Letter from James O’Sullivan prisoner no. q 100, Lewes Prison, declaring that ‘all the men here, look to the Capuchin Fathers, as their especial friends – they found the comrades in times of peril, true friends of the people, the ideal priests’. O’Sullivan adds that ‘Edmund Duggan (my dearest friend), Pierce Beasley, D. O’Callaghan, G. Crofts and Jimmy Brennan, wish to be remembered to you’. James O’Sullivan fought at the General Post Office during the Rising.
Letter from James O’Connor, solicitor, to Fr. Aloysius Travers OFM Cap., regarding a note from British military authorities affirming that ‘certain historical papers … [which] were returned to the late Archbishop Walsh ... . O’Connor advises Fr. Aloysius to ascertain from the Archbishop’s house what papers were returned.
A letter from James Mason (1909-1984), the English-born Hollywood actor, to Fr. Senan Moynihan OFM Cap. The letter refers to Mason’s tribute to the late Abbey Theatre actor F.J. McCormick (d. 24 April 1947), which appeared in the 1948 edition of ‘The Capuchin Annual’. Mason got acquainted with McCormick when they both appeared in the 1947 film ‘Odd Man Out’ in which the former played a mortally wounded republican bank robber on the run in Belfast. Mason requests that his fee for his McCormick tribute be donated to an ‘animal charity’ in Dublin.
Letter from James Larkin, Workers’ Union of Ireland, Thomas Ashe Hall, 5a, College Street, Dublin, to Fr. Aloysius Travers OFM Cap., assuring him that he will make arrangements for a meeting soon. Larkin declares that ‘the pressure has been so heavy that not only have I had to spend the last few Sundays at meetings of Union branches but have also had to work late and early hours over the week ends to deal with work for which I could not find time during ordinary week
Letter from James Joseph Walsh, prisoner no. 899, Mountjoy Prison, to Fr. Albert Bibby OFM Cap., referring to the gradually improving conditions for prisoners. Walsh also refers to the public who ‘in large numbers still crowd to the gate’ of the prison. He informs Fr. Albert that three prisoners are still deprived of the privilege of a daily visit: ‘Sullivan, Cork; Shaw, Stradbally; and Fleming, Galway’. The letter is written on an official form with regulations governing prisoner regulations printed on first page.
Letter from James J. Darragh, 154 North King Street, to Lieutenant McNamara thanking Boys’ Brigade members for their messages of condolence on the death of his mother. Darragh added ‘All I can say is that as long as I am connected with the Brigade (and which I intend to be for many years I hope, in spite of the many mean tricks that are being resorted to try to get me out of it), I will always look after the interests of the officers …’.
Letter from James F. Reade, Waterford, to Nicholas Shorthal, solicitor, enclosing a sketch map (32.6 cms x 21.4 cms; Scale: 1 inch to 50 feet) of premises to be conveyed by Rev. Robinson to Fr. Edward (Peter) Bowe. Reade adds some explanatory comments in relation to the sketch map and affirms that ‘Sir Henry Harte has nothing to do with the yards above mentioned’. Includes a schedule of tenants holding on lots on the premises. The said sketch map and schedule were reproduced in the deed of conveyance of 21 Jan. 1919 at CA KK/2/1/1/3/13.
A letter from Jack B. Yeats to Fr. Senan Moynihan OFM Cap. regarding a tribute article for the late Abbey Theatre actor, F.J. McCormick (1890-1947). Yeats refers to McCormick as ‘a very great actor’ but indicates that he will be unable to contribute to a tribute to be published in the 1948 edition of the ‘Annual’.
A letter from Jack B. Yeats (1871-1957) to the secretary of the Capuchin Publications Office seeking the return of three block reproductions from his sketchbook which were published in 'The Capuchin Annual'.
Letter from Jack B. Yeats (1871-1957), 18 Fitzwilliam Square, Dublin, to Fr. Senan Moynihan OFM Cap. and Fr. Gerald McCann OFM Cap., thanking them for their generous gift (seemingly a pen). Yeats writes 'I hope it will take the bit in its teeth and write handsome and beautiful thoughts for me – what a wonderful thing would be a pen which could only write the truth'.
