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.
Letter from Fr. Albert Bibby OFM Cap. to Fr. Bonaventure Murphy OFM Cap. expressing his relief at being able to work again and affirming that he would like to do more preaching. He also refers to communications from Fr. Dominic O’Connor OFM Cap. and to his distress on not having access to Irish newspapers. Reference is also made to the troubled state of Ireland. He writes ‘the greatest opportunity that came for nearly 800 years lost: it would make one’s blood boil’.
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
List of articles, records and relics relating to Fr. Theobald Mathew OSFC stored in a ‘wardrobe’ in Holy Trinity Friary. A note attached to the page indicates that some of these items were moved to Dublin (probably to the Provincial Archives in Dublin). The list covers pp 15a-17 in the Holy Trinity archival volume. Reference is made in the list to 'Fr. Dominic O'Connor's commission as a military chaplain for George V in 1916'. An addendum at the end of the list reads 'On the whole this collection isn't worth much. But there are notes left in O'Connor album and in case which show there were articles here that are no longer here. I conjecture they were taken to Dublin. This is the remains of a collection for museums Fr. Thomas [Dowling OFM Cap.] got together for the Cork [International] Exhibition [1902]'.
A photograph of Fr. Dominic O’Connor OFM Cap. (right) and Fr. Stanislaus Kavanagh OFM Cap. (second from left) with two unidentified republicans in Freemasons’ Hall (or ‘Masonic Hall’) on Molesworth Street in Dublin. The two Capuchin friars visited the Hall following its seizure by anti-Treaty republicans in April 1922.
An image of Tomás MacCurtain (seated on the tractor) with a nationalist pipe and drum band at a demonstration of a Fordson tractor (manufactured locally by the American Ford Motor Company) in Cork in 1920. Fr. Dominic O’Connor OFM Cap. is among the crowd at the event.
