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An article on the history of the Wray family in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. The Wrays were the owners of the Ards Estate before it was purchased by the Stewarts in 1781. It is noted that in about 1700 William Wray ‘bought 5,000 acres of land between Dunfanaghy and Doe from William Sampson’. The article adds: 'In 1781 the estate was sold to Mr Alexander Stewart, brother of the first Marquess of Londonderry and uncle of the infamous Lord Castlereagh, for the sum of £13,250 in order to meet the owner’s debts'. An appendix to the article includes some brief notes on the Stewarts of Ards compiled by Fr. T.J. Walsh, a diocesan priest in Cork.

A metal artefact (possibly a nameplate). The engraving on the plate reads: ‘IARGONNELL’. A covering note reads: ‘Artefact from walled gardens found by Br. Rufino Ferris OFM Cap. (South Africa) in the summer of 2006. Placed in this envelope by Br. Michael Duffy OFM Cap., 11th Jan. 2007’. The artefact probably dates to the occupation of Ards House by the Stewarts.

Brochure advertising the sale of Ards House and Estate. The brochure has photographic prints of Sheephaven Bay, Ards House, and the associated workmen’s cottages. It is noted that the sale includes 2,000 acres. Ards House comprises a stone-built Georgian style residence with ‘six reception rooms, a billiard room, 19 principal bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, a nursery suite, splendid servant’s quarters, ample garages and stabling, 20 cottages and beautiful pleasure grounds’. The brochure provides details on various facets of the property and notes that the owner (Lady Ena Stewart-Bam) ‘has been in negotiation with the Irish Land Commission, who are quite prepared to give every facility to an intending purchaser’. The agent is noted as Messrs Battersby & Co., 39 Westmoreland Street, Dublin. The brochure also notes:
• The sale of the historic ‘Doe Castle’ ruin with about 30 acres of demesne land.
• The potential sale of ‘furniture which includes some old and rare pieces and a valuable library’.
• That the ‘Ards Estate has been in the possession of the Stewart family for about 150 years. The first Stewart of Ards and the First Marquess of Londonderry were only brothers. The present head, Lady Stewart-Bam of Ards, is selling the property as her husband’s chief interests are in South Africa’.
• That the price for the freehold is £50,000 including sporting and fishing rights.

Photographic print of the female boarders at Coláiste Bríghde, Falcarragh, County Donegal. Coláiste Bríghde was one of four preparatory colleges founded between 1926 and 1929 to provide secondary education for aspiring primary school teachers. A manuscript annotation on the reverse reads ‘Coláiste Bríghde, Falcarragh, c.1944 / Chaplain, Fr. Danny Molloy’.

Colourized postcard print of the Catholic Church in Doe, Ballymore, County Donegal. It was published by S.R. Butler & Sons, Carndonagh, County Donegal.

Clipping of articles from 'The Tirconaill Tribune' titled ‘From Ballyvourney to Creeslough / Fr. David of Ards’ and ‘The Death of Fr. David, Ards Friary’ referring to the life of Fr. David Kelleher OFM Cap. The articles refer to Fr. David’s experiences as student in Rome during the Second World War, to his life as a friar in the old Ard Mhuire Friary, and to the history of Ards House and its occupants.

Photographic print of Fr. Nicholas O’Brien OFM Cap. and (on the left) Fr. David Kelleher OFM Cap. with the Most Rev. William MacNeely, Bishop of Raphoe (1888-1963), at Ard Mhuire Friary in County Donegal.

Photographic print of Fr. Nicholas O’Brien OFM Cap. and Godfrey Mannion OFM Cap. at Ard Mhuire Friary in County Donegal.

Photographic print of a group of Capuchin friars on the staircase in Ard Mhuire Friary (formerly Ards House). The group includes Br. Godfrey Mannion OFM Cap., Br. Dermot Barry OFM Cap., Br. Nicholas O’Brien OFM Cap., Br. David Kelleher OFM Cap., and Br. John Chrysostom O’Mahony OFM Cap.

Photographic print of Fr. Senan Dooley OFM Cap. and two other friars fishing on the beach at Sheephaven Bay near Ard Mhuire Friary in County Donegal. An manuscript annotation on the reverse of the print also makes reference to Fr. Pacificus Jennings OFM Cap.