Although the Irish Capuchins had a long tradition of involvement with the temperance movement, their connection with this apostolate was reinvigorated in 1905 when the Catholic hierarchy invited the Order to preach a ‘national crusade’ on the merits of total abstinence. The Capuchins’ commitment to sobriety as a moral and social ideal was promoted through the founding of lay sodalities and temperance halls where the pledge to abstain from alcohol was taken. The Father Mathew Memorial Hall on Church Street was opened in 1891. Funded by voluntary subscriptions, this temperance hall was built by Joseph Kelly & Sons of Thomas Street, Dublin. The total cost was about £4,000. It was designed by Walter Glynn Doolin and was initially plainly decorated. Before the addition of extensions in 1904 the main auditorium was 73 feet in length and 39 feet wide. In total, there was accommodation for about 900 people. There was also a coffee bar, a billiard room, and a reading room. The interior of the auditorium was greatly embellished in 1909 when an elaborate proscenium arch, stage and gallery were added. The plasterwork was executed by the firm of John Ryan of Upper Abbey Street to the designs of Anthony Scott of O’Connell Street, Dublin. This series comprises records relating to the Hall’s primary function to promote sobriety ‘by providing instruction and healthful amusement’. It should be noted that the Hall’s drama group, band, debating society and athletics’ club were initially only open to total abstainers. The records also reflect the varied social functions of the Hall.
Ticket for ‘A Grand Dramatic Performance’ given by the Dramatic Club at the Father Mathew Centenary Hall, Church Street. Fr. Columbus Maher OSFC (1835-1894) is noted as President of the Hall.
Photographic print of Father Mathew Hall fronting onto the corner of Church Street and Nicholas Avenue. Pasted onto an annotated card: ‘Thomas F. Geoghegan, 2 Essex Street’. The print shows the Hall before the addition of the St. Brigid’s Hall extension in 1901.
An engraving of St. John’s Abbey, Kilkenny. The print is probably taken from Edward Ledwich’s 'The History of Antiquities of Irishtown and Kilkenny', which contains plates of ‘St. John’s Abbey, Kilkenny’ and the ‘East Window of Dunamase Abbey’, engraved from W. Beauford’s drawings by J. Duff.
A view of the original Abbey Theatre building in Dublin in about 1949. The Abbey Theatre was founded in 1904 by W. B. Yeats and Lady Augusta Gregory. In its early years, the theatre was closely associated with the writers of the Irish Literary Revival including Yeats, Gregory, John Millington Synge and Sean O’Casey.
A copy of 'Freedom' (17 Sept. 1922). The cover has a portrait of Lawrence Ginnell (1852-1923), a veteran Irish nationalist and opponent of the Anglo-Irish Treaty. The sketched-portrait was drawn by Constance Markievicz.
A photographic print of Maggie Dirrane (born Maggie Tom Ní Mhaoláin, 1899-1995), an Irish actress most noted for her role in the documentary film ‘Man of Aran’ (1934).
