Notes compiled by John O’Connell (1843-1905), a grandson of Daniel O’Connell, ‘The Liberator’. The book contains accounts of various Provincial Chapters of the Capuchin Order in Ireland, records of personnel changes in various Capuchin communities, and notes on meetings and other activities of the Third Order of St. Francis in Kilkenny. Records include membership and ordination lists. Newspaper cuttings are pasted into the volume. A photographic print of the Capuchin Friary at Rochestown in also extant in the volume. A partial index is also given: • List of Third Order Brothers in 1895 • List of Third Order Novices in 1897 • List of Third Order Novices in 1898 • Members of Council in 1895 • Collectors on Feast days • Canopy and Banner bearers • Monthly collectors • Portinuncula arrangements • Capuchin Chapter, 1898 • Third Order election, 1898 • Immaculate Conception and Christmas Arrangements, 1898 • List of Third Order Brothers for 1899 • Ordinations • Appointment of a Commissary Visitor to Third Order branches in England • Vergers and collectors, Holy Thursday • Sunday and Holiday collectors • List of Third Order brothers in 1902 A list is given on page 21 of ‘students who left the convent in Kilkenny … for Church Street, Dublin, about the ninth of April 1900, received the tonsure and minor orders on Saturday, 22nd September 1900’. The list includes the names of Brothers Sylvester Mulligan, Angelus Healy, Stanislaus Kavanagh and Albert Bibby’.
Newspaper clippings relating to the Irish Revolution assembled by the editors of 'The Capuchin Annual'. Many of the clippings relate to the role played by the Catholic clergy (particularly the Irish Capuchins) during this period. The file includes: • An article referring to remarks made by Rev. W.P. Burke in relation to the moral justification of wars. It reads ‘who can call the wretched Dublin business a war? It was backed neither by the mind nor strength of the country’. 'Nationality', 9 June 1917. • ‘A German Plot’. 'Cork Examiner', 18 May 1918. • ‘Sinn Feiners and the German Plot’. 25 May 1918. • ‘Salute the Heroes / Back from the Gates of Death’. The article refers to the release of republican prisoners from Mountjoy Jail and to the roles played by Fr. Augustine Hayden OFM Cap. and Fr. Albert Bibby OFM Cap. The article reads ‘The association of these two much loved Irish Franciscan Friars with the last moments of some of the men who died after the Insurrection of 1916 was recalled by their presence yesterday. … Father Augustine appealed to the crowds whom his voice could reach to be calm. He reminded them that the prisoners were very weak, and he appealed to his hearers to maintain order while they were passing through and to obey their Volunteers’. 'Freeman’s Journal', 15 Apr. 1920. • ‘The Prisoners Released’. The article refers to the role played by Fr. Albert Bibby OFM Cap. in securing the release of sixty-eight republican prisoners in Dublin. 'Catholic Times', 17 Apr. 1920. • ‘Ireland a Nation / The Government’s Perfidies and Outrages’. The article refers to Fr. Augustine Hayden OFM Cap. and Fr. Matthew O’Connor OFM Cap. 'Freeman’s Journal', 11 May 1921. • ‘Obsequies of Rev. James O’Callaghan’. 28 May 1921. A clipping of a photograph showing the funeral of Fr. James O’Callaghan who was killed on 15 May 1920. 'Cork Examiner', 28 May 1921. • ‘Miltown Park Raid’ / Large Forces Surround Jesuit House of Studies’. 'Freeman’s Journal', 21 Feb. 1921. • ‘The Priest Killers / Mrs De Roiste describes night of murder / Father [Seamus/James] O’Callaghan’s Assassin’. 'Catholic Herald', 4 June 1921. • ‘Priest Arrested / President of St. Flannan’s College in Custody’. 'Evening Herald', 6 July 1921. • ‘One way to peace / Stop Repression & Recognise Ireland’s Rights / Irish Bishops’ Statement. 'Evening Telegraph', 22 June 1921. • ‘The Men of 1916 / Impressive march through streets of Dublin / Graveside tributes’. The article refers to a Memorial Mass offered for the leaders of the 1916 Rising at St. Mary of the Angels, Church Street, Dublin. 'Freeman’s Journal', 25 Apr. 1922.
‘Memorandum of Ambulance work & efforts for peace’ by J.P. Homan, Vernon Avenue, Clontarf, Dublin. The memorandum refers to his work with St. John’s Ambulance during the Civil War hostilities in Dublin in June and July 1922. Specific mention is made of Homan’s interactions with Fr. Albert Bibby OFM Cap. and the friar’s efforts to secure a cessation of the fighting. Includes a short clipping of an obituary for J.P. Homan (‘Irish Independent’, 6 Aug. 1944). (Volume pages 79-87).
Letters from An tAthair Peadar Ó Laoghaire, Castlelyons, County Cork, to Fr. Albert Bibby OFM Cap. The letters relate to instruction in the Irish language (particularly for children), and translations of prayers and other religious material from English into Irish. In a letter (9 Nov. 1918) O’Leary expresses his hope that Bibby, Father Augustine, and Brother Bernard have all escaped the flu and ‘are all keeping free from that plague’. In another letter (Dec. 1918) O’Leary wrote ‘20 years ago people used to write to me and say “An tAthair Peadar”’. He also states that he is in good health and feels blessed ‘to have much energy in my 80th year’. In another letter (27 Feb. 1919) he argued that ‘the writers of religious poetry in English should all be gathered together and taken out and shot! Why do they take it for granted that because poetry is religious it may be nonsense!’. He later claimed that ‘those English religious hymns are really absurd’ (Mar. 1919). In another letter (23 Mar. 1919) O’Leary wrote ‘if you want to be sure of the real sound of the words get a real native speaker to say the words for you’. In December 1919 O’Leary invited Fr. Albert to Cork and to stay for a fortnight as he wanted to talk about ‘those little hymns of mine’. The file includes notes and some Irish language extracts and translations of mostly religious material.
A letter from Rory O’Connor to Fr. Albert Bibby OFM Cap. recalling the republican occupation of the Four Courts and the assistance rendered by the friar during that time. Reference is also made to ‘co-ordinated military action against N.E. Ulster’. O’Connor concludes ‘We have never acknowledged the heroic services which you rendered us during the days you were with us in the Four Courts, during the attack, it seems unnecessar[y] as your devotion to Ireland’s liberty is no less than ours’. (Volume page 112).
'Hymn to St. Columcille', performed in Father Mathew Hall for the ‘celebration of St. Mary of the Angels, Church Street, Dublin’. The manuscript annotation appears to be in the hand of Fr. Albert Bibby OSFC.
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)
