18th century watercolours of Irish antiquities, done by or for Gabriel Beranger.

A collection of material related to the Easter Rising 1916 from the IBVM (Loreto) Institute & Irish Province Archives, including contemporaneous accounts of the Rising as observed by the Loreto Sisters at St Stephen’s Green Dublin and Loreto Abbey Rathfarnham. The material is collated from three separate Loreto archival collections: the community archives of Loreto Abbey Rathfarnham; Loreto College, 53 St Stephen’s Green; and M. Michael Corcoran IBVM, Superior General 1888 – 1918. The collection comprises of two manuscript community annals, a military permit, picture postcards from Loreto Abbey Rathfarnham and Loreto College, 53 St Stephen’s Green, and a typed letter from M. Michael Corcoran IBVM, Superior General 1888 – 1918.

[Watercolour painting of the 'Abbey of Holy Cross, 2nd view' (Co. Tipperary) / by Sir Nathaniel Barry.]

[Watercolour painting of 'The South Isle of the Black Abbey' (Kilkenny, Co. Kilkenny) / by an unidentified artist.]

[Two watercolour paintings, one of 'Dunbrody Abbey' (Co. Wexford) / by Jonathan Fisher and one of an 'Ellevation of Tintern Abbey' (Co. Wexford) / by Sir Vesey Colclough.]

[Postcards and and correspondence, including various photographs and a guidebook to the crypt of Jouarre.]

Postcard sized photograph of young boarders in school uniforms, holding tennis racquets. On the verso of the photograph is written 'Loreto Archive, pupils Loreto Abbey, Rathfarnham'.

The Abbey of Fahan in Inish-owen, County of Donegal. A paper read at a meeting of the Royal Irish Academy February 28th, 1881. With addenda. / By William J. Doherty, C. E., of St. Mura's, Fahan ...

[Two watercolour paintings of 'Timoleague Abbey' (Co. Cork) / by William Ashford.]

[Two watercolour paintings of 'St. Peter's Abbey [Newtown Abbey] at Newtown near Trim' (Co. Meath) / by Thomas Roberts.]

Ode to Mellifont. / By R. J. Hughes. Delivered at Mellifont, on Sunday, 9th July, 1882.

Aerial photograph of Loreto Abbey, Rathfarnham showing the farm yard (upper right hand corner of photograph, marked with an x). The Annals Loreto Abbey Rathfarnham 1913-1916 refer to two workmen employed on this farm who participated in the rising. The height from which the photograph was taken is noted as 1,000 feet. The date and title are also written on the verso of the photograph, along with the following note 'farmyard to the right where Stonepark Abbey houses are being erected 1989-1990'.

[Two watercolour paintings, one of the exterior of 'The Abbey of Bective' (Co. Meath) and one of the 'Arches of y Cloisters' / by Gabriel Beranger.]

[Watercolour painting of 'The Abbey & Round Tower at Kildare' (Co. Kildare) / by Rev. Seymour.]

Postcard of Loreto Abbey, Rathfarnham, depicting the front lawn, a pupil playing with a dog, and farm workers mowing and saving hay on the back lawn.

This contemporaneous account of Easter Rising 1916 captures the uncertainty, the confusion and the anxiety experienced by the religious community and their concern for their Sisters in Dublin city centre communities (i.e. 43 North Great George’s Street, 53 St Stephen’s Green & 77 St Stephen’s Green.) In 1916 the Sisters were bound by the rule of enclosure, and were not permitted to leave convent grounds, unless for medical or other appointments. The Sisters were permitted to visit other convents, but only with the prior agreement of their Local Superior. The annalist records the impact of the Rising on the community, including lack of communication & resulting rumours, food shortages, ‘Sounds of great cannonading’, fires in the city centre which could be seen in Rathfarnham, and the resulting destruction of the city centre. The annalist also records that two of the workmen (employed on the Loreto Abbey farm), participated in the rising and the annals conclude on 9th May, with an account of the arrest and questioning of other farm employees by the authorities. Reference is also made to searches and the capturing of arms in Rathfarnham village.

[Copies of various journal publications.]

Letter from M. Michael Corcoran, Loreto Convent, Rathfarnham to Fr. Ryan S.J., Australia. This letter, refers to the 1916 Rising in Dublin, where three Loreto houses were surrounded by ‘fighters and two of Ours had narrow escapes from stray bullets.’ A member of the community at 53 Stephen’s Green, was awoken at 11.30 p.m. ‘by the crash of a bullet through her window pane. It struck the wall opposite and fell on her bed.’ She did not alert the rest of the community, ‘assuming, it maybe supposed, that a second stray bullet would not come the same way.’ She fears what will ‘become of our poor country’, and although she hopes peace will soon be restored, ‘many fear disaffection among the Irish regiments.’ The three houses in Dublin ‘were in great danger, but all Ours kept up their courage wonderfully, and kept at the back of the houses to avoid bullets.....The house on the north side had not enough to eat for a short time.’

Large, hard bound, light brown photograph album, containing 16 panoramic, black and white photographs, capturing buildings and grounds in Rathfarnham, and two sea views. Embossed on the front cover is 'Kodak Panorams'. This album should be viewed alongside M. Michael Corcoran's other images of Loreto Abbey Rathfarnham. Few of the photographs are captioned, most are not.

[Receipts for payment of school fees by Eugene O'Curry.]

Large, hardbound, light brown photograph album, untitled, containing 140 black and white photographs (of assorted sizes), capturing aspects of life in Rathfarnham, Balbriggan, India, and Australia. Locations are generally not identified. Some of the photographs are captioned, many are not.

Large, hardbound, green photograph album titled 'Ireland, India, Australia' containing 177 black and white photographs (of assorted sizes), capturing aspects of life in Australia, Spain, India, Colombo and Ireland. In 1903, whilst travelling from India to Australia their ship encountered difficulties, M. Michael and her travelling companion, M. Attracta Coffey IBVM, sought shelter with the Little Sisters of the Poor in Colombo. (Note the rear cover of the album has the following text embedded: 'Sunny Memories'.) Other miscellaneous photographs include a portrait photograph of a man captioned as 'A Cingalese'; unidentified pupil playing a violin and a photographic image of the 'Shroud of Turin'. Some of the photographs are captioned, many are not.

Small, hard bound, green photograph album titled 'Rathfarnham 1904' containing 23 black and white photographs (of uniform size), mainly of the gardens, grounds, buildings, Sisters, pupils and staff in Loreto Abbey Rathfarnham. Some of the photographs are captioned, many are not. The title was attributed by a previous archivist, and cannot be attributed to the photographer, M. Michael Corcoran.

Large, hardbound, brown and black photograph album titled 'India, Rathfarnham, Balbriggan' containing 96 black and white photographs (of uniform size), capturing aspects of life in Rathfarnham, Balbriggan and India. Note the title was attributed by a previous archivist, and cannot be attributed to the photographer, M. Michael Corcoran.