Documents Of The Month

Kathleen Murphywas the daughter of Dr Cornelius Murphy, a former Republican activist. She qualified as a doctor in University College Dublin, and during her studies she was elected captain of the branch of Cumann na mBan in the college. During World War II, she tirelessly campaigned to raise funds for German children orphaned because of the war. She founded the Save the German Children Society (or Saor an Leanbh) and succeeded in bringing over many young German orphans and settled them with Irish families. As a result of her efforts, she was decorated with the Cross of Merit by the German Government. She married Paul Farrell, an actor, and had four children. She died in December 1970.

UCDA P115 consists of a copybook containing press-cuttings concerning the 'Save the German Children' campaign in Ireland during World War II. Cuttings mainly of articles and 'Letters to the Editor' written by Dr Kathleen Murphy about the campaign which she founded. Also includes pamphlets advertising the campaign, as well as an account sheet showing revenue collected by the society through its screening of the first showing of the 1936 Olympic Games in the Mansion House (13 August 1948) for the Drumcondra-Glasnevin Branch.

Cuttings include an interesting exchange of 'Letters to the Editor' of the Irish Times, between Vincent Brittain and Dr Murphy. In a letter dated 17 October 1945 Brittain criticises the first meeting of the Save the German Children Society held on the 16 October to enlist aid for the children of Germany: “this meeting is merely a thinly veiled excuse for the dissemination of fascist propaganda, and pious exclamations about Christian charity are mingled with statements of such vicious hate”. Dr Murphy’s reply on the 18 October states “As Charman of the Save the German Children Society it is my duty to protest very strongly against the accusations made against us by your correspondent Mr Vincent Brittain”.

UCDA P115 Dr Kathleen Farrell (née Murphy) Papers. Press-cuttings concerning the Save the German Children campaign, 17-18 October 1945

The inaugural meeting ofFianna Fáiltook place on 16 May 1926. The new party was launched byEamon de Valera, who up to this point, had been the president of Sinn Féin. Once the party of all republicans fighting for Irish freedom, Sinn Féin found its power slowly dwindling after 1922 as it refused to enter the Dáil of the Irish Free State. At the 1926 Sinn Féin Ard Fheis, de Valera proposed a motion that the party should work to have the main stumbling block to entry, the oath of allegiance to the English Crown, removed. The motion was narrowly defeated, prompting de Valera’s resignation. His new party, however, came quickly to eclipse Sinn Féin, as it took much of its membership and gained broad support throughout the country.

Fianna Fáil’s excellent showing in the two general elections of 1927 left the party’s future uncertain, as it had not succeeded in getting the oath removed. The party now had to consider whether to take the oath and enter the Dáil or remain in the wilderness. An intense debate followed, and many left the party over its eventual decision to take the oath. Fianna Fáil’s entry created the first effective opposition in the Dáil in the history of the Free State. The party had a succession of bye-election victories and its first general election victory in 1932. Fianna Fáil was asked to form a government and continued in office for sixteen years, until 1948. The party was to find itself in government again throughout much of the 20^thcentury and into the 21^stcentury.

In 2020, after a number of months of political stalemate following the general election, Fianna Fáil agreed with Fine Gael and the Green Party to enter into an unprecedented coalition, with the leaders of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael rotating between the roles of Taoiseach and Tánaiste.

In the aftermath of the 2024 general election it is interesting to look back on the party’s approach to past elections. The running of election campaigns was carefully controlled from the top, right down through directors of election and to ordinary members canvassing from door to door.

The archives of the Fianna Fáil Party were deposited in UCD Archives in May 2000. In the Papers of the Fianna Fáil Party, files on election campaigns are supplemented by a large collection of election posters from 1932-1990. The posters present a potted history of the party from the Civil War rhetoric of its early campaigns, to focusing on its achievements, to the slick electioneering of its more recent campaigns.

UCDA P176/1225 is a General Election Poster captioned "Young People! Fianna Fáil has plans for you", with an estimated date of 1954. The poster outlines Fianna Fáil achievements to date and promises more new houses, schools and employment, as well as improved health services.

Fianna Fáil Election Poster captioned "Young People! Fianna Fáil has plan for you", [1954?]

Gemma Hussey, nee Moran (11 November 1938 – 26 November 2024) was a trail blazing figure for women in Irish politics. She was a campaigner for more women in public life and became the second woman ever to be appointed to the cabinet, serving inGarret FitzGerald’s 1982 to 1987 government.

Hussey founded the Woman’s Political Association in 1973 and was chair of the organisation from 1973 to 1975.  She went on to become a member of the Council for the Status of Women. She also served on the board of the Abbey Theatre from 1974 to 1978.

Hussey served as a Senator elected by the National University of Ireland panel from 1977 to 1982. During her first term she sat as an independent. In 1980 she joined the Fine Gael Parliamentary Party and became the party’s first spokesperson on Women’s Affairs. She went on to become the Government Leader in the Seanad.

Hussey was elected to Dáil Éireann as a TD for the Wicklow constituency in February 1982 having narrowly missed out on a seat in the general election held in June 1981. She was appointed as the opposition spokesperson on Broadcasting, Arts and Culture. She held her seat at the next general election in November 1982 and was appointed in the Fine Gael-Labour coalition government as Ireland’s first female Minister for Education from 1982 to 1986. After a cabinet reshuffle she briefly served as Minister for Social Welfare and Minister for Labour.

The government lost office in 1987 and while Hussey held her seat, she did not contest the next election in 1989. She published her diaries “At the Cutting Edge - Cabinet Diaries 1982-1987”, and became actively involved in the European Women’s Federation, encouraging women in former Eastern-bloc countries to become active in politics for the first time.

The Gemma Hussey Papers held in UCD Archives include papers relating to Hussey’s time as a TD and Minister for Education. P179/143 consists of a file of correspondence, letters, notes telegrams and cards from family members, friends, community groups, fellow politicians, local businesses and public institutions congratulating her on her election to Dáil Éireann for the Wicklow constituency.  Included is a note from the Taoiseach, Garret FitzGerald congratulating Hussey on her remarkable victory in the elections for the Wicklow Constituency (24 February 1982, 1p).

UCDA P179/143 Note from Taoiseach Garret Fitzgerald, 24 February 1982

P179/190 Black and white photograph of GH sitting at her desk, possibly in her constituency office, Not dated [1982-1986?]

UCDA P179/191 Black and white photograph of Gemma Hussey with the Taoiseach Garret FitzGerald, [1982]

Ernest Blythe(1889–1975), was by turns a revolutionary, politician, government minister, managing director of the Abbey Theatre, and Irish-language revivalist. He played several very separate roles in the course of his adult life. The one continuous link over those years was his total commitment to promoting the revival of the Irish language as the language of everyday life.

Following his political career, he found employment as Secretary of Clondalkin Paper Mills from 1937 to 1941. In 1941 he commenced what would be his longest period of continuous employment with a single employer, becoming Managing Director of the Abbey Theatre, a position he held until 1967. During his time as director he actively promoted Irish-language plays and pantomimes.

For more information see(opens in a new window)Dictionary of Irish Biography.

The papers of Ernest Blythe held in UCD Archives consist of material relating to Blythe's political and ministerial career, his activities as Secretary to Clondalkin Paper Mills, Managing Director of the Abbey Theatre, and member of the R.T.E. Authority, as well as personal affairs.

Material relating to Blythe’s time as Managing Director of the Abbey Theatre include Articles of Association; minutes; reports; accounts; casts for plays; Architect's plans for the new theatre building; Programmes for Ordinary performances, Special performances and Irish pantomimes.

To put us in the festive mood is the programme below for the Irish Pantomime “Muireann agus an Prionnsa”, performed on St. Stephen’s Day 1945 and the evenings following.

UCDA P24/850 Irish Pantomime Programmes 1945-46: “Muireann agus an Prionnsa”, December 1945

Eithne Coyle O’Donnellwas born near Falcarragh, County Donegal, into a farming family with strong republican sympathies, her brother Donal was a Commandant in the 1st Northern Division of the Volunteers/IRA. She joined Cumann na mBan in 1918, carried arms and acted as a courier and was eventually arrested organising in county Roscommon. Sentenced to one year in prison under the Defence of the Realm Act in January 1921, she escaped from Mountjoy Jail in October with three others including Linda Kearns. An Anti-Treaty supporter, she was arrested in November 1922 and interned until late the following year. Eithne was elected President of Cumann na mBan in 1926. She married Bernard O’Donnell, an IRA activist from Donegal, in 1935.

In the 1970s, as part of her research for a proposed history of Cumann na mBan, Coyle O’Donnell circulated a questionnaire to surviving members. The questionnaire covers the period 1914 to 1923 and includes the following questions: name of branch; names of members alive or dead; numbers in the branch district council; names of officers; who founded your branch; what year; general activities civil and military; nature of help given to local volunteers; carrying arms and despatches; branch help given to Dáil Éireann administration.

Replies include representatives of most Dublin branches; branches in Carlow; Kerry; Dundalk and Glasgow. Manuscript accounts were also attached to the circular questionnaires indicating personal involvements in Cumann na mBan by many members. One of these members was Mary Doyle (nee Byrne) who was a member of the Iniginidhe Branch from 1915. Doyle states that she carried out the mobilisation for her branch on Easter Monday, 1916 and she was on duty from 23 April 1916 to the surrender on 30 April 1916 “rendering First Aid to the wounded Volunteers and carrying out the duties of Second Commander”. She recounts her experiences during the War of Independence and Civil war and states she was Captain of the branch during the Black and Tan period.

UCDA P461/4 Replies to Questionnaire for Proposed history of Cumann na mBan, November 1972-February 1973

TheTony Heffernan Papersrepresent his long association with the Workers’ Party, from his appointment as the party’s press officer in July 1982 to his appointment as Assistant Government Press Secretary, as the Democratic Left nominee in the Rainbow Coalition government between 1994 and 1997. Following the merging of Democratic Left with the Labour Party, Heffernan was appointed Press and Parliamentary Director for the Labour Party in 2000 remaining in this position for eleven years. He retired from the Oireachtas in April 2011 after 29 years. He is one of the longest serving backroom political staff members. He continues to work as a media and communications consultant in the private sector.

The papers provide a significant source for the history of the development of the Workers’ Party and its policies through the comprehensive series of press statements issued over many years.

In early January 1991, in the context of imminent war between Iraq and an international coalition led by the United States, the Gulf Peace Committee was established in Dublin, The Committee was a broadly based body of organisations and individuals opposed to a war in the Gulf. Operation Desert Storm began on 17 January 1991 with the aerial bombing campaign against Iraq and came to a close with the American-led liberation of Kuwait on 28 February 1991.

UCDA P180/124 includes a press statement summarising the details of a press conference on the 10 January 1991 (incorrectly dated as 10 January 1990), at which the Gulf Peace Committee announced plans for a Dublin rally for peace the following weekend. Also included in the file is a full list of participants in the committee. 

UCDA P180/124 Press Statements – 1991, Gulf Peace Committee launches details of Dublin rally for peace in the Gulf, 10 January 1991.

The papers ofSighle Humphreysheld in UCD Archives contain documents relating to the O’Rahilly, Humphreys and O’Donoghue families, as well as documents relating directly to the life and activities of Sighle Humphreys.

Humphreys, was born 26 February 1899 in Limerick city, only daughter of David Humphreys, medical doctor, and his wife, Nell (Mary Ellen; née Rahilly). After her marriage she was also known by the Irish name Sighle Bean Uí Dhonnchadha (O'Donoghue). Humphreys learned Irish in early life, becoming a fluent speaker.

Humphreys joined Cumann na mBan in 1919 and was active throughout the war of independence and opposed the treaty. On 4 November 1922 Ernie O'Malleywas captured at the Humphreys house after a shootout in which Sighle Humphreys fired on the Free State forces. The whole family were arrested. Humphreys was imprisoned, spending three months in solitary confinement after participating in a protest; she was released in November 1923 after a hunger strike.

In 1926 Humphreys became director of publicity for Cumann na mBan and was its leading Dublin activist for a decade thereafter. She participated in the February 1926 republican protest against the Abbey Theatre's production of ‘The plough and the stars’ by Sean O'Casey. In 1928 Humphreys smashed the windows of shopkeepers who flew union flags during the Tailteann Games, and composed threatening leaflets, which were sent to jurors in political cases as part of an intimidation campaign organised by Cumann na mBan and the IRA. She was imprisoned in Mountjoy for these activities from December 1926 to February 1927 and for six months from May 1928.

In 1931 Humphreys was a founder member of the short-lived republican-socialist group Saor Éire. She was jailed for two months by a military tribunal in December 1931. In 1932–3 she was a leading member of the Boycott British League. In April 1934 she was a founder member of the Republican Congress but left the organisation in July 1934 after the IRA refused it endorsement.

On 19 February 1935 she married the prominent IRA activist Donal O'Donoghue (1897–1957). In the 1940s and 1950s the O'Donoghues were active inClann na Poblachta.

Humphreys campaigned against Irish entry to the EEC, she was active in the Irish Sovereignty Movement in the 1970s and 1980s. In the 1970s she campaigned for more frequent celebration of the mass in Irish and served on the Dublin Housing Committee, a radical pressure group. She refused to pay her television licence in 1976–7 in protest against poor-quality Irish-language programming, and was fined £8, which she refused to pay. During the 1970s and 1980s she corresponded with republican prisoners and worked for their dependents; she endorsed Sinn Féin and the H-block campaign.

Sighle Humphreys died 14 March 1994

Source:(opens in a new window)DOI: (opens in a new window)https://doi.org/10.3318/dib.004157.v2

UCDA P106/684 consists of correspondence between Sighle Humphreys and others on a wide variety of topics, including, in the case of the letter below, the bus service between Dingle and Tralee. Public transport in Ireland has always attracted its fair share of criticism, so a nice counterpoint is a letter from R. McElheron, Assistant Public Relations Officer at Córas Iompair Éireann (CIE) to Sighle Humphreys. The letter is dated 6 August 1952 and is in response to a letter from Humphreys. Humphrey’s letter is unfortunately not included in the file, but McElheron states he is “very much obliged for your letter of appreciation of the satisfactory driving of one of our bus drivers”. He goes on to note that her “kind remarks” will be conveyed to the employee in question and the letter will be published in the CIE weekly newsletter. It is interesting that a letter of appreciation was considered noteworthy enough to merit publication.

UCDA P106/684 (46) Papers of Sighle Humphreys. Letter from CIE to Sighle Humphreys, 6 August 1952.

The sale and importation of contraceptives was outlawed in the Republic of Ireland in 1935. In the 1970s, the law surrounding contraceptives came under increased scrutiny as loopholes allowed for their possession and use but not their sale. The legal position drew heavy criticism particularly as contraceptives were widely available in Northern Ireland at the time. Responding to the increasing pressure, Charles Haughey, then Minister for Health, introduced the Health (Family Planning) Bill which was enacted into law in 1979. The law was dubbed 'an Irish solution to an Irish problem' as contraceptives were only made available via medical prescription 'for the purpose of "bona fide" family planning' and could only be sold through physicians and pharmacies.  Under this law, physicians and pharmacists were not obliged to supply members of the public with prescriptions or contraception if they held any moral objection. 

Dr Derek Freedman, a genito-urinary physician, was involved in the establishment of Family Planning Services Limited. The company was established for the provision of information and family planning services to the public. Initially, this involved the use of "non-medical" methods of contraception but they were eventually able to provide medical contraceptives, family planning advice, psychosexual consultations and to offer surgical procedures, such as vasectomies and the insertion of I.U.D.s. The first Family Planning Services clinic was opened at 67 Pembroke Road, Dublin followed by the establishment of other medical centres at Bawn Og/Bawnogue, Clondalkin and at 78/79 George's Street, Dun Laoghaire in 1984. 

Members of the Board of Family Planning Services, in cooperation with the Association of Irish Family Planning Clinics and the Irish Family Planning Association, were particularly critical of the restrictions of the Health (Family Planning) Act and were involved in lobbying the Minister for Health, Barry Desmond who succeeded Charles Haughey in 1982, for amendments to facilitate more open distribution of contraception in the Republic. 

The Papers of Dr Derek Freedman include a series of documents, with opinions, questions and correspondence gathered by Derek Freedman relating to the Health (Family Planning) Bill, 1978 and the subsequent Act passed in 1979, their impact on the sale and distribution of contraceptives in Ireland and the implications for Family Planning Services.This series includes the memorandum below to Board Members of Family Planning Services outlining a meeting between Freedman and Barry Desmond, Minister for Health, on the 21 March 1983, discussing the provision of family planning in Ireland and proposed changes to the Health (Family Planning) Act 1979. 

UCDA P276/2 Papers of Dr Derek Freedman. Meeting with Barry Desmond, Minister for Health, 21 March 1983 

Kathleen O’Connellwas born on 5 October 1888 at Caherdaniel, Co. Kerry, one of eleven children of John O'Connell, farmer, and Mary Ann O'Connell (née O'Sullivan). Educated locally, she emigrated to America in 1904 and trained as a secretary in Chicago. In 1912 she became secretary to the American delegation of the Gaelic League in New York. In response to news of the Easter rising she joined Cumann na mBan in the US and became active in collecting aid for the dependants of the men killed and wounded.

On 2 October 1919 she was requested byÉamon de Valerato join the ‘consular staff’ of his tour of America. Throughout the tour she worked closely with him, travelling the country dealing with his public and private correspondence and assisting with his speeches. Returning to Ireland with de Valera in November 1920, she immediately went into hiding. Arrested with de Valera on 22 June 1921, they were released the following day. She joined the delegation to meet Lloyd George in July 1921 and was later to share de Valera's views of the treaty.

She followed de Valera loyally throughout the civil war and was present on the platform in Ennis at his arrest in August 1923. During his imprisonment she acted as his agent and messenger throughout the country. Devoted to the cause of Ireland, she identified service to the nation with service to de Valera.

Through opposition and government she was a constant at de Valera's side, both nationally and internationally. Forced to retire in 1954 because of a cancer-related illness, her position was taken by her niece Maire O'Kelly. She died 7 April 1956 and was buried at Glasnevin cemetery.

(Source:(opens in a new window)Dictionary of Irish Biography)

The Kathleen O’Connell papers in UCD Archives relate overwhelmingly to O’Connell’s association with Eamon de Valera. However, the papers also include a series of photographs spanning over forty years from 1912–1956. O’Connell was well travelled and the collection includes images from her travels both in Ireland and throughout Europe. The first photograph below is dated July 1931, taken by Kathleen O’Connell while holidaying in Bruge, Belgium, with the author(opens in a new window)Annie M.P. Smithson. The scene is of a cobbled square, tall buildings at back, a man leading a large dog pulling a small cart to the front. An annotation in Kathleen’s hand records that she sent the photograph to the Irish Independent which published it and gave her 10/-. The second photograph is of O’Connell herself, taken during her final holiday in Caherdaniel, Co. Kerry before her death. She is in the hills above the village, sitting looking directly at the camera, with the sea visible in the background.

UCDA P155/242, 282 Papers of Kathleen O’Connell, photographs taken in Bruge, Belgium and Caherdaniel, Co. Kerry.

UCDA P155/242

Reverse side of photograph: “Took this at Bruges in July 1931 where I was holidaying with Miss Smithson. Sent it to “Independent” who published it and gave me 10/- for it. I was delighted at my skill!!”

UCDA P155/282

Photograph taken during Kathleen O’Connell’s final holiday in Caherdaniel, [1955].

Columba, Colmcille, or Colm Cille (7 December 521 – 9 June 597 AD) was an Irish abbot and missionary evangelist credited with spreading Christianity in what is today Scotland at the start of the Hiberno-Scottish mission He founded the important abbey on Iona, which became a dominant religious and political institution in the region for centuries. He is the patron saint of Derry. He was highly regarded by both the Gaels of Dál Riata and the Picts, and is remembered today as a Catholic saint and one of the Twelve Apostles of Ireland. Source(opens in a new window)Wikipedia. For more information on Colm Cille see(opens in a new window)Dictionary of Irish Biography 

This month’s Document of the Month is taken from the Annals of the Four Masters and recounts the death of Colm Cille, recorded as having taken place on the 9^thJune 592. This differs from the accepted historical record which puts his year of death as 597.

"The Annals are a chronicle of Irish history from A.M. 2242 to A.D. 1616 and contain records under successive years of the deaths of kings and other prominent persons, both ecclesiastical and lay, along with accounts of battles, plagues, etc. They end with the death of Hugh O’Neill, earl of Tyrone, in 1616. The compilation was largely derived from older manuscripts, many of which have not survived.

Two complete autograph copies were made: one for Fearghal Ó Gadhra, Lord of Coolavin and Member of Parliament for Sligo in 1634, and one for the Franciscans at the Irish College of St Anthony, Louvain. The autograph manuscripts are all now in Dublin, in three separate archives.

• M. 2242-A.D. 1169: University College Dublin UCD-OFM A 13
• M. 2242-A.D. 1171: Royal Irish Academy C iii 3
• D. 1170-1499: Royal Irish Academy 23 P 6
• D. 1500-1616: Royal Irish Academy 23 P 7
• D. 1334-1605 (and 1616 fragment): Trinity College Dublin 1301

The volume in UCD (Franciscan A 13) and two in the Academy (RIA 23 P 6-7) are considered to constitute the Louvain set."

Text from RIA blog: (opens in a new window)Annals of the Four Masters.

Annals of the Four Masters, UCD-OFM MS A13 | C17th | Paper | 28cm × 19 cm | f257r. Reproduced by kind permission of UCD-OFM Partnership.

Image: (opens in a new window)ISOS

Irish Text

Aois Criost, cuig céd nochat a dó.

A cúig fichęt d'Aodh.

Colum Cille, mac Feaidhlimidh, apstal Alban, ceann crabhaidh ermhoir Ereann, ⁊ Alban iar b-Pattraicc, d'écc ina ecclais fęin in h-I i nd-Albain, iarsan c-cúicceadh bliadhain triochad a oilithre, oidhce domhnaigh do shundradh an 9 lá Iunii. Seacht m-bliadhna seachtmoghatt a aois uile an tan ro faoidh a spiorait dochum nimhe, amhail as-bęrar isin rann:

• Teora bliadhna bai gan lés
  Colum ina Duibhreglés,
  Luidh go h-aingli asa chacht
  iar seacht m-bliadhna seachtmoghat.

Dallán Forgaill dixit hoc do bhás Choluim Cille:

• Is leighes legha gan les
  is dedhail smera re smuais
  Is abhran re cruit gan chéis
  sinde d'éis ar n-argain uais.

Aodh Dubh, mac Suibhne, rí Uladh, do mharbhadh la Fiacha, mac Baettain. As lasan Aodh n-Dubh-sin torchair Diarmaitt mac Cearbhaill.

Annals of the Four Masters(opens in a new window)CELT Project

English Translation

The Age of Christ, 592.

The twenty fifth year of Aedh.

Colum Cille, son of Feidhlimidh, apostle of Alba Scotland, head of the piety of the most part of Ireland and Alba, next after Patrick, died in his own church in Hy, in Alba, after the thirty fifth year of his pilgrimage, on Sunday night precisely, the 9th day of June. Seventy seven years was his whole age when he resigned his spirit to heaven, as is said in this quatrain:

Three years without light
was Colum in his Duibh-regles;
He went to the angels from his body,
after seven years and seventy.

Dallan Forgaill composed this on the death of Colum Cille:

Like the cure of a physician without light,
like the separation of marrow from the bone,
Like a song to a harp without the ceis,
are we after being deprived of our noble.

Aedh Dubh, son of Suibhne, King of Ulidia, was slain by Fiachna, son of Baedan. It was by this Aedh Dubh Diarmaid Mac Cearbhaill had been slain.

Annals of the Four Masters(opens in a new window)CELT Project

TheFitzwilliam familywere a very wealthy British family. William Wentworth Fitzwilliam, 2nd (4th) Earl Fitzwilliam, inherited the Wentworth estates in England and Ireland when his uncle, Charles Watson-Wentworth, 2nd Marquis of Rockingham, died in 1782. He subsequently became one of the richest members of the nobility.

The papers of the Fitzwilliam Family held in UCD Archives consist of a collection of papers mainly arising from or associated with Fitzwilliam family finances, probably accumulated by an auctioneer or bookseller. The main Fitzwilliam Collection, under the title the Wentworth Woodhouse Collection, is housed in the Sheffield Archives

One of the more interesting items in the collection is a letter from William Wentworth Fitzwilliam, to Henry Addington, Viscount Sidmouth, dated 27 July 1817, reporting his impressions of the current situation in York following two linked armed risings in Huddersfield and Sheffield. These small risings took place on the night of 8-9 June 1817 and became known as the Folly Hall and Pentridge risings. Fitzwilliam seeks to reassure Viscount Sidmouth, stating “In no part of the Riding can I discover any symptom of conspiracy or revolutionary combinations”.

UCDA P3/17 Papers of the Fitzwilliam Family. Letter from William Wentworth Fitzwilliam to Henry Addington, 27 July 1817.

Wentworth 27^thJuly 1817

Earl Fitzwilliam

Arr’d [sic] 3^rdAug’st

[sal?] to the State of his County.

Private

Wentworth 27th July 1817

My Lord

I have great satisfaction in reporting to your Lordship, that the result of my enquiries at York has proved as favorable as could be expected or wish’d [sic]. In no part of the Riding can I discover any symptom of conspiracy or revolutionary combinations going forward, even at Huddersfield and its neighbourhood, the spirit is subdued; the Parties, as I collect from Mr Allen, are cow’d [sic] and dispirited, and notwithstanding the issue of the Trials at York (of which your Lordship will undoubtedly receive the particulars from those better able than I am to detail them) left as They must now feel themselves without hope of support or cooperation. They will no doubt think it is a happy compromise to keep the peace, if they are left at rest themselves.

I have the honor to be my Lord

your Lordship’s most obed. [sic]

Wentworth Fitzwilliam

Viscount Sidmouth

The Records of theRepublican Soldiers’ Casualty Committeeheld in UCD Archives consist of 72 completed forms presented to the Committee for members of the Irish Republican Army (IRA) in the 1st Dublin Brigade Area killed throughout the period from the 1916 Rising to the aftermath of the Civil War. They relate mainly to members of the 2nd Battalion but forms for some Friendly Citizens and members of the Irish Citizen Army and Fianna Éireann are also included. Forms include personal details, a summary of military record, and particulars of the date, place and circumstances of death. The forms were submitted to the Committee in July 1928.

An interesting example is the form of Arthur Weekes (Neill). Weekes had an address in Norwich, England and was a German by birth. He worked as a chef at Shelbourne Hotel and belonged to the German Communists Party and Irish Socialist Party. He joined the Irish Citizen Army in November 1915 and was killed in action in Moore Lane at the evacuation of General Post Office on 29 April 1916.

UCDA P156/66 Records of the Republican Soldiers’ Casualty Committee. Form for Arthur Weekes, 24 May 1928

REPUBLICAN SOLDIERS CASUALTY COMMITTEE

(1^STDUBLIN BRIGADE AREA)

(Please fill in legibly in Ink)

No.                                                        

Reserve

Surname                                             

Weekes (Neill)

Christian name (in full)                  

Arthur

Address                                               

Norwich, England

Home address (if not identical)

Profession, Trade or Occupation

Cheff [sic]

Whether married or single          

Single

Unit                                                      

Irish Citizen Army            

Rank                                                     

Volunteer

Date of Death                                   

29 April 1916     

Place of Death                                  

Moore Lane

Circumstances of Death                

Killed in action. Killed in Moore Lane at the evacuation of General Post Office

Names of Co. O/C and Batt. O/C at time of death                              

Christopher Poole Capt., James Connolly

Military Record (Including length of Service)

Joined Irish Citizen Army November 1915 was a thoroughly good Soldier. Length of Service 6 months.

Any other relevant particulars    

was a German by birth. Worked as Cheff [sic] at Shelbourne Hotel belong to German Communists

Party and Irish Socialist Party.

Chairman Batt. Committee.

(Signed)                                              

Chairman Executive Committee. Oscar Traynor

Harry Colley Hon. Sec.

Date                                                     

24 May 1928

James Leniganwas a Tipperary landowner, resident in Castle Fogarty, near Thurles. At the time of Griffith's Valuation, Lenigan's estate was located in the parishes of Ballycahill and Moyaliff, barony of Kilnamanagh Upper. In the 1870s Lenigan owned 1,604 acres in county Tipperary.

There are a number of small collections in UCD Archives and the James Lenigan collection must be one of the smallest. It consists of a letter from John Molloy, Castle Fogarty, Thurles, County Tipperary, to James Lenigan [also of Castle Fogarty], Umberslade Hall, near Hockley Heath, Birmingham (15 July 1847, 3pp & transcript). He describes early indications of the recurrence this season of potato blight and encloses samples of plant leaves.

'A week will tell much. I have heard many other bad accounts this evening but will state nothing but what comes under my own eye. If the potato goes this year, Ireland will never never recover.'

UCDA P146/1 Letter to James Lenigan, 15 July 1847

ThePioneer Total Abstinence Association(PTAA) was founded in Dublin in December 1898 by Fr James Cullen SJ. The Association would grow to become one of the prominent Catholic movements in the first half of the twentieth century in Ireland. An essential component of the Association was devotion to the Sacred Heart with a focus on the spiritual element in the work of the PTAA.

The Association was based on the parish unit with a spiritual director overseeing the activities of each centre. Overall control was administered by a central council based in Dublin. Membership of the Association was based on a probationary period of two years after which full membership was granted. By the end of 1914 membership of the Association had reached an estimated 280,000 and by the 1950s this figure had risen to almost 500,000 members. By 1918 there were Pioneer centres in existence in England, Scotland, the USA, Australia, South Africa and Switzerland.

The association was initially funded through the sale of Pioneer pins. As the Association began to grow and expand, efforts were made to increase the its profile and promote its message. To this end a weekly column simply entitled ‘Pioneer Column’ appeared for the first time in 1912 in the Irish Catholic. It became one of the longest running regular columns in Irish newspaper history. In 1948 the Association began to publish a magazine to act as the official organ of the PTAA. ‘The Pioneer’ continues to be published today.

The popularity of the PTAA remained steady throughout the 1940s and 1950s during which the Association celebrated two major milestones, the Golden and Diamond Jubilees. Croke Park hosted the celebrations on both occasions. Official figures estimated that approximately 100,000 people attended the Golden Jubilee in 1949.

The papers of the PTAA held in UCD Archives contain a series of documents relating to the Golden Jubilee celebrations in 1949. Included is a file containing programmes, tickets and black and photographs depicting the procession to Croke Park and the crowds in Croke Park on 26 June 1949.

UCDA P195/96 Papers of the Pioneer Total Abstinence Association. Golden Jubilee—Memorabilia, 26 June 1949.