowning body of the patriot’s bride [Muriel MacDonagh drowned in the sea off Skerries, County Dublin, on 9 July 1917]. For them he had a special corner in his affections. All his heart went out to that wee pair, so tragic, so utterly lonely’. The file also includes an attached clipping referring to the re-interment of the bodies of Fr. Albert Bibby OFM Cap. and Fr. Dominic O’Connor OFM Cap. in Rochestown Capuchin Cemetery on 14 June 1958
