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Kenny Family Collection

  • IE DCUA C2
  • Collection
  • 1905-2011

The fonds relates to the lives and careers of three men from the Kenny Family: Kevin J Kenny (1881-1954), his son Michael B Kenny (1919-1992), and Michael’s son Colum Kenny (b. 1951). The collection is arranged in three sub-fonds relating to the three men respectively.

The majority of the collection relates to Kevin J Kenny and his work at Kenny’s Advertising Agency. The sub-fonds relating to Kevin includes correspondence with many of his clients, some of whom included eminent nationalists of the day, such as Patrick Pearse, Arthur Griffith, Francis Sheehy-Skeffington and James Creed Meredith. Kenny solicited advertising for the publications of many of these figures, which often proved essential in keeping the publications afloat and in circulation, as evidenced in particular by the letters from Patrick Pearse regarding advertisements for An Macaomh, the official magazine of St Enda’s. This sub-fonds also includes several sub-series relating to significant episodes in Kevin’s career and life, such as the controversy over Kenny’s Advertising Agency and a contract to run British Army recruitment advertisements during the First World War, and personal memorabilia and publications relating to significant historical events, such as the 1916 Easter Rising, the War of Independence and Civil War.

This sub-fonds also includes a collection of British Army transcribed signals from the first day of the Battle of Gallipoli (25 April 1915), which give a vivid insight into the harrowing experience of some British soldiers fighting on the front line that day. These signals may have come into Kevin J Kenny’s possession from his wife Annette’s brother John Murphy, whose signature may be the ‘J Murphy’ included on some of the signals.

This sub-fonds relating to Michael B Kenny consists of a few items concerning his career in advertising. These include a brief history of the Kenny’s Advertising Agency written by Michael, and two photographs: one of meeting of the Advertising/Press Club in 1956 or 1957, and the other of the Kenny’s Advertising Agency premises at Lower Baggot Street, Dublin.

The final sub-fonds in the collection mainly relates to Colum Kenny’s work on three documentaries for RTÉ, and some of his personal correspondence with various figures relating to topics such as the media, law and Irish history. One of the sub-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 sub-series includes letters from Eric Cross and friends of the Tailor and Ansty, including Seán Ó Faoláin and Nancy McCarthy-Allitt. Two of the other sub-series relating to Colum’s work on RTÉ current affairs television programmes are currently closed and access will be reviewed in 2025.

Another series 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). 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 discuss Cusack and Watt’s personal lives.

Kenny, Kevin

Kevin J Kenny

This sub-fonds relates to the professional and personal aspects of Kevin J Kenny’s life. The majority of the series concern Kevin’s professional life, specifically his work as an advertising agent and commercial manager with his company, Kenny’s Advertising Agency.

Kenny, Kevin

Professional Life

Series mainly relates to the early part of Kevin J Kenny's career as managing director of Kenny's Advertising Agency, with numerous letters from clients relating to advertisements in various newspapers and publications. Several of these clients were leading figures of nationalist movements of the day, such as Patrick Pearse, Francis Sheehy-Skeffington, Arthur Griffith, and James Creed Meredith, and later, representatives of the Second Dáil. The series (and its constituent sub-series) reflect the dramatic changes that were taking place in the Irish political landscape, with various parties from across the political and social spectrum seeking Kenny’s services in his capacity as a commercial manager. Thus, the series includes letters and notices from the aforementioned leading nationalists among others, but also British establishment figures and offices of government, such as the Admiralty, War Office and Press Committee in London.

Correspondence

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

Kenny, Kevin

Note from Roger Casement to 'the Manager' of The Nationist newspaper.

Undated note from Roger Casement to 'The Manager, The Nationist, 53 Middle Abbey Street, Dublin'. Note reads: 'Dear Sir, I should be obliged if you would now send my copy of The Nationist to the Quay, Ballycastle, Antrim, instead of to the English address hitherto given. Yours faithfully, Roger Casement.'

The note is handwritten on headed paper from Exchange Station Hotel (Lanc & York Rly), Liverpool [the address is scored out]. The Nationist, edited by Tom Kettle, was a weekly newspaper that appeared in 1905 and 1906. Kenny was the business manager of the newspaper.

British Army recruitment advertising

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.

Belfast Boycott

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.

Government Notices

Public notices created by the British government, and subsequently Dáil Éireann, for advertising in newspapers and other publications.

Kenny’s Advertising Agency and Kenny Press

Sub-series consists of a pass to enable Kevin J Kenny to visit Kenny’s Advertising Agency at Middle Abbey Street after it had been destroyed during the 1916 Easter Rising; a photograph of the first Kenny’s Advertising Agency dance, and publications produced by the agency and Kenny Press.

Personal Life

Consists of two sub-series. The first relates to personal mementoes such as newspaper cuttings, cards and photographs relating to various events in Kevin J Kenny’s life. The second sub-series relates to the Battle of Gallipoli and includes British Army transcribed signals from the front. These signals may have been written by John Murphy, Annette Kenny’s (née Murphy) brother and Kevin J Kenny’s brother-in-law.

Personal mementoes

Personal items and mementoes relating to significant events or causes in Kevin J Kenny’s life.

Newspaper cutting from the Evening Herald concerning a campaign to make St Patrick's Day a national holiday.

Newspaper cutting includes a report of a meeting of the National Holiday Committee campaigning for St Patrick’s Day to be made a national holiday. Those reported as present included Kevin J Kenny. Cutting also includes letter received from Archbishop of Dublin, William J Walsh in support of the campaign.

Awarding of the Portuguese rank of Cavaleiro of the Military Order of Christ to Kevin J Kenny.

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.

Battle of Gallipoli: notes

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.

Note from Major-General Aylmer Hunter-Weston CB DSO to the 29th Division of the British Army on the eve of the landings at Gallipoli, 25 April 1915.

Undated printed page which reads:

'Personal note from Major-General Aylmer Hunter-Weston, C.B., D.S.O., to each man of the 29th Division on the occasion of their first going into action together. The Major-General Commanding congratulates the division on being selected for an enterprise the success of which will have a decisive effect on the War. The eyes of the world are upon us and your deeds will live in history. To us now is given an opportunity of avenging our friends and relatives who have fallen in France and Flanders. Our comrades there willingly gave their lives in thousands and tens of thousands for our King and Country, and by their glorious courage and dogged tenacity they defeated the invaders and broke the German offensive. We must also be prepared to suffer hardships, privations, thirst, and heavy losses, by bullets, by shells, by mines, by drowning. But if each man feels, as is true, that on him individually, however small or however great his task, rests the success or failure of the expedition, and therefore the honour of the empire and the welfare of his own folk at home, we are certain to win through to a glorious victory. In Nelson’s time it was England, now it is the whole British Empire, which expects each man of us will do his duty. A. H-W.' Major-General Aylmer Hunter-Weston was commander of the British 29th Division on the Gallipoli peninsula in April 1915. 'Keep this and never loose [sic] it' is written in pencil underneath Hunter-Weston's message. Another lightly written and mostly illegible note in pencil is also visible on the reverse of the page.

British Army transcribed signals from the landings at Gallipoli, 25-26 April 1915.

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.

Correspondence between the Imperial War Museum and Colum Kenny regarding British Army transcribed signals from Gallipoli.

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).

Published material and memorabilia

Newspapers, magazines, postcards, flyers and other published documents mainly relating to Irish nationalism. It is possible that Kevin J Kenny worked as a commercial manager or advertising agent for some of the publications, and/or that his company, Kenny’s Press, published some of them. It is also very likely that Kevin simply collected the material in this series due to its historical significance.

Colum Kenny purchased and added some items to this series, such as item C2/1/3/13.

The Irish Nation, volume 1, numbers 17 and 48.

Includes issues published on 14 October 1916 (volume 1, number 17) and 19 May 1917 (volume 1, number 48). Issue number 17 features an article about the lack of rebuilding taking place in Dublin city centre following the 1916 Easter Rising, and includes a sardonic reference to the rebuilding of the Kenny's Advertising Agency building, suggesting this is related to 'big cheques' from the 'profitable business' of 'Recruitment in Ireland'. See sub-series 'Recruitment Controversy for further context about this topic. Issue number 48 includes the banner: 'Organ of the Repeal League and Independence Association'. Price: one penny.

Leaflet requesting prayers in memory of the rebels who were killed during and following the Easter Rising, 1916.

Leaflet reads as follows: 'Lá na Marbh, 1916, All Souls’ Day, 1916. Your prayers are earnestly requested for the repose of the souls of the following Irishmen who were executed by Military Law this year: [includes list of 16 names] Also for the repose of the souls of the following men who were killed whilst fighting for Ireland, during Easter Week, 1916: [includes list of 52 names] Go nDeinidh dia trocaire ar a nAnamaibh'.

'Documents presented to the U.S. Government on behalf of the Irish Republic'.

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.

Mid-Week Pictorial with image of Arthur Griffith on front cover.

Mid-Week Pictorial was an illustrated weekly newspaper supplement published by The New York Times. Includes a full-page photograph of Arthur Griffith on the front cover, describing him as the 'Head of the Irish Free State'. Inside is a one-page feature about Ireland including photographs of five government ministers: George Gavan Duffy, Richard Mulcahy, Michael Collins, Eamon J Duggan, WT Cosgrave.

Colum Kenny purchased this journal from a bookshop in the USA in March 2010, through www.abebooks.com. File includes the relevant section of Colum Kenny’s original finding aid for the collection that notes that Mid-Week Pictorial was purchased from www.abebooks.com, the shipping manifest for the item, and the address of the bookshop that the newspaper was purchased from.

Issues of The Freeman's Journal and The Evening Standard published following the destruction of their respective printing presses.

File includes: two reduced single-sheet-formatted versions of the Freeman’s Journal from 30 and 31 March 1922, and a four-page single-sided-sheet version of the Evening Telegraph (Dublin) from 1 April 1922. The Anti-Treaty IRA destroyed the printing presses of both newspapers in March 1922.

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