The Church’s hierarchy, under the leadership of Michael Cardinal Logue, Bishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland, held that the Rising was unjustified because none of these required conditions was met.
In contrast, from the re-establishment of Irish Province of the Capuchin Order in 1885 there had been strong links between its members and the emerging national movement. It was clear that the cultural resurgence associated with the Irish Ireland movement deeply influenced the men who were drawn to Capuchin religious life.
Even before the Province was re-constituted Fr. Albert Mitchell, an ardent nationalist, made a particular point of always wearing Irish made garments and vigorously championed home-made products.
Later, Fr. Aloysius Travers preached a ‘buy Irish Campaign’, while Fr. Edwin Fitzgibbon played a leading role in promoting Gaelic games.
Many of the friars were fluent Irish speakers and Fr. Augustine Hayden and Fr. Albert Bibby were to the forefront in fostering interest in the native language through the Gaelic League (Conradh na Gaeilge).
Fr. (later Msgr) Patrick Browne was a particular friend of Seán MacDermott and ministered to him and Cmdt Michael Mallin.in their Kilmainham cells.
Many of the priests completed Witness Statements at the Bureau of Military History, and the Capuchin Friars noted their memories in various issues of the Capuchin Annual.
Go to the links below for the stories of Frs. Augustine, Albert, Columbus, Aloysius and Fr. Dominic, as well as Fr. Patrick Browne (who was not a Capuchin).
Note from Kilmainham Tales: These stories are abbreviated from Joe Connell's book "Rebels' Priests - ministering to Republicans 1916-24", details are here.
We are grateful to the Capuchin Archives (and Archivist Dr. Brian Kirby especially) for their co-operation in this project. Many of the illustrations used here and in the book are theirs, and we were given use of these with a freedom that we wish many other archives would copy.
In addition, Kilmainham Gaol & Archive, through Niall Bergin, freely co-operated through supply of other material used here and in the forthcoming book.
Our thanks to both and all others who helped.