Fondo P35 - Papers of R.H. Moore

200 items

The collection was secured by Josephine Quirke, a Branch Librarian at Banagher, Offaly. Quirke was a life-long friend of the Moore family and the Moore archive was transferred to the Offaly County Library in 1980.

Documents relating to aspects of Moore's life in Banagher. Moore was involved in many committees in the town. These fall into two categories in this collection, namely improvements to the local economy and infrastructure and those that responded to outside events such as the First and Second World Wars. The improvement committees were Banagher Improvement Association/Committee (c.1899-1928), Banagher Fairs and Improvement Committee (1907-1928), Banagher Public Lighting Committee (1907-1912) and Banagher and Lusmagh Farmers Association (1929-1930). The other committees responded to WWI and WWII were The Garrycastle Relief Committee (1914-1915), the War and Pensions Committee (1917-1919) and the Parish Council (1941-c.1945).

Some other organisations mentioned are the Banagher Bicycle Association, the Gaelic League and the Banagher Sacred Heart Sodality which all proved extremely popular.

The documents are arranged by topic, with Moore’s professional life as a schoolteacher and role in the provision of technical education in Banagher first. The following topics are listed by committees that he was a part of. The final topics are lists of documents relating to the social and cultural life of the small rural community.

The Master 1888-1930, which includes Moore’s time as schoolmaster and his work in improving the pay and conditions to primary school teachers.
Vocational & Technical Education 1911-1929, which includes Moore’s time as secretary of the King’s County Committee of Education. It was set up to encourage vocational education such as cookery, metal work and woodwork so that young people would be prepared for accredited technical examinations.
Amenities & Improvements 1907-1912, which includes Moore’s time in many committees. Moore appears to have played a liaison role between the work of the committees and his work as Rural District Councilor.
Belgian Local Refugee Committee 1914-1918, which includes information on Belgian refugees escaping German invasion to Ireland and the help the relief committees gave them.
Naval and War Pensions 1917-1919, which includes how local committees helped secure money and medical examinations from The Naval War Pensions Committee who administered national provisions for war pensions for the thousands of Irishmen who fought in WWI.
“The Emergency” in Banagher 1941-45, which includes the documents of the Parish council. It was established to deal with the threat of foreign invasion and food shortages. They encouraged amalgamation of food stores and increase acreage under tillage for farmers. They also administered relief to rural poverty and unemployment.
Social & Cultural 1894-1943, which includes documents relating to past times and activities of individuals in Banagher and surrounding areas. These were bicycle, tennis and Gaelic League clubs as well as religious societies who frequently went on excursions outside of the town.

By appointment only. Contact Offaly Archives at [email protected]

May be reproduced in accordance with provisions of the Copyright and Related Rights Act (2000). No reproduction online, in print or broadcast without the express permission of copyright holder.

OCL SR2

Fitzpatrick, Mary. “School, Community and Nation, The Papers of R.H. Moore 1899-1956” Offaly: Offaly County Council (2005).
ISBN 0953584143

Abbreviations used:
Ms Manuscript i.e. the original document is handwritten

ISAD (G), 2nd Ed.

Catalogued and published by Mary Fitzpatrick, 2005 in
'Fitzpatrick, Mary. “School, Community and Nation, The Papers of R.H. Moore 1899-1956” Offaly: Offaly County Council (2005).
ISBN 0953584143'
Entry created, July 2019, Ciara O'Brien
Online catalogue completed using contents of the publication, January 2022, Michelle Guenter