Archival list The Kirby Collection Catalogue Irish College Rome ARCHIVES PONTIFICAL IRISH COLLEGE, ROME Code Date Description and Extent KIR/ 1890 / 494 circa 1890 Holograph letter from Sr. Mary, Rome, to Kirby: Writer thanks Kirby for consenting to be their confessor. Query as to steps to be taken. [see KIR/1890/316] ['Sr. Mary' would appear to be the Foundress of the Little Company of Mary.] 3pp 495 31 December Holograph letter from J.J. Farr, Chettendale, Marrickville, 1890 to Kirby: Personal letter. [Although this letter is dated 'December 31st 1890', the postscript which states 'All well but very hot here' is dated January 5th 1891.] 1p 1 1 January Holograph letter from Sr. M. Peter Frances O'Reilly, 1891 Lisbon, to Kirby: Convent news. Sisters M. de Ricci and Martha died during 1890. School has fallen off considerably of late years, probably due to number of schools now in the country and 'rage amongst the higher class for foreign governesses'. Requests Pope's blessing on 'his Irish children in Bon Successo, Lisbon' and a special one on the writer who celebrates Golden Jubilee of her profession on 5 October of present year. Necessary to re-open novitiate to admit 2 'promising novices', the one French and the other from Loanda, a former pupil'. 4pp 2 1 January Holograph letter from Sr. M. Ignatius Walsh, Yarrawonga, 1891 Victoria, to Kirby: Personal letter. 4pp 3 1 January Holograph letter from Sr. Mary A. Beckett, Birr, to Kirby: 1891 Thanks Kirby for painting of Our Lady of Mercy, which writer has had framed in Dublin and erected in their own chapel 'in time for St. John's Day, our Golden Jubilee, with a brass plate underneath of the Indulgence granted'. Asks cost of painting. Includes note in Kirby's handwriting - No cost - but prayers. 3pp 4 1 January Holograph letter from Maria A. Saddi, [], to Kirby: Personal 1891 message of 'auguri' and good wishes and blessings to Kirby - asking his prayers. [Italian] 4pp 2372 Archives Irish College Rome Code Date Description and Extent KIR/ 1891 / 5 1 January Holograph letter from Sr. M. Gabriel [Prioress], Dunedin, to 1891 Kirby: Birthday greetings. Large photograph of new school buildings recently posted to Kirby to procure Papal Blessing 'for them, for ourselves, for all our pupils'. Schools placed this year 'specially under the patronage of our Angelic Doctor St. Thomas Aquinas'. Asks prayers. There are 24 novices. Bishop's health is better. On January 9th writer, with 4 other nuns, begins a foundation at Milton. 'The house is as wretched as any ever founded but we are placing it under the invocation of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour, who will repair and enlarge it'. 4pp 6 3 January Holograph letter from Gui. Angeli, Vatican, to Kirby: 1891 Regarding Epiphany gifts exchanged with the Holy Father. [Italian] 1p 7 4 January Holograph letter from +E.T. [O'Dwyer], Corbally, to Kirby: 1891 Writer thanks Kirby for dispensation. Agrees with his views on Parnell, but wishes that 'those who direct the affairs of the Church in Ireland would see that the support which he is getting in defiance of common decency enforced by ecclesiastical admonition is an evidence of the demoralisation which has gone on for the last ten years … If we had less politics and more religion the Church in Ireland would do better.' Asks Kirby's opinion as the whether it 'would not be better to transfer to Mr. Sheehy the part of a free place held by Mr. Danaher', as he does not think the latter very stable and feels he should not be allowed to use funds of the diocese further. 6pp 2373 Archives Irish College Rome Code Date Description and Extent KIR/ 1891 / 8 5 January Holograph letter from Fr. Denis Pettit, Dublin, to Kirby: 1891 Writer encloses cheque for £50.0.3., usual quarterly dividend on £7,461.13.0 Government Stock. Speaks of 'terrible crisis' in Ireland which, however, may be brought to a close on the morrow. 'But it is feared that W. O'Brien, on whom the whole responsibility of the present situation is thrown, may consent to terms which will not be acceptable to the majority of the Irish Parliamentary Party and that we may have a still further prolonged struggle. It is very satisfactory to know that the attitude of the Bishops in the present difficulty has been so acceptable to the Holy Father.' 3pp 9 5 January Holograph letter from Sr. M. Joseph, St. John's, 1891 Newfoundland, addressed to Most Rev. Dr. Cerbey and [a My Lord Cardinal]: Asking papal blessing for their priest, Fr. J. Ryan, on his silver jubilee. 5pp 10 7 January Holograph letter from [Fr. G.M. Bely], Gubbio, to Kirby: 1891 Writer informs Kirby that there is no Confraternity under the title of Our Lady of Light, either at Gubbio or elsewhere, but there is, however, a Pious Union of the faithful under this title. He encloses a brief account of the Statue of Mary, invoked under the title of Our Lady of Light, which is outside the Porta Coritello of Gubbio, in a little chapel of the church of Our Lady of the Bridge, existing from time immemorial. [This may well be in reply to an inquiry on behalf of Miss Agnes St. John of Scherer.] 5pp 11 8 January Holograph letter from +William J. Walsh, Dublin, to Kirby: 1891 'I enclose the 'relatio'. It was unfortunately delayed by a small strike at the printing office. It may be well for Y.G. kindly to mention this.' 1p 12 9 January Holograph letter from A.H. Murphy, London, to Kirby: 1891 '…truly delighted to receive the very precious Agnus Deis', sent by Kirby for writer and daughter, from whom she encloses a cheque as a birthday gift. 5pp 2374 Archives Irish College Rome Code Date Description and Extent KIR/ 1891 / 13 9 January Holograph letter from +P. McAlister, Belfast, to Kirby: 1891 Writer encloses application for dispensation which, however, he would prefer to have refused - gives reasons. Thanks Kirby for Pope's blessing. 1p 14 12 January Holograph letter from Sr. M. Joseph, Loughrea, to Kirby: 1891 Encloses intentions for Masses - hopes it was not illness that prevented Kirby from acknowledging last draft sent in October. 1p 15 12 January Holograph letter from +M.A. Corrigan, New York, to 1891 Kirby: Writer thanks Kirby for letter on his brother's death, Fr. James. Thanks him also for picture of Our Lady of Mercy for the Mercy Convent. Has written to ask Kirby's grand-nephew to call. Local news. Apologizes for having letter typed, giving reasons. 2pp 16 12 January Holograph letter from Rev. D.J. O'Connell, 'American 1891 College', to Kirby: Encloses 50 lira, result of sale of tickets sent him by Kirby. 1p 17 13 January Holograph letter from Sr. M.M. de Razzi Bentley, St. Louis, 1891 to Kirby: Regarding picture of Our Lady of Mercy, asks for copy, promising to send money for it. Would also like 'one dozen of the steel engravings as taken from the painting'. Recalls her visit to Rome and his kindness. 3pp 18 14 January Holograph letter from Sr. M. Imelda, Blackrock, Co. 1891 Dublin, to Kirby: Encloses pound for Mass for 'spiritual and temporal welfare' of Mrs. O'Conor and her family. Her 'law affairs are being finally wound up'. Speaks in flowing terms of Mrs. O'Conor. 3pp 2375 Archives Irish College Rome Code Date Description and Extent KIR/ 1891 / 19 14 January Holograph letter from +Michael Logue, Armagh, to Kirby: 1891 Writer thanks Kirby for his kindness while in Rome, and describes journey back to Armagh. Attended meeting in Dublin of Episcopal Standing Committee, the principal business being to get guarantees from new Irish publishing company as to principles on which they will conduct their journal. Seems inclined to meet wishes of Bishops fully. Thinks following of Parnell not formidable, outsiders are brought in, by special train, to swell numbers at meetings. Writer informed that shares of the 'Freeman' cannot find any buyers - circulation of 'United Ireland' has gone down from 40,000 to 'about ten'. People of Armagh gave writer opportunity of speaking to them on occasion of presentation to him of an Address, and he spoke of the crisis, his words being later inaccurately reported in the daily papers, but he sent a corrected copy of 'The Irish Catholic'. Hopes Dr. Hassan now quite well again. 4pp 20 15 January Holograph letter from Paul Cullen, Liverpool, to Kirby: 1891 Encloses £25 for inclusion in 'next offering of Peter's Pence' Kirby makes to the Pope. 'So long as His Holiness is suffering I don't like to discontinue the good practice of my respected Father, who from the beginning was accustomed to make a substantial offering to Peter's Pence. My sister takes a part with me in this offering.' Writer is 'still on the sick list', so asks Kirby to forgive a short letter as he is 'very infirm'. Asks prayers for his 'spiritual and corporal needs'. 2pp 2376 Archives Irish College Rome Code Date Description and Extent KIR/ 1891 / 21 15 January Holograph letter from V. Rev. Peter Murphy, P.P., Bodyke, 1891 to Kirby: Regarding Kirby's request, in 1884, when he 'terminated the 81st year' of his age, that his charitable friends should obtain for him the grace of a happy death, writer remarks that he still continues this prayer, and will do so, but will add one that Kirby may be spared for 'many years still to promote as you have ever done the honour and glory of our good God by a continuance of your faithful labours in His service'.