Copy circular letter from Fr. Kevin Moynihan OFM Cap., Provincial Minister, announcing the purchase of Ards House by the Capuchin Order. The letter reads:
'It is more than 350 years since the Franciscans laboured “for the glory of God, and the honour of Erin” in the historic Abbey of Donegal. Now they are returning and let us hope that this new Friary of the Order will be a centre of spiritual force, the influence of which will be felt, not only in Tirconaill, but in the whole of the north of Ireland'.
He also expresses his gratitude to Fr. Aloysius Travers OFM Cap. whose ‘untiring energy’ ensured the acquisition of the property. A note (added by Fr. Angelus Healy OFM Cap.) states that a meeting of the Provincial Definitory on 5 Mar. 1930 confirmed the plan to purchase of Ards House for a canonical foundation. It is also noted that Fr. Colman Griffin OFM Cap. was appointed guardian of the new foundation.
Correspondence Fr. Thomas Rocks OFM Cap., Guardian, Ard Mhuire Capuchin Friary, with Fr. Brendan O’Mahony OFM Cap., Provincial Minister, and Fr. Nicholas O’Brien OFM Cap., Provincial Secretary, mostly regarding property and financial matters pertaining to the Ards foundation. The subjects include improvements to the Friary and Retreat House, the potential sale of a tract of land called ‘Manus Lough’, the financial demands of the Ards community, the leasing of a camping site to the CBSI, and the potential lease of the disused pier at Sheephaven Bay. The file includes a schedule denoting the subventions from the Provincial (Central) Fund to the Ard Mhuire building fund from 1950-77. A letter (18 Feb. 1977) from Fr. Nicholas reads: 'The first agreement for the use of the pier (then known as “the flagstaff”) was made by the then Guardian – Fr. Cassian O’Shea, [who was guardian from 1937-43] with “Irish Minerals Co.” of Arklow. … And it was during this time that the pier as we know it today was constructed including the extension back to the friary grounds and the protecting wall – later the shed and repair workshop was added'.
Correspondence of Fr. David Kelleher OFM Cap. with P.J. McLoughlin & Company, Ardnacassa, Longford, Mount Salus Press Ltd., Sandymount, Dublin 4, and Aerofilms Ltd., 6 Elstree Way, Borehma Wood, Hertfordshire, re the taking of aerial photographs of Ard Mhuire Friary for reproduction in postcard prints.
Letters referring to a serious fire in Ard Mhuire Capuchin Friary on 10 Dec. 1944. The file includes a letter from the Most Rev. William McNeely, Bishop of Raphoe, to Fr. Andrew Carew OFM Cap. He wrote: 'After the terrible tragedy at Roddens’ here [in Letterkenny], our minds are very much on that kind of thing. And now Ards is next on the casualty list, followed by the nuns [Sisters of Mercy] of a house-burning at Moville. Everyone is now looking for the local chimney sweep, fearing the effects of turf fires on flews constructed for coal fuel'. The file also includes letters conveying thanks to An Garda Síochána at Creeslough and to the Derry City Fire Brigade.
Correspondence of Fr. Berchmans McCarthy OFM Cap, guardian, Ard Mhuire Friary, regarding his wishes for improvements in the Post Office delivery service in the Cashelmore district in County Donegal.
File relating to the proposal from Bord Fáilte to build a heritage and exhibition centre celebrating the life and times of St. Colmcille on the site of the Capuchin Retreat House at Ards, Creeslough, County Donegal. The correspondents include Fr. Fidelis O’Connell OFM Cap., Fr. Patrick Flynn OFM Cap., Fr. Eustace McSweeney OFM Cap., Provincial Minister, Fr. F.X. Martin OSA, and Dermot A. Walsh, Chairman, Donegal, Leitrim, Sligo Tourism. It was noted that the ‘location of Ards Friary for this project would ensure that the monastic theme would have a real and live meaning and would enhance the existing and well supported facilities’. The project was not ultimately realized.
Correspondence relating to the disposal of the books from the library of Ard Mhuire Friary. A letter from Fr. Eustace McSweeney OFM Cap. to Fr. Benedict Cullen OFM Cap. affirms that ‘Fr. Raymond Murray took all the books that you suggested for the Cardinal Ó Fiaich Library and Archive in Armagh’. Fr. Eustace confirmed that the books will be stamped as suggested. The file includes a copy letter from the Most Rev. Seán Brady, Archbishop of Armagh, expressing his gratitude to the friars ‘for the wonderful collection of books which you have gifted to the Cardinal Ó Fiaich Library and Archive. I understand that it is a very large collection of valuable books, many of great scholarly interest and value’.
Correspondence of Ronan Daly & Hayes, 12 South Mall, Cork, solicitors, with Fr. Nicholas O’Brien OFM Cap., Provincial Secretary, re an application for an order from the Charitable Commissioners vesting the Ard Mhuire Friary and adjoining lands (consisting of 167 acres 3 roods and 15 perches in the townland of Ards and 38 acres 2 roods in the townland of Rinnsligo, County Donegal) in new trustees (appointed by the FMC trust). Reference (19 Mar. 1976) is made by Fr. Nicholas to the difficulties in locating documents in relation to the purchase of the Ards property from the Irish Land Commission in 1930: 'A search made in the Provincial Archives revealed ecclesiastical documents only (sanction by the Holy See, the local Bishop etc.) I had enquiries made both here in Dublin and in Letterkenny of solicitors whose firms might have been involved in the sale negotiations, but the results were negative. It is possible that the deal was made directly with the representatives of the Land Commission'.
Correspondence of Fr. Berchmans McCarthy OFM Cap., guardian, Ard Mhuire Friary, with Bord Fáilte Éireann, re an application for a grant to widen the road above the Friary as it would be ‘immense benefit to tourism in the area’.
Correspondence (with invoices) of Fr. Berchmans McCarthy OFM Cap., guardian, Ard Mhuire Friary, with A.H. Masser Ltd., Kylemore Road, Dublin 10, re the installation of a washing machine.
