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Includes transcript of the Frontline television programme originally broadcast on 1 February 1980; a copy of the Broadcasting Complaints Commission’s decision regarding the complaint made by Father Clifford; copy of letter sent by Colum Kenny to the Cork Examiner in May 1981 requesting that the newspaper publish the Commission’s decision; newspaper cuttings; some research notes written by Colum Kenny [?for the programme]; copy of letter dated 11 January 1980 from Father Clifford to parishioners in the Beara Peninsula condemning the article published in the Berehaven News about the affair; press release from Berehaven News in response to Father Clifford’s letter; Berehaven News, Vol. 1, No. 3, (1979), featuring the original article, and reference material relating to the Broadcasting Authority (Amendment) Act, 1976.

Sub-series relates to an RTÉ Frontline television programme broadcast on 1 February 1980 that was researched and presented by Colum Kenny. The programme dealt with allegations that St Brendan’s Trust (the Kerry Diocesan Trust) had acquired 17 national school properties in the Beara Peninsula and sold them against the wishes of many in the local community. Prior to the Frontline programme being broadcast, the story was covered in Berehaven News, a newspaper published by Combat Poverty, a rural development group in the Beara Peninsula. A letter written by Kerry Diocesan Secretary and Social Policy Advisor (and Secretary of St Brendan’s Trust), Father Dermot Clifford condemning the Berehaven News article was also circulated to households in the Beara Peninsula area in January 1980.

After the Frontline programme aired, the Bishop of Kerry, Kevin McNamara and Father Clifford wrote (separately) to RTÉ Director General, George Waters to complain that Colum Kenny was “prejudiced in his approach” and “unfair” in an interview with Father Clifford. The complaint by Bishop McNamara, and the subsequent apologies made by Waters and RTÉ Chairman Patrick Moriarty to the Bishop were covered in several newspapers.

Father Clifford made an official complaint about the programme to the Broadcasting Complaints Commission in November 1980. The Commission rejected Father Clifford’s complaint in April 1981, and said the programme was not ‘a biased production’ and did not consider the interview unduly ‘harsh’.

This sub-series includes documents relating to the research for the programme and the production itself. Also includes letters and numerous newspaper cuttings relating to complaints made by Bishop McNamara and Father Clifford, and the subsequent decision of the Broadcasting Complaints Commission.

Much of the sub-series consists of copies of private correspondence written by various individuals relating to the complaint made by Father Clifford to the Broadcasting Complaints Commission in November 1980. This particular material is currently closed and access will be reviewed in 2025.

Includes original and copies of newspaper cuttings relating to the complaints made by Bishop McNamara and Father Clifford about the programme, and the subsequent decision of the Broadcasting Complaints Commission.

Includes copies of private correspondence written by various individuals relating to the complaint made by Father Clifford to the Broadcasting Complaints Commission in November 1980. This material is currently closed and access will be reviewed in 2049.

Two copies of a flyer advertising a concert in the Antient Concert Rooms, [52 Great Brunswick Street (now Pearse Street), Dublin] at which the flyer states, Eóin Mac Néill, President of the Irish Volunteers, will deliver 'an important address' on 'the present crisis'. The concert date is given as 'Sunday Night, April 9th' meaning that the flyer is most likely from 1916.

Biography mentions that Michael ‘passed away last September’. It was possibly written by Michael’s son Colum Kenny.

The last page of the programme is torn. It is possible that Kevin J Kenny was involved in the organisation of Dublin Civic Week in 1927.

Fragile single-sided printed page, possibly from a newspaper or pamphlet. Document details the declaration presented to the USA Government on behalf of the Irish Republic by Dr Patrick McCartan in July 1917. Includes the complete declaration signed by Irish nationalist leaders such as 'Edward de Valera' [sic], Eóin MacNéill and 'Des Fitzgerald', and a 'note' by McCartan addressed to the President and Congress of the United States. Also includes an '[e]xtract from the trial of A. Stack' [?Austin Stack].

McCartan would go on to serve as the Irish Provisional Government envoy to the USA, 1918-1920. Charles Tansill writes in America and the Fight for Irish Freedom 1866-1922: An Old Story Based Upon New Data (New York: Devin-Adair Company, 1957) that the signatories of the declaration had been released from prison (following their part in the Easter Rising) on 18 June 1917 as a gesture of good will to American public opinion. Tansill notes that the statement was written by MacNéill upon their release and taken by Patrick McCartan to the USA, where it was presented at the White House on 23 July 1917.

Includes report titled ‘Free Legal Aid Scheme as proposed by Socialist Law Group’ written by Colum Kenny for the Pringle Committee on Legal Aid following a 1974 visit to the USA and Canada to research legal aid there; petition to King’s Inns proposing the change of its motto 'Nolumus Mutari' ('We do not wish to change' or 'We do not wish to be changed'); a rejection by the benchers Standing Committee of this proposal; and printouts and a newspaper cutting relating to a finding by the Competition Authority that the Irish legal profession was in need of reform.

Hand-drawn design on a scrap of torn paper. Subtitle included in the design describes the periodical as 'Ireland’s best story paper'. Part of what appears to be a printed letter is visible on the reverse of the page and is signed off with the printed name 'T.M. Kettle' [Thomas Michael Kettle].

Series relates to the history of Colum Kenny’s house, 1 Herbert Terrace, Bray, County Wicklow, and two of its former residents: Cyril Cusack and Grace Watt (née Muggeridge). The series mainly consists of correspondence between Kenny, Cusack and Watt during the early 1990s in which they reminisce about living in the house, and discussion of Cusack and Watt’s personal lives.

Grace and the Muggeridge family, lived in 1 Herbert Terrace from 1918 to 1926. Grace’s father worked [?as a welder] for Barimar Limited, who opened an Irish branch with head offices at 185, Great Brunswick Street, Dublin in 1919. According to Grace, Barimar Limited acquired 1 Herbert Terrace for the family after they relocated from London [see letter from Grace to Colum Kenny dated 5 November 1990; item C2/3/3/1 (5)]. While Grace’s childhood memories of living in Ireland as detailed in the letters are very happy, it seems that the family fortunes were not similarly positive. The family had moved to Ireland during tumultuous times, with the War of Independence and Civil War taking place during the period. Her father’s workshop [?in Dublin] was burnt down at some point and Grace notes in one letter that this 'was probably the beginning of our financial troubles'. Grace says her mother sublet rooms in 1 Herbert Terrace when 'times became difficult' [see letter to Colum Kenny dated 7 March 1993; item C2/3/3/1 (12)]. It was at this point that her path crossed with Cyril Cusack.

Cyril, who would later become a famous actor, and his mother, Alice Violet Cusack (née Cole), lived with the Muggeridge family for two to three years according to Grace [see letter to Colum Kenny dated 12 August 1992; item C2/3/3/1 (10)]. Cyril became friends with the Muggeridge children, particularly George, who is mentioned in several of Cyril and Grace’s letters, and whose photograph at 1 Herbert Terrace is included in the series (see file C2/3/3/6).

Grace and her husband Jack (John) R Watt called to 1 Herbert Terrace during a visit to Ireland in 1988, and Colum Kenny and his family were living in the house at that point. Following this visit, Grace and Colum wrote letters and Christmas cards to one another for the next few years. Grace informed Colum at some point that Cyril Cusack had lived with her family for a time in the house. Colum mentioned this to Cyril when they met at a function in Dublin in 1989 and Cyril subsequently began a correspondence with Grace.

Cyril’s letters to Grace include his memories of growing up in Bray, the various characters and events of their childhoods, and his friendship with George Muggeridge. He also shares details about his present life, the various plays, television documentaries and films he is acting in, and the travel that this involves. He also discusses the realities of growing old and his feeling that he might soon have to retire from acting. He mentions in a number of letters his desire to meet up with Grace again, but this never came to pass.

Grace’s letters to Colum mainly concern her memories of living in 1 Herbert Terrace, her new correspondence with Cyril and the latest news from her and her husband’s life. After Cyril died in October 1993, Grace decided to donate her letters from Cyril to Colum. She notes in a letter dated 27 October 1993 [item C2/3/3/1 (15)]: 'I feel most strongly that you are the only person who understands my affection for Cyril.'

This series includes: Grace’s letters and photographs to Colum Kenny and his wife Catherine; Cyril’s letters to Grace; Cyril’s letters to Colum; a letter from Mary Rose Cunningham (Cyril’s wife) to Grace; a letter from Jack (John) R Watt (Grace’s husband) to Colum; copy correspondence between George Muggeridge and Sir Garfield Barwick about George’s childhood in Bray; newspaper article and research on 1 Herbert Terrace written by Colum, and newspaper cuttings relating to Cyril’s death.

Consists of printouts and photocopies of a book extract and a newspaper cutting. The obituaries are from The Independent on Sunday and The Irish Times.

Includes letter and printout of e-mail from Anthony Richards, archivist at the Imperial War Museum, London, who describes items in file C2/1/2/2/2 as ‘transcribed signals’. Richards suggests that the signals relate to units of the 86th Brigade who would have been on active service as part of the 29th Division at Gallipoli during April 1915. Also includes copy letter from Kenny to Diane Lees, Director-General of the Imperial War Museum, London, regarding these transcribed signals and his grandfather Kevin J Kenny's recruitment advertising work around the time of the 1916 Easter Rising (see sub-series C2/1/1/2).

File includes one letter from Kenny to O’Faoláin, and two letters from O’Faoláin to Kenny concerning the documentary and other topics. Kenny’s asks O’Faoláin in his letter dated 28 August 1978 if will agree to be interviewed for the documentary, to which O’Faoláin agrees by returning Kenny’s original letter with annotations answering several of Kenny’s questions and dating his reply 29 August 1978. The second letter from O’Faoláin [?from September 1978] is titled ‘CENSORSHIP’ and appears to have been written following the recording of their interview, with O'Faoláin elaborating on some of the points he made about censorship in Ireland during the 1930s and 1940s, and expresses an admiration for Marina Warner’s book Alone of All Her Sex.

File also includes an [Irish Times] newspaper cutting from [25 February] 1993 of a letter to the editor by Maurice Harmon in which he notes that he is ‘writing the life’ of O’Faoláin and ‘would like to hear from anyone who may have information, or recollections that may be helpful.’ It is possible that Kenny contacted Harmon about his own correspondence with O’Faoláin.

Correspondence mainly relating to Kevin J Kenny’s work as an advertising agency and commercial manager for Kenny’s Advertising Agency and other publications.

Includes Colum Kenny’s work on three documentaries for RTÉ and personal correspondence with various individuals relating to topics such as the media, law and Irish history.

One of the series relates to Colum’s research for a documentary about the ‘Tailor and Ansty'. The Tailor and Ansty (husband and wife Timothy [‘the Tailor’] and Anastasia ['Ansty'] Buckley) were the subjects of a book by Eric Cross about their storytelling and home in Gougane Barra, County Cork, which became a hub for notable figures of the Cork arts scene in the 1930s and 1940s. The series includes letters from Eric Cross and friends of the Tailor and Ansty including Seán Ó Faoláin and Nancy McCarthy-Allitt.

Another series (C2/3/3) relates to connections between Colum Kenny’s house, 1 Herbert Terrace, Bray, County Wicklow, and two of its former residents: Cyril Cusack and Grace Watt (née Muggeridge). This series mainly consists of correspondence between Kenny, Cusack and Watt during the early 1990s in which they reminisce about living in the house, and discuss Cusack and Watt’s personal lives.

The final series (C2/3/4) consists of the original finding aid that was included with the collection when it was donated to DCU Library by Colum Kenny on 23 November 2011. It details the original arrangement and description of the collection and was created by Kenny.

Two of the sub-series in this sub-fonds relating to Colum’s work on RTÉ television series are currently closed for access in part or in whole.

Pages from the original finding aid relating to Colum’s work on certain RTÉ television programmes which are currently closed for access.

Periodical described as a 'pan-Celtic monthly magazine’.

Includes four '"C" Form[s], Messages and Signals' [transcribed signals] relating to units of the 86th Brigade who would have been on active service as part of the 29th Division on the Gallipoli peninsula in April 1915 [see file C2/1/2/2/3 for further context]. The forms include handwritten signals in pencil, with messages such as: 'Send reinforcements. Urgently required. I have no men.'; 'I am unable to hold out. Send reinforcements. Urgent.' and 'No answer to last message. The wire must be cut. I have sent patrol. Firing is very near.'

Some of the signals are signed 'J Murphy' who Colum Kenny suggested may have been Kevin J Kenny's brother-in-law, Jack (John) Murphy.

Letters, newspaper cuttings and published material relating to the granting of a contract to publish army recruitment advertisements to Kenny’s Advertising Agency on behalf of the British government. This episode appears to have caused a significant amount of discussion and controversy in various newspapers and publications of the day, and was also discussed by Laurence Ginnell MP during a debate in the British House of Commons.

Notes and leaflet relating to the ‘Belfast Boycott’. Dáil Éireann introduced this boycott in September 1920 in response to rioting in Derry and Belfast and discrimination against the Catholic community in Northern Ireland. It would appear from the items in this sub-series that Kevin J Kenny was concerned with ensuring that the activities of his business did not go against the boycott.

Sub-series consists of printed personal note from Major-General Aylmer Hunter-Weston, British Army transcribed signals from the first day of Battle of Gallipoli, and correspondence between the Imperial War Museum and Colum Kenny regarding the transcribed signals and recruitment advertisements (see sub-series C2/1/1/2). Some of the signals are signed 'J Murphy' who Colum Kenny suggested may have been Jack (John) Murphy, brother of Annette Kenny (née Murphy), Kevin J Kenny's wife. This could possibly explain how the signals came to form part of the collection.

Includes a certificate (in Portuguese) conferring on Kevin John Kenny, honorary Vice Consul of Portugal, the rank of Cavaleiro of the Military Order of Christ. His name is inscribed incorrectly as ‘Kelvin’ on the certificate. Also includes an English translation of the certificate by the Portuguese Consulate in Dublin, and a black and white photograph of Kenny receiving the cross, which is the insignia of the order, from Dr Henrique Bacelar de Caldeira Queiroz, the Portuguese Consul. Standing between them is the apostolic nuncio, Most Rev Pascal Robinson.

File includes newspaper cutting of article written by Colum Kenny published in Bray People on 15 October 1993. The article concerns Cyril Cusack's time living with the Muggeridge family in Bray and includes many of the reminiscences included in Grace Watt's (née Muggeridge) letters to Kenny. Her letter to Kenny dated 27 October 1993 [see item: C2/3/3/1 (15)] discusses the article. Also includes a longer unpublished article by Kenny titled Cyril Cusack Lived in Bray and photocopies of the roll book (featuring an entry for 'Cyril O'Rorke' [Cusack's birth name]) from St Paul's National School, Bray, which Cyril Cusack attended.

Michael B Kenny is visible seated second from left wearing the Chairman's chain.