Form permitting Rev. W.M. O’Riordan to have a uniform made. Bishop Matthew -History

Handwritten letter to + McQuaid from Fr. Michael O’Halloran, St. Joseph’s, Glasthule, reporting on the ‘V’ Committee during the previous six months. Informs + McQuaid that the Committee members are very busy with parochial problems and need another member. He suggested Fr. Fehily who is in constant contact with trade union executives. They refer many of their problems to him. Fr. Crean is in touch with the Bakers’ Union, the I.T.G.W.U., the Local Government Officials’ Union he has a file on the Peoples’ College. Discussed the issue of Michael O’Riordan in trade union circles. Fr. Killian O.F.M., editor of Luminus, and Fr. Crean have the problem in hand. The case of Miss Blake, Loreto Convent, North Great George’s Street was discussed. Fr. Crean advised the Rev. Mother on the line of action to take. Fr. Clarke has been watching the activities of the Housewives’ Association and thinks the movement is under control. The problem of Communist literature being sent to students in U.C.D. by the International Students’ Union is also under control, and the method employed has been approved by the President. Complaints have been made to Fr. Crean regarding new trends in dancing. These trends are immoral, and where such abuses exist the attention of the police should be attracted.

Typed report on CPI and KO activities. The following items are mentioned in the report: O’Riordan gave a verbal report on the proceedings of the 24th Congress of the British CP at the Executive Meeting, 17th April. The question of procuring films of general Soviet interest was discussed. The vexed question of the new anti-Stalin line of thought again arose. No expulsions were necessary as pro-Stalinists were gradually coming around to the new line of thought. The speech of A. T. Mikoyan, a member of the Praesidium of the Central Committee, titled ‘The Possibility of Peaceful Socialist Revolution in Individual Countries’ was discussed.

Typed report on CPI and KO activities. The meeting of the 5th June discussed setting up a library of Marxist and other progressive books. On 6th June M. O’Riordan, S. Nolan and G. Jeffares held a meeting at Elvery’s Corner, Middle Abbey Street, on the subject of housing. About 30 people attended. No enthusiasm apparent. The meeting of 7th June discussed ways to improve the make-up of The Irish Workers’ Voice. The Chinese Committee of Cultural Relations with Foreign Countries invited about eight people to tour China, all expenses paid.

Typed report on CPI and KO activities. The riots at Poznam in Poland, was the main discussion point at the meeting held on the 3rd July. Mick O’Riordan suggested that letters should be written to the newspapers to counteract the unfavourable publicity, saying that “the riots were grossly exaggerated”. Sam Nolan disagreed as such letters would keep the riots in the public mind. It was agreed to shelve the question until a pamphlet from the British Communist Party was published. Other topics discussed were the alterations to No. 37 Pembroke Road, a reading programme, and Robinson’s departure to China. The question, ‘Is the time right for Communism?’ was posed.

Typed report, stamped ‘Confidential’ in red, on CPI and KO activities. At the Executive meeting of IWL on 6 November the advisability of concealing the League’s “direction from the Communist Headquarters in London” discussed. This accusation was being hurled at members. The meeting scheduled for 8 November cancelled due to a march by 1,200 students banners read “Soviet Murder of Hungary” windows of New Books broken to chants of “burn it down”. Catholic confraternities in CIE urged their fellow workers not to work with Mick O’Riordan. Matt Merrigan says he is a Social Democrat and not a Communist.

Article taken from The Catholic Standard titled ‘You can’t vote for Red O’Riordan.’

Typed note. Possibility De Valera will retire from public life and Lemass will probably succeed. His success in holding the party together will depend on the action the splinter groups within the National Executive take. Hard to know which way Charles Houghey [sic] [Haughey], Dr. Ryan, Noel Lemass, Dan Breen will go as each is there to foster their own interest. Donal Nevin and Jeffares have replaced Larkin and de Courcy Ireland in the Labour Party. The IHA received a legacy of £300 from Rebecca West. The chance of it going out of existence is gone. In CIE Riordan got 134 votes in election representative to the Management. Its not that the men want him but they feel he is able to push their case for them.

Reports on the Fabian Society, Trinity College, between 28 February and 29 October 1962. John Byrne spoke on the Capitol system in Ireland. Said that unless the power of the Catholic Church was restricted there was no hope of getting a decent wage for workers. Religious Orders held wealth of the country. Jesuits were dictators. The Catholic Workers’ College was set up to train people to take over trade unions. Maynooth College did not pay its workers a living wage. Jeffers was a lecturer in Trinity but forced to leave due to his work for Communism. Michael O’Riordan deplored Ireland being used as a cushion between Russia and America. Trade should be encouraged between Ireland and the Socialist countries. Michael Foot and John Collan were unable to attend a meeting due to the unsettled state of the world.

• Letter from Fr. O’Riordan, Baldonnell Camp to Fr. Mangan regarding the duties of a censor. 2 July 1951