Letter from Fr. Augustine Hayden OFM Cap. to Elizabeth O’Farrell

A letter from Fr. Augustine Hayden OFM Cap. to Elizabeth O’Farrell recounting the events of the Easter Rising. The letter is dated 7 February 1953 and reads: ‘… I was very pleased to read your very accurate account of when and where you met Father Columbus [Murphy] at that time when I happened to be Guardian (superior) of our Friary at Church Street. It will interest you to learn that actually I did not hear of the surrender at the GPO, nor at the Four Courts until the following (Sunday) morning

Details

Level of description: Item
Date: 7 Feb. 1953
Reference: 4
Extent and medium: 4 pp; Manuscript
Scope and content: A letter from Fr. Augustine Hayden OFM Cap. to Elizabeth O’Farrell recounting the events of the Easter Rising. The letter is dated 7 February 1953 and reads: ‘… I was very pleased to read your very accurate account of when and where you met Father Columbus [Murphy] at that time when I happened to be Guardian (superior) of our Friary at Church Street. It will interest you to learn that actually I did not hear of the surrender at the GPO, nor at the Four Courts until the following (Sunday) morning at 6.55 when Fr. Columbus returned to the Friary and told me when I was waiting to say the 7 o’clock Mass. For some reason or other the military concealed both surrenders from me though I had been speaking to them twice that afternoon and evening. I actually spoke to our grand boys from the street where North King Street crosses Church Street above the Father Mathew Hall where I had been all that afternoon. I actually got a truce until the following morning [between] the boys and the military each promising not to fire if the other did not fire. …’.
General note: Born in Dublin, Elizabeth O’Farrell (1884-1957) was a midwife at the National Maternity Hospital and a member of Cumann na mBan. She acted as a courier during the 1916 Rising and was one of just three women present in the GPO. She played a key role after the surrender when, accompanied by Fr. Columbus Murphy OFM Cap., she delivered messages to both Irish Volunteer leaders and the British military. Pearse was accompanied by O’Farrell when he surrendered to General Lowe. Though partly obscured by Pearse, she is present in an iconic photograph taken at the moment of the surrender but was removed from subsequent versions. Fr. Augustine Hayden OFM Cap. was instrumental in securing the surrender of the Irish Volunteers in Jacob’s Factory and in the South Dublin Union.
Repository: Irish Capuchin Archives
Context: Irish Capuchin Archives > Capuchin Papers relating to the Irish Revolution > The Papers of Fr. Augustine Hayden OFM Cap

Annotations

Rights

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Extracted Mentions

People, places, and terms identified via handwriting recognition and named entity recognition.

People

Ford(1)
Each(1)
May(1)

Places

Rochestown(1)

Sample passages

Be is ford to to remember me in front prays, and I shall always remember for in more and also no my Messe.
to b. b. b. at the Town Courts until the following (handy) morning at 6-55 when the Columbus returned to the trial and told me then I was rising in the reason to say the I violated…
to b. b. b. at the Town Courts until the following (handy) morning at 6-55 when the Columbus returned to the trial and told me then I was rising in the reason to say the I violated…

Full Transcript (OCR, 1 pages)

Machine-generated OCR transcript. Handwritten material may contain recognition errors.

Page 1

CAPUCHIN FRANCISCAN MONASTERY, ROCHESTOWN, CO. CORK. 7-2-55 Dear Mrs O'Tavell, My Sol Pleas go for having rather the letters in yesterday's I. Independent covering L. Leadin's strange error. I was very pleased to real part at accorde record of when and where you met Father Columbus at that time when I happened to be broadward (Suspection) of our trial at Church Mt. It will entered for to know that actually I do not hear of the surreal or at the to b. b. b. at the Town Courts until the following (handy) morning at 6-55 when the Columbus returned to the trial and told me then I was rising in the reason to say the I violated them too more reason or other the Muliday covered to took accorde record from me to I had been speaking to them toward that afternoon and evening. I actually spoke to out front trial from the Mond where Mr. May M warrant Church Mt. where the to Matthew Hall where I did here all that afternoon. I actually spoke to the force the trial and the Muliday each forming not to fire at the other letters from. I have recently been definite also here and only I would I I will ever grave to all the to Dulli but as we will find you from the summarise then not only that I have not been well recently with heat touble, and am just now expecting a peaceful my movement. I have my uper west put name and of ever for come to both I should like to meet you if I am still alive.* the est will re to tell me when - then for farther with to. Columbus and when this trial was meant out from the Town Courts. Be is ford to to remember me in front prays, and I shall always remember for in more and also no my Messe. With every pleasing fore both and Mary in for not - also I am, dear Mrs O'Tavell, very sincerely from to. August in, O. J. M. C. I would I I will ever grave to all the to Dulli but as we will find you from the summarise then not only that I have not been well recently with heat touble, and am just now expecting a peaceful my movement.