Series 1 - Temperance Mission

The series includes records relating to temperance missions preached by the Irish Capuchin friars in the late nineteenth century and in the early years of the twentieth century. In October 1905 the Irish Catholic hierarchy called upon the Capuchins to undertake a nationwide temperance crusade. The friars preached dozens of temperance missions in parishes throughout the country. It was noted in 1912 that their ‘labours in the parishes partook much of the character of short missions or spiritual exercises, sometimes for three days, often times for a week, and not infrequently a fortnight … going from parish to parish, as consecutively as possibly, over a district. Experience proves that in the question of drink, the influence of one locality tells very much for good or for evil’ (CA MR-1-2-1-4). The series includes local mission reports, subscription and pledge-taking records, correspondence, publicity material, ephemera and newspaper reports relating to the temperance crusade.