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 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. …’.
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)
A group of Capuchin friars with musical instruments in the Kilkenny Friary in c.1905. Identifiable individuals include: Front row (seated): First on the left: Br. Edward Walsh OFM Cap. (1881-1961) First on the right: Br. Ignatius Collins OFM Cap. (1885-1961)
Second row (seated): First on the right: Br. Edwin Fitzgibbon OFM Cap. (1874-1938) First on the left: Br. Brendan O’Callaghan OFM Cap. (1880-1952)
Third row (standing): First on the right: Br. Albert Bibby OFM Cap. (1877-1925) Second on the right: Br. Cyril O’Sullivan OFM Cap. (1887-1921) Third on the right: Br. Bonaventure Murphy OFM Cap. (1880-1968) Second on the left: Br. Gregory O’Kelly OFM Cap. (d. 9 Apr. 1947) First on the left: Br. Philip King OFM Cap. (1885-1952)
Fourth row (standing): First on the right: Br. Dominic O’Connor OFM Cap. (1883-1935) Second on the right: Br. Malachy Hynes OFM Cap. (1879-1955) Third on the right: Br. Berchmans Cantillon OFM Cap. (1880-1942) Forth on the right: Br. Columbus Murphy OFM Cap. (1881-1962) Second on the left: Br. Adrian Sharkett OFM Cap. (1879-1965) First on the left: Br. Colman Griffin OFM Cap. (1886-1971
