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Letter from Joseph Downes, Architect, to the Provincial, Father Henry O’Connor CM, enclosing sketches of altar.

Letter from Joseph Downes, enclosing a further drawing for proposed desk and platform in the lecture hall, and apologising for delay.

Letter from Joseph Downes enclosing three drawings for credence table, lecture table and lecturer’s chair.

A printed statement from Domhnall Óg Ó Ceallacháin (Donal O’Callaghan, 1891-1962), Lord Mayor of Cork, expressing his thanks for the expressions of condolences on the death of Terence MacSwiney, his predecessor.

A letter from Fr. Patrick MacSwiney (1885-1940), The Presbytery, Kinsale, County Cork, to Fr. Henry Rope. MacSwiney refers to his recollections of his former teacher, Fr. Michael O'Hickey, (Micheál Ó Hiceadha, 1861-1916), formerly Professor of Irish in St. Patrick's College, Maynooth.

A letter from William Frederick Paul Stockley (1859-1943) to Fr. Henry Rope. Stockley refers to the case of Alice Cashel imprisoned in Galway Jail. Stockley writes ‘She is in prison for six months. He sister says she loves to hear poetry. She is a distinguished graduate, and teacher, and a fine type. She knows Irish well’. Stockley suggests that Father Rope could send her a copy of his poetry.

A letter to William Frederick Paul Stockley (1859-1943) from Conn Mac Murchadha, Director, Sinn Féin Re-organising Committee, 15 College Green, Dublin, re an invitation to attend a public meeting. It is noted that that the ‘object of the meeting is to launch publicly the Republican civilian movement by reorganising Sinn Féin, the only Republican political organisation which is definitely pledged to the support of the Irish Republic’.

A letter from Eoin MacNeill (1867-1945) to Fr. Henry Rope. MacNeill argues that Roger Casement was 'remarkably sane and well balanced' and affirms that he had 'no opportunity of consulting with him' as he was in America when war broke out. MacNeill also refers to his Irish history scholarship and to his work as chairman of the Irish Manuscripts Commission.

Letters from Mary MacSwiney (Máire Nic Shuibhne, 1872-1942) to Fr. Henry Rope. Two of the letters are copies (Rope notes that the copies were made in 1947 and that he deposited the originals in the archives of the Pontifical Irish College in Rome). One of the copy letters (dated 21 Nov. 1922) refers to Mary MacSwiney’s treatment by the Free State authorities. It reads ‘The hardest part of my trial here is being deprived of the Sacraments as I have not succeeded in finding a priest who will be satisfied to hear the confession of my sins and let my political convictions alone’. The original letter (26 Oct. 1930) refers to the ‘terrible airship disaster’ involving R 101, a British rigid airship. The disaster claimed the lives of forty-eight of the fifty-four people on board including Fr. Henry Rope’s younger brother, Squadron Leader Frederick Michael Rope.

Letters from George Noble Plunkett (1851-1948), 40 Elgin Road, Dublin, to Fr. Henry Rope. The letters include references to Plunkett’s desire to establish an ‘Academy of Christian Art’ in Dublin, Catholic literature, Father Rope’s visits to the Plunkett residence, and to contemporary political matters and public affairs in both Britain and Ireland. A recurring theme in the correspondence is Plunkett’s continuing republican opposition to the post-Treaty settlement in Ireland. An extract from a letter
written on 21 November 1929 reads:

‘I don’t want to write about politics, but I remind you that “if you want peace, you must prepare for war”; and, that a resolute nation, whose spokesmen refuse to accept threats, generally secures its liberty. We had won, when [Arthur] Griffith and [Michael] Collins surrendered: I have been assured of this by well informed unionists. I doubt that any man today is slave enough to echo John O’Connell’s dictum. “Nuff ced”, as the Yankees put it.
I think you asked me why we are for a Republic. Well, how otherwise could we get rid of a foreign King? And a “class” Upper House”? And the tradition of Heaven-born Ministers? We are republicans because we are a nation of aristocrats, and so all equal; a true democracy.
My pen is running dry.
Yours very sincerely,
G.N. Count Plunkett
To be continued in our next’.

The file also includes some letters from George Noble Plunkett’s wife (Josephine Plunkett née Cranny), and daughter Mary Plunkett. The letter from Mary Plunkett refers to the death of Count Plunkett. It reads ‘The poor old man was in bed for more than three years. We expected that he would go very quickly. Instead of that he was dying for twelve days. The poor old body was worn out, but that strong valiant spirit held on. He suffered a lot, so much that we prayed that God would take him. The end was very quiet’. (5 May 1948). A letter to Fr. Senan Moynihan from Fr. Henry Rope in this file refers to his donation of Plunkett's correspondence ‘for your Archives, which may also one day be of historical interest’. He also notes that he has given some of his correspondence with Count Plunkett to Saint Isidore’s College in Rome. (20 Dec. 1951)