The Report of the Royal Commission on the Rebellion in Ireland in 1916. A Royal Commission of Inquiry was established under Charles Hardinge, 1st Baron Hardinge of Penshurst (1858-1944) to investigate the causes of the Rising. The commission commenced its work on 18 May 1916 and it heard evidence over nine days from key figures including Augustine Birrell, the Chief Secretary for Ireland (1905-1916), and Neville Chamberlain, the Inspector General of the Royal Irish Constabulary. The report of the commission was published on 26 June 1916. The report outlined conclusions drawn from the commission of inquiry. It criticized the administrative and intelligence systems in place in Ireland. It reached the general conclusion that the main cause of the rebellion, ‘appears to be that lawlessness was allowed to grow up unchecked, and that Ireland for several years past has been administered on the principle that it was safer and more expedient to leave the law in abeyance if collision with any faction of the Irish people could thereby be avoided'.

Statement by Fr. Augustine Hayden OFM Cap., ‘Franciscan Monastery, Rochestown, County Cork, formerly of the Priory, Church Street, Dublin’, referring to the hostilities during Easter Week, 1916. The record (which is incomplete) is a copy of the statement made by Fr. Augustine to the Bureau of Military History (held in the Irish Military Archives). The statement concludes on Monday, 8 May 1916, before the executions of Michael Mallin, Seán Heuston, Con Colbert and Éamonn Ceannt.

The series contains souvenir booklets and miscellaneous ephemera and artefacts relating to the 1916 Rising. Most of the booklets contain photographic postcards depicting various figures, events and artefacts associated with the Easter Rising and its aftermath.

The file includes the following editions from mainly national newspapers reporting on the Rising and on subsequent events:
'Cork Examiner', 24 June 1916
'Irish Weekly Independent', 29 Apr. & 6 May & 13 May 1916
'Weekly Irish Times', 29 Apr. & 13 May 1916
'Irish Times', 18 Apr.-1 May 1916; 12 May 1916 (p. 5 only)
'Saturday Herald', 27 May 1916
'Cork Examiner', 6 May 1916
'Freeman’s Journal', 11-13 May 1916; 2 June 1916 (13 May 1916 has pp 5-8 only).
'Irish Independent', 15 May 1916

Newspaper clippings relating to the Irish Revolution assembled by the editors of 'The Capuchin Annual'. Many of the clippings relate to the role played by the Catholic clergy (particularly the Irish Capuchins) during this period. The file includes:
• An article referring to remarks made by Rev. W.P. Burke in relation to the moral justification of wars. It reads ‘who can call the wretched Dublin business a war? It was backed neither by the mind nor strength of the country’. 'Nationality', 9 June 1917.
• ‘A German Plot’. 'Cork Examiner', 18 May 1918.
• ‘Sinn Feiners and the German Plot’. 25 May 1918.
• ‘Salute the Heroes / Back from the Gates of Death’. The article refers to the release of republican prisoners from Mountjoy Jail and to the roles played by Fr. Augustine Hayden OFM Cap. and Fr. Albert Bibby OFM Cap. The article reads ‘The association of these two much loved Irish Franciscan Friars with the last moments of some of the men who died after the Insurrection of 1916 was recalled by their presence yesterday. … Father Augustine appealed to the crowds whom his voice could reach to be calm. He reminded them that the prisoners were very weak, and he appealed to his hearers to maintain order while they were passing through and to obey their Volunteers’. 'Freeman’s Journal', 15 Apr. 1920.
• ‘The Prisoners Released’. The article refers to the role played by Fr. Albert Bibby OFM Cap. in securing the release of sixty-eight republican prisoners in Dublin. 'Catholic Times', 17 Apr. 1920.
• ‘Ireland a Nation / The Government’s Perfidies and Outrages’. The article refers to Fr. Augustine Hayden OFM Cap. and Fr. Matthew O’Connor OFM Cap. 'Freeman’s Journal', 11 May 1921.
• ‘Obsequies of Rev. James O’Callaghan’. 28 May 1921. A clipping of a photograph showing the funeral of Fr. James O’Callaghan who was killed on 15 May 1920. 'Cork Examiner', 28 May 1921.
• ‘Miltown Park Raid’ / Large Forces Surround Jesuit House of Studies’. 'Freeman’s Journal', 21 Feb. 1921.
• ‘The Priest Killers / Mrs De Roiste describes night of murder / Father [Seamus/James] O’Callaghan’s Assassin’. 'Catholic Herald', 4 June 1921.
• ‘Priest Arrested / President of St. Flannan’s College in Custody’. 'Evening Herald', 6 July 1921.
• ‘One way to peace / Stop Repression & Recognise Ireland’s Rights / Irish Bishops’ Statement. 'Evening Telegraph', 22 June 1921.
• ‘The Men of 1916 / Impressive march through streets of Dublin / Graveside tributes’. The article refers to a Memorial Mass offered for the leaders of the 1916 Rising at St. Mary of the Angels, Church Street, Dublin. 'Freeman’s Journal', 25 Apr. 1922.

Correspondence file relating to Christopher J. Brady who along with Michael J. Molloy and Liam Ó Briain, compositors, were responsible for printing the 1916 Proclamation. The Proclamation was composed in Liberty Hall, the headquarters of the Irish Transport and General Workers Union. Liberty Hall was also the location of the printing press, an antiquated Wharfdale Double Crown, used to print Connolly’s ‘The Worker’s Republic’ newspaper. Brady used this press to print the Proclamation on Sunday, 23 April 1916. The file includes a photographic print of Christopher J. Brady and letters mainly regarding requests that he authenticate original copies of the Proclamation. One of the letters (17 June 1934) is from Nellie Gifford-Donnelly to Brady requesting that he and Michael J. Molloy and Liam Ó Briain visit Dr. Kathleen Lynn to authenticate and sign a copy of the 1916 Proclamation in her possession. Both Gifford-Donnelly and Kathleen Lynn were committed nationalists and feminists who had participated in the Rising. Gifford-Donnelly was later instrumental in securing historical documents and objects associated with the Easter Rising. The Proclamation signed by Brady is now on display in the National Museum of Ireland.