Letter from John Nolan to +McQuaid inviting him to the official opening of an exhibition on modern Irish religious art and architecture. Annotated by +McQuaid. An Tóstal

List of suggestions. These were sent to Dr. Nolan of the Taoiseach’s Office saying the Archbishop would give them a trial if the Taoiseach raised no objection.

Partial letter informing the Monsignor that Brown Nolan wish to reprint Mgr. Fulton Sheehan’s ‘Communism and the Conscience of the West.’ He has given the ‘Nihil Obstat’ but questions whether it is needed.

Report on the Irish Workers’ League. General feeling is that the League is losing ground. At their meeting at Mansfield Corner their speakers were attacked, so the League has gone underground. Last summer it held camps at Dundalk, Skerries and Killybegs. Excursion to Enniskerry ended with a drunken orgy. Links between the IWL and the ‘folk university’. Information on Miss Annie Peach, Miss Hilda Verlin, Sean Nolan the following need watching: John Byrne, Patrick O’Neill and Stephen Daly. John Dalton has returned to Church.

Typed report on CPI and KO activities. The following items are mentioned in the report: the Executive meeting of 10 April discussed the “shock treatment” administered by the Soviet leaders on the subject of the late Stalin the impact on the British CP was discussed. Sam Nolan complained of the poor performance of the British CP in the recent General Election, considering their influence in the Trade Unions. At the meeting of 12 April M. O’Riordan spoke on developments arising out of the 20th Congress of the CP in the USSR. He spoke of the peaceful foreign policy of the USSR. Due to these policies the state of international tension, which was fraught with grave danger to world peace, had been replaced by a feeling of security. Nolan referred to the present visit of the Soviet leaders to London their visit to Peking would go far to consolidate the great Socialist masses of the East with their Socialist comrades in the West.

Typed report on CPI and KO activities. John Nolan, Sean Murray and Desmond Greaves are to attend a joint Executive Committee in London between the British CP, the Northern Ireland Executive and the Irish Workers’ League. The meeting of the 10th July discussed the apathy of League members and the fall-off in attendance at meetings. While in London Nolan will visit book suppliers regarding credit.

Typed letter to Chris from Paddy Crean. There is no doubt that the Bernard Shaw crowd are Communists. The fact that Mrs. Nolan is on the list is enough. She and her husband are leading lights of the whole Communist show in Dublin.

Letter from M. Brennan to +McQuaid informing him that he has been in negotiations with Browne & Nolan with the view of altering the cover of I.E.R. so that the table of contents are placed on it.

Typed minutes of ‘V’ Committee meeting. The following items are mentioned in the report: Seamus Sorohan was expelled from the IRA and joined Seosamh McCriostal. He “was selfish rather than dangerous,” and had little influence with university students. Matthew Merrigan: lived at 24 Crotty Ave., Walkinstown, and is a Trotskyite. Writes frequently to papers, but as he has little education it is suggested that his letters were written for him by Dr. Noel Browne. Fr. Kent reported that Sam Nolan is going to the sacraments. The left-wing Labour Group intend to publish a new paper called The Plough. Fr. Fehily reported on a meeting with the President, Treasurer and a Council member of the Marine, Pilots’ and Officers’ Association. Des Brannigan was recently appointed General Secretary. Since they had learned of his possible connections with Communism they were anxious to get rid of him. They introduced regulations to prevent him from speaking in public or publishing articles in newspapers until the opportunity arose to get rid of him.

Handwritten report. Second edition of Irish Socialist Review very dangerous. Surely newsagents will not sell it here. If they do there will be trouble in time. The Plough finding it hard to keep going. British Communists have produced a programme: ‘The British Road to Socialism.’ Noel Lyons, Terenure, came home from Prague in the same plane as Nolan. Is a young writer and may have gone for writing experience. Is it now Communist policy to let Socialists go ahead? Does the new Unemployed Association have a link to Communism?