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Joseph Francis Brunton was born in Kilkenny on 19 March 1894. He joined the Capuchin Franciscans in September 1911 and took Ambrose as his religious name. He was ordained to the priesthood on 15 March 1919 in Cork. Following his ordination, he volunteered for missionary work in the United States in 1920. His initial ministry was in Roseburg in Oregon. In 1923 he became the first Irish Capuchin pastor of St. Anthony’s parish in Willits, Mendocino County, in California. In 1929 he spent a short period of time with Fr. Joseph Fenlon OFM Cap. at St. Francis parish in Los Angeles. From there he went to the Blessed Sacrament Parish in Elk, Mendocino County, in California, where he served as pastor. Illness forced him to temporarily retire from ministry and to recuperate with the community at Mission Santa Inés near Solvang in California. In 1954, he was assigned to St. Mary’s parish in Ukiah, California. A year later he was transferred to St. Lawrence of Brindisi parish in Watts, Los Angeles. He remained in Los Angeles until his death on 8 March 1974. The renowned Irish tenor Brenda O’Dowda (1925-2002), a nephew of Fr. Ambrose, sang at his Funeral Mass which took place in St. Lawrence of Brindisi Church. He was buried in Los Angeles.

Baptismal name: Joseph Francis Brunton
Religious name: Fr. Ambrose Brunton OFM Cap.
Date of birth: 19 Mar. 1894
Place of birth: James Street, Kilkenny (Diocese of Ossory)
Name of father: Patrick Brunton
Name of mother: Christina Brunton (née Byrne)
Date of reception into the Capuchin Order: 17 Sept. 1911
Date of first profession: 17 Sept. 1912
Date of final profession: 8 July 1916
Date of ordination (as priest): 15 Mar. 1919
Missionary activities: Travelled to the United States mission in May 1920
Date of death: 8 Mar. 1974
Place of death: Los Angeles, California

William Leahy was born in Blackrock, Cork, on 9 February 1939. He joined the Capuchin Franciscans in January 1957 and took Angelus as his religious name. He completed his postulancy and novitiate in Kilkenny. His first assignment was in the Theology House at Ard Mhuire Friary in County Donegal. After nearly three years in Donegal, he returned to Cork and worked as a cook in Rochestown College. He was solemnly professed as a Capuchin friar on 7 April 1961. Aside from a short stint questing for the Church Street Friary in Dublin, Br. Angelus spent most of the next eighteen years working as a cook in communities in Rochestown, Ard Mhuire and Raheny. In 1980 he volunteered to travel to New Zealand where the Irish Capuchins had established a mission custody. His initial assignment was at the friary in Henderson, a suburb in Auckland. Ill-health forced his return to Ireland in 1992 and he died in the Bon Secours Hospital in Cork on 16 September 1992. He was buried in the cemetery adjoining the Capuchin Friary in Rochestown, County Cork.

Baptismal name: William Leahy
Religious name: Br. Angelus Leahy OFM Cap.
Date of birth: 9 February 1939
Place of birth: Blackrock, Cork
Name of father: Michael Leahy
Name of mother: Margaret Leahy (née Deasy)
Date of reception into the Capuchin Order: 6 Jan. 1957
Date of first profession: 7 Jan. 1958
Date of final profession: 7 Apr. 1961
Missionary activities: Travelled to the New Zealand mission custody in 1980. He returned to Ireland in 1992.
Date of death: 16 Sept. 1992
Place of death: Bon Secours Hospital, Cork
Place of burial: Cemetery, Rochestown Capuchin Friary, County Cork

Baptismal name: William Curran
Religious name: Br. Benedict Curran OFM Cap.
Date of birth: 24 January 1914
Place of birth: Portaferry, County Down (Diocese of Down & Connor)
Name of father: William Curran
Name of mother: Isabella Curran (née Marron)
Date of reception into the Capuchin Order: 26 July 1941
Date of first profession: 27 July 1942
Date of final profession: 27 July 1945
Date of death: 20 May 1974
Place of death: London
Place of burial: Foulkstown Cemetery, County Kilkenny

Eamonn O’Mahony was born in Middleton, County Cork, on 30 August 1934, the son of James and Máire O’Mahony (née Tobin). He received his secondary education at the Seraphic College in Rochestown and entered the Capuchin novitiate on 3 October 1952. He took Brendan as his religious name upon joining the Order. He undertook his early academic studies in University College Cork, where he obtained a BA (1956), followed by an MA in 1957, both with first class honours. He then went to Ard Mhuire Friary near Creeslough in County Donegal for his theological studies and was ordained to the priesthood on 24 September 1960. From there he proceeded to the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome where he was awarded a Licentiate in Sacred Theology (STL) two years later. From there he went to the University of Louvain in Belgium, where he obtained a PhD ‘Summa cum Laude’ in 1964. On his return to Ireland, he was appointed to the Chair of Philosophy in University College Cork, a professorship, his uncle, Fr. James O’Mahony OFM Cap., had occupied before him. There followed thirty-four years of busy academic work, during which scores of students destined for the priesthood in numerous congregations and orders received their grounding in philosophical studies. After several years as a member of the Provincial Definitory (Council), he was elected Irish Capuchin Provincial Minister in 1976, and was re-elected in 1979. In the latter year, under his guidance, the Western American Capuchin Province came into being in California and Oregon. In Ireland, he oversaw the opening of the Capuchin friary in Carlow in 1977. In 1982, the friars also took charge of Gurranabraher parish in the Diocese of Cork and Ross. He continued in his role as philosophy professor in University College Cork until his retirement in 1999. He died in Holy Trinity Capuchin Friary on Father Mathew Quay in Cork on 14 September 2020. He was buried in the cemetery adjacent to Rochestown Friary in County Cork.

Baptismal name: Eamonn O’Mahony
Religious name: Fr. Brendan O’Mahony OFM Cap.
Date of birth: 30 Aug. 1934
Place of birth: Midelton, County Cork (Diocese of Cloyne)
Name of father: James O'Mahony (Séamus Ó Mathúna)
Name of mother: Máire O’Mahony (née Tobin)
Date of reception into the Capuchin Order: 3 Oct. 1952
Date of first profession: 4 Oct. 1953
Date of final profession: 4 Oct. 1956
Date of ordination (as priest): 24 Sept. 1960
Educational attainments: BA, 1st class hons., UCC (1956); MA, 1st class hons, UCC (1957); Licentiate in Sacred Theology, Pontifical Gregorian University, Rome (1962); PhD, Catholic University of Louvain (1964)
Leadership positions: Provincial Definitor (Councillor), 1967-70, 1970-3; Provincial Minister, 1976-82
Date of death: 14 Sept. 2020
Place of death: Holy Trinity Capuchin Friary, Cork
Place of burial: Cemetery, Rochestown Capuchin Friary, County Cork

Daniel Francis O’Brien was born in Cork on 8 October 1912. His early education was in the Presentation School and later in the Christian Brothers’ School on Sullivan's Quay in Cork. He was an altar server in Holy Trinity Capuchin Church on Father Mathew Quay, and he joined the Order (taking Nicholas as his religious name) in October 1929. He was awarded an MA in philosophy in University College Cork in 1934. Following his ordination to the priesthood in 1937, he continued his studies in the International Capuchin College in Rome. He obtained a Doctorate in Canon Law from the Pontifical Gregorian University in 1941 and later a Doctorate of both laws (IUD) at the Lateran Pontifical University (1943). He also obtained a Higher Diploma in Library Science from the Vatican Library in 1942. His time in Rome was inevitably marked by the hardship of the wartime shortages. From 1943 to 1947, he taught Canon Law at Ard Mhuire Friary in County Donegal. He then returned to the International College in Rome where he served as Canon Law tutor to Capuchin students. He remained in Rome until July 1949. He subsequently returned to the House of Theology at Ard Mhuire and served as a lector there for the next twenty-eight years. He was also acted as a spiritual assistant to the Third Order of St. Francis lay fraternity. He was appointed Provincial Secretary in 1967 and held this position until his death on 5 March 1980. He was buried in the cemetery adjoining the Capuchin Friary in Rochestown, County Cork.

Baptismal name: Daniel Francis O’Brien
Religious name: Fr. Nicholas O’Brien OFM Cap.
Date of birth: 8 Oct. 1912
Place of birth: 15 Castle Street, Cork
Name of father: Thomas O’Brien
Name of mother: Brigid O’Brien (née Dennehy)
Date of reception into the Capuchin Order: 3 Oct. 1929
Date of first profession: 4 Oct. 1930
Date of final profession: 4 Oct. 1933
Date of ordination (as priest): 10 Oct. 1937 (Ard Mhuire Capuchin Friary, County Donegal)
Educational attainments: BA, 1st class hons. (1933); MA (1934); Doctorate of Canon Law (1941); Doctorate of both laws (civil and church law), (1943)
Leadership positions: Provincial Secretary, 1967-80
Date of death: 5 Mar. 1980
Place of death: Ballincollig, County Cork
Place of burial, Cemetery, Rochestown Capuchin Friary, County Cork

John Duggan was born in the village of Ballydehob in County Cork on 7 September 1879. He joined the Capuchin Franciscans in October 1899, took Pius as his religious name, and was ordained to the priesthood in 1907. Most of his priestly life was spent in preaching missions and retreats (in both Irish and English). In his early years, he also took part in the temperance campaign and gave missions in both Ireland and England promoting this cause. For several years he acted as a spiritual director for theology and philosophy students and was guardian (local superior) at the friaries in Rochestown and in Kilkenny (from 1913-6 and from 1931-4). During his years as member of the Church Street community in Dublin, he was director of the sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis and acted as Commissary Provincial of the confraternity. He died on 29 January 1963 and was buried in the cemetery attached to Rochestown Capuchin Friary in County Cork.

Baptismal name: John Duggan
Religious name: Fr. Pius Duggan OFM Cap.
Date of birth: 7 Sept. 1879
Place of birth: Ballydehob, County Cork
Name of father: Timothy Duggan
Name of mother: Sarah Duggan (née Connell)
Date of reception into the Capuchin Order: 1 Oct. 1899
Date of first profession: 4 Oct. 1900
Date of final profession: 25 Sept. 1904
Date of ordination (as priest): 16 Mar. 1907
Date of death: 29 Jan. 1963
Place of burial: Cemetery, Rochestown Capuchin Friary, County Cork

William John Forrest was born in Youghal in County Cork on 8 February 1911. He was initially educated in the Christian Brothers’ School in Youghal and later in the Cistercian College at Mount Melleray. He completed his secondary schooling with the Christian Brothers on Sullivan’s Quay in Cork and at the Capuchin College in Rochestown. He joined the Capuchin Franciscans in October 1929 and took Cormac as his religious name. He studied philosophy in University College Cork and received a BA degree in 1933. He was solemnly professed as a Capuchin friar in October 1933 and was ordained to the priesthood in Ard Mhuire Capuchin Friary in County Donegal on 27 June 1937. He served as Dean of Rochestown College in Cork from 1938 to 1946. Afterwards, he was appointed Master of Novices and Vicar in Kilkenny Friary. From 1949 to 1952 he was guardian (local superior) in Kilkenny and from 1952 to 1955 he was guardian of the Rochestown community. He was subsequently transferred to Holy Trinity Friary in Cork serving as Vicar for twelve years. A well-known preacher, retreat-giver, and confessor in his native Cork, he died in Holy Trinity Friary on 19 February 1991. He was buried in the cemetery adjoining Rochestown Capuchin Friary.

Baptismal name: William John Forrest
Religious name: Fr. Cormac Forrest OFM Cap.
Date of birth: 8 Feb. 1911
Place of birth: Youghal, County Cork (Diocese of Cloyne)
Name of father: Simon Forrest
Name of mother: Christina Forrest (née O’Connor)
Date of reception into the Capuchin Order: 3 Oct. 1929
Date of first profession: 4 Oct. 1930
Date of final profession: 4 Oct. 1933
Date of ordination (as priest): 27 June 1937
Educational attainments: BA (1933)
Date of death: 19 Feb. 1991
Place of death: Holy Trinity Capuchin Friary, Cork
Place of burial: Cemetery, Rochetown Capuchin Friary, Cork

Baptismal name: Timothy Cooney
Religious name: Br. Eolan Cooney OFM Cap.
Date of birth: 14 Sept. 1913
Place of birth: Rylane, County Cork (Diocese of Cloyne)
Name of father: Timothy Cooney (Labourer)
Name of mother: Julia Cooney (née Rourke)
Date of parents’ marriage: 21 Sept. 1905
Date of reception into the Capuchin Order: 12 Nov. 1934
Date of first profession: 13 Nov. 1935
Date of final profession: 12 Nov. 1938
Date of death: 29 July 1999
Place of death: Nursing home, Mount Desert, Cork
Place of burial: Cemetery, Rochestown Capuchin Friary, County Cork

Thomas Joseph Prendiville was born in Ballymacelligott in County Kerry on 27 November 1924. His early education was in the local national school and later at the Capuchin College in Rochestown, County Cork. He joined the Capuchin Franciscans in October 1944 and took Bartholomew as his religious name. He obtained a BA degree in philosophy from University College Cork in 1948. He completed his theological studies in Ard Mhuire Friary in County Donegal and was ordained to the priesthood on 12 June 1952. He returned to St. Bonaventure’s Friary in Cork and obtained a Higher Diploma in Education (UCC) before travelling to Norther Rhodesia (now Zambia) for missionary work in 1953. He spent eighteen years in Zambia. In 1971 he was transferred to the Cape Town mission in South Africa. His years in Zambia mainly involved work in the education sector, first as a manager of schools at several mission stations, and later as education secretary in Livingstone. In South Africa, he served as parish priest in several churches in various Cape Town suburbs including Langa, Belgravia and Parow. He served as consultor to the Regular Superior of the Cape Town mission on two occasions (1971-4; 1974-7). He was elected Regular Superior in 1977 and held this position until 1983. He died in Parow, Cape Town, on 7 July 2004 and was buried in Maitland Cemetery.

Baptismal name: Thomas Joseph Prendiville
Religious name: Fr. Bartholomew Prendiville OFM Cap.
Date of birth: 27 Nov. 1924
Place of birth: Ballymacelligott, County Kerry
Name of father: Michael Prendiville
Name of mother: Hanora Prendiville (née Scanlon)
Date of reception into the Capuchin Order: 3 Oct. 1944
Date of first profession: 4 Oct. 1945
Date of final profession: 4 Oct. 1948
Date of ordination (as priest): 12 June 1952
Educational attainments: BA (1948); Higher Diploma in Education (1953)
Missionary activities: Travelled to Livingstone, Northern Rhodesia (later Zambia) on 26 Aug. 1953. He was transferred to Cape Town, South Africa, on 12 May 1971.
Leadership positions: Regular Superior, Cape Town Mission, South Africa, 1977-83
Date of death: 7 July 2004
Place of death: Parrow, Cape Town, South Africa
Place of burial: Maitland Cemetery, Cape Town, South Africa

John Francis Kelly was on 15 September 1921 in Clara, County Offaly, the son of William Kelly and Elizabeth Kelly (formerly Deegan). He received the name Evangelist when he joined the Capuchin Franciscan Order in October 1940. Following his ordination on 16 June1949, Fr. Evangelist came to the United States as a teacher at St. Francis High School in La Cañada, California. In 1962, after serving in various places, Fr. Evangelist was appointed Pastor of Old Mission Santa Inés in Solvang, California. There he continued the work of restoration, promoting tours of the historic mission building, expanding parish organizations, and working on spiritual programs for parishioners. He served as superior of the Western United States mission custody from 1968 to 1974. He then moved on to serve at parishes in Burlingame, California, and in Roseburg and Bend in Oregon. In 1999, he returned to Santa Inés and to the San Lorenzo Prayer and Retreat Center, serving as spiritual director and bible study leader. He died on 26 March 2010 at San Lorenzo Seminary in California. He was buried in the cemetery adjoining the seminary.

Baptismal name: John Francis Kelly
Religious name: Fr. Evangelist Kelly OFM Cap.
Date of birth: 15 Sept. 1921
Place of birth: Clara, County Offaly (Diocese of Ossory)
Name of father: William Kelly
Name of mother: Elizabeth Kelly (née Deegan)
Date of reception into the Capuchin Order: 3 Oct.1940
Date of first profession: 4 Oct. 1941
Date of final profession: 4 Oct. 1944
Date of ordination (as priest): 16 June 1949
Educational attainments: BA, 1st class hons. (1944); MA, 1st class hons. (1945)
Leadership positions: Superior, Western United States mission custody, 1968-74
Missionary activities: Travelled to the Western United States mission on 5 Aug. 1949
Date of death: 26 Mar. 2010
Place of death: San Lorenzo Seminary, Santa Inés, California
Place of burial: Cemetery, San Lorenzo Seminary, Santa Inés, California