Showing 35 results

• Letter from Patrick Forrestal to Fr. Aloysius Travers OFM Cap. giving his father’s recollections of Fr. Mathew. He writes ‘My father was born in 1832 in the Parish of Ramsgrange, Wexford. … . He took the pledge from Father Mathew and kept it about 16 years. … It was very remarkable the multitude that gathered around him, the platform was enormous, something like ten thousand. He [Fr. Mathew] walked off the platform to where my father stood and told him you are very young may God bless you and placed his two hands around his head …’. [c.1902]. Manuscript, 6 pp.
• Copy article from the 'Cork Examiner' on Fr. Mathew’s birthplace. 27 Oct. 1931. Typescript, 1 p.
• Note by Fr. Francis Hayes OFM Cap. re two contemporary engravings of Fr. Mathew in the possession of Charlie McCarthy. Fr. Francis notes that they were engraved and designed by John Brown, Patrick Street, Cork, heraldic artist for Fr. Theobald Mathew OSFC, 1845. Typescript, 1 p.
• Note on the inscription on the Daniel O’Connell memorial window in Holy Trinity (Father Mathew Memorial) Church in Cork. It reads: ‘Sacred in gratitude and affection to the memory of Daniel O’Connell, liberator of his fellow Catholics from the inflictions of the Penal Code and assertion of equal rights of all communities to civil and religious freedom, RIP’. Manuscript, 1 p.
• Cuttings referring to the visit of Fr. Mathew to Kilkenny where he had ‘17,000 adherents to the total abstinence principles’ and a similar visit to Limerick. 'Morning Register', 23 Jan. 1840; 'Saunder’s News-Letter', 23 Mar. 1840. Pasted onto card, 2 pp.
• Copy excerpts from the 'Quarterly Review', December 1840-Mar. 1841, referring (negatively) to the relationship between the Fr. Mathew’s temperance movement and ‘Romanism in Ireland’. Typescript, 1 p.
• Notes by Fr. Paul Neary OSFC re Fr. Mathew taken from 'The Nation'. Manuscript, 10 pp.
• Letter from Deborah Webb to Fr. Silvester Mulligan OSFC enclosing her recollections of a meeting with Fr. Theobald Mathew OSFC in Rathfarnham, Dublin. 25 Oct. 1913. Manuscript, 5 pp.
• Extracts relating to Fr. Theobald Mathew OSFC in the Life of Catherine MacAuley. Typescript, 1 p.
• Extracts from 'Tuckey’s Cork Remembrances' (Cork, 1838), John D’Alton, 'History of the County of Dublin' (Dublin, 1838), 'The Irish Magazine', and 'Dublin University Magazine' re the Capuchins in Cork and Fr. Theobald Mathew OSFC. One of the extract reads ‘10 Oct. 1810: The corporation determined to improve this city, by pulling down the houses on the right of Blackamoor Lane, and continuing Sullivan’s Quay to the South Bridge’. Manuscript, 8 pp.
• Extract from An Irishman’s diary by Quidnunc in the 'Irish Times', 9 Aug. 1943, referring to visit to London by Fr. Mathew in Aug. 1843. ‘Led off by prayer and a speech, the temperance pioneer received pledges from 3,000 abstainers during one day, of which number about one-half were Irish’. Typescript, 1 p.

Testimonials for Fr. Theobald Mathew OSFC in relation to his claim of 'fama sanctitatis' (a cleric with a reputation for holiness). It appears that the testimonials were compiled in 1937-8. The file includes:
• Statement re a resolution of the Provincial Chapter of August 1927 which decided ‘to take definite steps regarding the introduction of the Cause of Fr. Theobald Mathew OSFC, the Apostle of Temperance’.
• Testimony of John Francis Maguire, biographer of Father Mathew.
• Tribute of the Lord Mayor of Cork, John Francis Maguire, at the unveiling of the statue of Father Mathew in the chief street in Cork.
• Tribute of Mr. Thomas Crosbie, editor and proprietor of the chief newspaper in Cork.
• Tribute of Denny Lane, prominent Catholic public man and author.
• Interview with the late Bishop of Cork, the Most Rev. Thomas Alphonsus O’Callaghan OP. The interview was conducted by Fr. Aloysius Travers OFM Cap., Irish Capuchin Minister Provincial, in 1913-4. It reads ‘On the occasion when the Bishop made the statement, he said that as I was interested in Father Mathew it was right he should mention a criticism which he heard about him. Some seemed to think that he [Fr. Mathew] was not sufficiently interested in his Order: on occasion his attention was drawn to some matter affecting the interests of his Province or community, and he was supposed to have made the remark that it was not his concern but Father [Louis] O’Connell’s’.
• Testimony of William Smyth O’Brien.
• Testimony of the Catholic Archdeacon of Cork.
• Extracts from the diary of James McKenna, secretary to Fr. Mathew.
• Extracts from the records of hospitals referring to cures attributed to Fr. Mathew.
• Interview with Denis Dennehy, caretaker of St. Joseph’s Cemetery, Cork, burial-place of Fr. Mathew.
• Sworn statement of Mr. Murphy, 3 Burke’s Avenue, Cork, referring to a cure for her daughter Kathleen, which she attributes to visits to the grave of Fr. Mathew.
• The file also includes a ‘General Statement’ in relation to Fr. Mathew’s reputation as a priest of ‘exceptional holiness and of wonderful zeal and charity’.

File relating to cures associated with visits to the grave of Fr. Theobald Mathew OSFC in St. Joseph’s Cemetery in Cork. The file was compiled by Fr. Stanislaus Kavanagh OFM Cap. The file includes:
• Statements from Hannah Keohane regarding her son who was cured through the intercession of prayers at the grave of Fr. Theobald. (18 Mar. 1943).
• Letters to Fr. Stanislaus from Fr. Mel Farrell OFM Cap. and Fr. T.J. Walsh re Annie Nolan, 21 Abbey Street, Cork, who reputedly recovered her sight through the intercession of Fr. Theobald.
• Statements and correspondence re Madge Twomey whose throat condition was cured through visits to the grave.
• Letters relating to Mrs Kathleen Skillington (née Walsh) whose leg was cured following a visit to Fr. Theobald’s grave. The file includes the testimony of Dr D. F. Hegarty, surgeon. 5 Jan 1938.
• Letter from Fr. Paul Neary OFM Cap. to Fr. Stanislaus Kavanagh OFM Cap. referring to the cause of Fr. Mathew. He wrote ‘It is to be regretted that there is no one of ourselves free and willing to take an interest in the cause – as according to rumours a great many things occur at the grave. The people come from a distance. No one has any knowledge of themselves, the favours they have received or where they come from’. 28 Jan. 1932. Manuscript, 2 pp.
• ‘Father Mathew / Leader and Priest / Cures wrought at his tomb’. The text of a speech given by Fr. Aloysius Travers OSFC on the occasion of the 123rd anniversary of the birth of Fr. Mathew. Oct. 1913. Typescript, 8 pp.
• Prayer for the beatification of Fr. Theobald Mathew OSFC. It is noted that this prayer was submitted to the Most Rev. Daniel Coholan, Bishop of Cork, for ecclesiastical approval in May 1928. Typescript, 1 p.

• Rev. Hugh O’Reilly, 'The Temperance Question: Inaugural Address delivered on the occasion of the re-opening of the old Father Mathew Total Abstinence Hall and Reading Room, Rostrevor on the 16th October 1893' (Newry: W. and S. Magowan, Printers, 1893). Printed. 36 pp.
• 'Pioneer Total Abstinence Association of the Sacred Heart / “Christ’s Standard Bearers” by Rev. R. Nash SJ' (Dublin: Pioneer Central Council, 27 Upper Sherrard Street, 1946). Printed, 12 pp.
• 'Sixty-Second Annual Report of the Irish Association for the Prevention of Intemperance' (Dublin, 1941). Printed, 16 pp.
• Draft constitution and rules for a new temperance organisation outlined by a sub-committee appointed by the Father Mathew Union of Temperance Association Priests. Nov. 1952. The draft is endorsed with a note from J.A. Gleeson to Fr. Aloysius Travers OFM Cap. affirming that the proposed constitution and rules will be put to the Hierarchy for their consideration. 22 Feb. 1953. Typescript, 7 pp.
• Flier re the Alvernian Society, a social guild of tertiaries and members of the Father Mathew Total Abstinence Association, founded to promote charitable works. c.1940. Typescript, 1 p.

File of newspaper clippings mainly re various anniversaries and commemorations connected with Fr. Theobald Mathew OSFC and the temperance campaign. The file includes:
• ‘Father Mathew Anniversary / Celebration in Father Mathew Hall / Eloquent Oration by Rev. Dr. Murphy’, 'Cork Examiner', 11 Oct. 1911.
• ‘Fr. Mathew in Galway / How the Great Apostle of Temperance was received in the city’, 'The Connaught Tribute', 14 Oct. 1911.
• ‘The Father Mathew Anniversary’, 'The Leader', 20 Oct. 1906.
• ‘Father Mathew Anniversary’ / Celebrations in Cork’, 'Cork Examiner', 11 Oct. 1905.
• ‘Temperance Laws in an Irish Parliament / Dramatic Measures Outlined’. [c.1912]. Refers to speech by Fr. Aloysius Travers OFM Cap. to the Maynooth Union on temperance legislation.
• ‘Father Burke on Intemperance’, 'The Irish World and American Industrial Liberator'. [c.1905].
• ‘The temperance movement in England’, 'Irish Catholic', 16 July 1904.

File of newspaper clippings covering commemorations marking the centenary of the inauguration of Fr. Mathew’s temperance campaign. The file includes:
• ‘Father Mathew Feis / Evils worse than intemperance’, 'Irish Catholic', 21 Apr. 1938.
• ‘Father Mathew Centenary in Dublin’, 'Irish Independent', 11 Apr. 1938.
• ‘Father Mathew Centenary Celebrations’, 'Irish Times', 11 Apr. 1938.
• ‘Fr. Mathew Kin at Centenary Mass’, 'The Universe', 14 Apr. 1938. Includes a photograph of Theobald Mathew, grand-nephew of the Apostle of Temperance, with Fr. Aloysius Travers OFM Cap. and Fr. Senan Moynihan OFM Cap.
• ‘Apostle of Temperance by Fr. Augustine Hayden OFM Cap.’, 'Irish Press', 9 Apr. 1938.
• ‘Father Mathew Celebrations / Memory honoured in Dublin and Tipperary’, 'Irish Catholic', 20 Apr. 1938.
• ‘Father Mathew Centenary Celebrations’, 'Daily Sketch', 11 Apr. 1938.
• ‘Father Mathew Bridge’, 'Irish Independent', 17 Oct. 1938.

File of newspaper clippings mainly re various anniversaries and commemorations connected with Fr. Theobald Mathew OSFC and the temperance campaign. The file includes:
• ‘The Church’s Peril / Crusade against the drink evil / Glasgow’s Great Welcome to Father Hays’. [c.1905].
• ‘Temperance Legislation for Ireland / The Very Rev. Father Aloysius Travers OSFC’. [c.1912].
• ‘Father Mathew: Leader and Priest / Oration by Very Rev. Father Aloysius Travers OSFC’, 'Irish Catholic', 18 Oct. 1913.
• ‘Intemperance / Powerful Sermon by Fr. Laurence Dowling OSFC’. [c.1912].
• ‘Temperance Cause in Enniscorthy / A Capuchin Father on local topics’. [c.1912]. Refers to a sermon given by Fr. Laurence Dowling OFM Cap.
• ‘Twelve “Half-Ones” / Drunk by a youth of 17’.
• ‘Our Pioneer Column / Pioneer Total Abstinence Association of the Sacred Heart / Annual Meeting’, 'Irish Catholic', 14 Dec. 1912.
• ‘The Temperance Cause / Great Mission by Capuchin Fathers / Demonstration at Graigue, County Kilkenny’.
• ‘Father Mathew’s Day’ / Reminiscences of his visit to the United States’.
• ‘Total Abstinence in Scotland / The League of the Cross in Glasgow’, 'Glasgow Observer', 12 Sept. 1891.
• ‘Father Hays and the Apostolate of Temperance / Father Mathew’s work revived’. 26 Jan. 1901.
• ‘For Total Abstinence / The Rev. Thomas F. Burke CSP preaches in St. Joseph’s Cathedral’, 'The Hartford Daily Times', 7 Aug. 1901.
• ‘The Great Catholic Veteran / Right Rev. Monsignor Nugent’s Long Career’, 'The Monitor and New Era', 27 May 1904.
• ‘The Cause of Temperance / Demonstration in Ardmore’. Refers to a total abstinence mission given by Fr. Laurence Dowling OSFC.

Letters regarding a dispute over the editorship of the temperance publication, 'The Father Mathew Record', also known as 'The Irish Home Journal'. The file includes a letter from Brian O’Higgins to Fr. Edwin Fitzgibbon OSFC, Provincial Minister, complaining about his dismissal as associate editor of the 'Record' by Fr. Joseph Fenlon OSFC who ‘desired to keep politics out of the Journal’. O’Higgins, a member of Sinn Féin, admits that he is ‘on what is known as “the run”’. With notes by Fr. Edwin regarding the proprietorship of the Journal, and the need to reserve the appointment of editor to the council of the Capuchin Franciscan Order in Ireland. Later, Fr. Joseph wrote to Fr. Edwin confirming his resignation from the Presidency of Father Mathew Hall and the temperance sodality. The file also includes a signed notice of a special meeting of the Hall Committee affirming that the ‘"Record" was started by Fr. Aloysius [Travers], President of the Hall … [and] that the Office of the Record was transferred to the Hall premises’. The committee members contended that the 'Record' magazine was the property of the committee ‘and that the Provincial Superiors acted without consideration of the circumstances when … they decided to take it over and have it conducted independently of the committee and its President’. (10 June 1920).