An image of the first group of students at the Seraphic School in Rochestown, County Cork, in 1886. The individuals in the image include Fr. Matthew O'Connor OFM Cap., Guardian, Br. Leonard Brophy OFM Cap., Benedict MacDonald, and John Hayden (later Fr. Augustine Hayden OFM Cap.). Most of the individuals in the photograph (including Br. Canice Rice, Br. Jarlath Hynes, Br. Bonaventure Halvey and Br. Finbarr Sullivan) would go on to become solemnly-professed Capuchin friars.
A list of Capuchin friars of the Church Street community. The note is endorsed: ‘copy of form sent to the Archbishop in compliance with a letter of 18th Nov. 1895’. The list provides information (dates of ordination and the granting of faculties) in respect of Fr. Matthew O’Connor OSFC, Fr. Francis Hayes OSFC, Fr. Nicholas Murphy OSFC, Fr. Benvenutus Guy OSFC, Fr. Canice Rice OSFC and Fr. Augustine Hayden OSFC.
Deed of covenant of title for the assignment of properties on Charlotte Quay from Thomas Wellbank Morgan, 13 Blackheath Rise, Lewisham, Kent, and others to Fr. Maurice (Nicholas) Murphy OSFC, Fr. Thomas (Matthew) O’Connor OSFC, Fr. Joseph (Bernard) Jennings OSFC and Fr. Edward (Peter) Bowe OSFC, Charlotte Quay, Cork. The deed refers to the intended purchase by the Capuchin friars of the said premises as set out in a deed of assignment dated 21 Jan. 1895. With a declaration of James Scanlan, 69 South Mall, Cork, agent, affirming that he has, for the past sixteen years, received the rents of the Charlotte Quay properties for Thomas Wellbank Morgan. 1 Jan. 1895.
Assignment from Theodore Frederick Carroll, 80 South Mall, to Fr. Matthew Thomas O’Connor OSFC, Fr. Bernard Joseph Jennings OSFC and Fr. Peter Edward Bowe OSFC, Charlotte Quay, of the residue of a lease dated 18 Mar. 1762 from Charles Dunbar to James Morrison, William Fritton and Ebenezer Morrison referring to a portion of the ‘marsh called Island Nagay adjoining the Corporation Marsh in the south suburbs of the city of Cork’. In consideration of £1,100. See CA HT/2/1/2/1.
Conveyance from the Most Rev. Abraham Brownrigg, Roman Catholic Bishop of Ossory, to Fr. Thomas O’Connor OSFC (otherwise Fr. Matthew) and Fr. Michael Neary OSFC (otherwise Fr. Fidelis) of the two dwelling houses known as the Alms House ‘situated between the Friary Chapel and fronting [onto] Lower Walkin Street, parish of St. Mary’s, Kilkenny city’. The conveyance was signed as part of mutual exchange with the Capuchin friars for the two dwelling houses known as ‘The Munster Arms’. With the corresponding agreement of the same date for the lease for ever by Fr. O’Connor and Fr. Neary to Bishop Brownrigg of the two houses formerly called ‘The Munster Arms’. With preparatory draft copies.
Reconveyance from Sebastian Henry Petre, Fitzalan House, Arundel Street, London, and Constance Mary Lee, Mill Hill, Middlesex, to Fr. Bernard Joseph Jennings OSFC, Fr. Peter Edward Bowe, Fr. Matthew Thomas O’Connor OSFC and other Capuchin friars, Church Street, Dublin, of a plot of ground on the west side of Church Street known as number 142 ‘together with the Roman Catholic Church erected on the said plot or parcel of ground called or known by the name of “Saint Mary of the Angels”’. In consideration of the principal money and interest secured on the mortgage of the said parcel of ground on Church Street.
Letter from the Most Rev. Abraham Brownrigg, Bishop of Ossory, to Fr. Bernard Jennings OSFC, Provincial Minister, granting faculties to Fr. Matthew O’Connor OSFC, Capuchin Friary, Walkin Street, permitting him to perform the Sacraments in the diocese.
Agreement for sale from William Adams, Queen Street, to Fr. Matthew (Thomas) O’Connor OSFC, Fr. Leonard (Michael) Brophy OSFC and Fr. Fidelis (Michael) Neary OSFC, Holy Trinity Church, Cork, for premises on Queen Street held under a lease dated 1 Jan. 1846 (CA/HT/2/1/1/9) and for a property known as No. 13 Queen Street held under a lease dated 1 Oct. 1887 for 99 years at the yearly rent of £20. The properties were purchased for £840 free from encumbrances. With searches, bills, instructions for counsel, letters from William Guest Lane, solicitor, and an assignment of said leases from Adams to the Capuchin friars dated 29 Mar. 1900.
Letter from James G. Robertson to Fr. James Edward Tommins, Capuchin Friary, Kilkenny, granting permission to remove a building which the Capuchins hold from the late Lady Harty. 29 May 1876; Memorandum of agreement (dated 19 May 1896) by James G. Robertson, Merton Cullenswood, County Dublin, to Fr. Jarlath Hynes, Superior, Capuchin Friary, Kilkenny, and Fr. Matthew O’Connor, for the yearly letting of a dwelling house on Walkin Street at present vacant but formerly in the occupation of Miss Moore at £16 per annum. With an identical agreement (bearing the same date) amended to indicate that Richard Samuel Owen Robinson and Rev. Andrew Craig Robinson, 5 Fisher Street, Kinsale, County Cork, are the lessors; Letting agreement (dated 4 Jan. 1900) for the said premises at £16 yearly; Letting agreement to Fr. Jarlath Hynes OSFC of the dwelling house on Walkin Street lately occupied by Mary Stapleton immediately adjoining the Capuchin Friary at the yearly rent of £16. With copy. See also CA KK/2/1/1/1/14.
Letters of the Most Rev. William J. Walsh, Archbishop of Dublin, to the Provincial Ministers of the Irish Capuchins (Fr. Matthew O’Connor OSFC, Fr. Peter Bowe OSFC and Fr. Paul Neary OSFC) regarding the establishment and functioning of the Catholic Boys’ Brigade in Dublin. Walsh wrote to Fr. Matthew on 2 May 1895: ‘I should be glad if you could see your way to letting one of your fathers take it in hand. Of course, the rules should be approved in detail so that at any time we could withdraw our connection and our sanction if things were going wrong’. He later averred (27 May 1895) that the ‘organisation ought to be a useful one, if it is well looked after, and good provision for this seems to be made in the Rules’. He later referred (21 June 1895) to an article in the draft rules of Brigade: ‘In par. X, it seems to be left open to Protestants to have a voice in the management. This, of course, would not work in a Catholic organisation for Catholic Boys only’. On 27 Feb. 1900 Walsh wrote: ‘Our religious communities in Dublin are actively engaged in carrying on many good works, works which undoubtedly could not be carried on at all but for them. But I think it is generally understood that as I am exceedingly careful to avoid anything like interference, or bordering on interference, in the affairs of religious bodies, it is far better that I should not be in any connected with their good works’. He later referred to the Capuchin friars’ decision to discontinue work with the Brigade: ‘I observe there is a special point insisted on by the critics of the Boys’ Brigades – that such Brigades are really training schools for the army. On the whole, it may be just as well that your good fathers have got clear of the work’ (15 June 1902). In 1904, Walsh affirmed that he ‘had always remained aloof the organisation’ and claimed that it was not possible for him to interfere ‘in any way [with] the question as to the holding of the trust property’.
Walsh, William Joseph, 1841-1921, Roman Catholic Archbishop of Dublin