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Complete copies of the 'Derry Journal' (15 Nov. 1966, 18 Nov. 1966 and 19 Nov. 1966), 'Donegal Press' (18 Nov. 1966), and 'Donegal Democrat' (18 Nov. 1966) which include extensive reportage on the opening of the new Ard Mhuire Friary and Capuchin House of Studies. Includes photographic prints of Bishop Anthony McFeely (1909-1986) blessing the new church and friary and various friars and attendees at the celebration. The file also includes some loose clippings of articles (from the 'Irish Press' and 'Irish Independent') covering the opening.

Clipping of an article titled ‘New Methods at Friary / Piers and retreats: a day’s work at Ards’ from the 'Donegal News' (17 Feb. 2017). The article refers to the closure (due to safety concerns) of the old pier alongside Ard Mhuire Friary.

Advertisements from the 'Irish Times' (5 Mar. 1927), the 'Londonderry Sentinel' (15 Dec. 1928) and the 'Derry Journal' (24 Apr. 1929) for the sale of ‘the well-known and historical mansion of Ards and its demesne’. The 'Irish Times' advertisement includes a brief account of the Stewart-Bam ownership of the estate. The 'Sentinel' article advertises a ‘two-day dispersal sale of stock, crop, farming implements’ and other sundries at the Ards Estate farmyard on 19-20 Dec. 1928. The 'Derry Journal' advertisement itemizes the contents of the house (including furniture, oil portraits, silver, linen and ‘an extensive library of books’) which will be offered for sale at a series of auctions from 6 May 1929.

Note by Fr. Stanislaus Kavanagh OFM Cap. re the existence of an apartment in the Ards House called ‘the Friar’s Room’. It reads:
'The morning after the building and property were taken over from the Land Commission Holy Mass was celebrated in the portion of the building assigned an oratory. In the course of the day one of the fathers remarked to the steward “I expect this is the first time Mass was said here”. The steward was doubtful and mentioned a tradition prevalent … [that] one of the apartments is called “The Friar’s Room”. The explanation given is that about 100 or 150 years ago a friar was accustomed to visit the family and inhabited that room. The steward presumed that when he came, he said Mass in the building'.

Notes compiled by Fr. Angelus Healy OFM Cap. and Fr. Stanislaus Kavanagh OFM Cap. on the history of Ards House and its acquisition by the Capuchin friars in 1930. Extensive reference is made to the previous occupiers of the estate:
'The Sampsons, the Wrays, the Stewarts, one of whom was married to Lady Isabella Toler, granddaughter of the notorious Lord Norbury are gone, and the Capuchin Fathers are in their ancient home. In the graveyard at Clondahorky, can be seen the grave of the second wife of the first Wray of Ards, and in the grounds of Ards, some trees recall the birthdays of members of the Stewart family. To the Capuchins however, a stronger appeal is made by a lonely tomb in the graveyard around Doe Castle, the last resting place of a Franciscan Friar, Rev. Father Dominick Curden “who departed this life August ye 17th. 1809, aged 85 yrs”'.
The file includes a newspaper cutting of a poem titled ‘On the return of the Brown-Robed Friars to Donegal’ by Bernard A. Furey.

File containing photographic prints of the old Ard Mhuire Friary (formerly Ards House), Creeslough, County Donegal. A small number of these prints were reproduced in 'A history of Ards' (1991) by Fr. David Kelleher OFM Cap. The file includes:
• A view of corn harvesting in August 1940. The photograph is captioned: Left to right: Paddy McGinley, Paddy Ward, Br. Ronan McCabe OFM Cap., Willie Barr and Anton McBride in the fields around Ard Mhuire Friary.
• A large crowd assembled at the front of Ard Mhuire Friary for a religious ceremony.
• The gates to the demesne of the Ards estate.
• ‘Rear view of Ards House’.
• ‘Ards House from the Flagpole’.
• Exterior (front) views of the gardens and the old Ard Mhuire Friary building.
• The statute of the Blessed Virgin Mary on the front lawn of the old Ard Mhuire Friary.
• Br. Louis O’Meara OFM Cap. turning the pages of the psalter in the choir (formerly Ards House dining room) in the old Ard Mhuire Friary.
• A Capuchin friar perusing the bookshelves in the library of the old Ard Mhuire Friary.
• A Capuchin friar talking to a lay individual at the portico entrance to the old Ard Mhuire Friary.
• Aerial view of the old Ard Mhuire Friary.
• Fr. Columban McGarry OFM Cap. (1901-1987) picking apples in the orchard in the old Ard Mhuire Friary.
• A view of the Friary from across Sheephaven Bay.
The file also includes a photoengraving plate (mounted on a wooden block) for a photographic image of the old Ard Mhuire Friary. One of the prints has a Christmas greeting from Br. Benedict Cullen OFM Cap. and Br. De Sales Cullen OFM Cap.

Clippings of articles from the 'Irish Catholic' and 'Ireland’s' Own titled ‘Only Capuchin Friary in the West / Ard Mhuire sees many changes’ and ‘In Praise of Ard Mhuire, Donegal’. The articles refer to the history of Ard Mhuire Friary and in particular to its transformation into a retreat and conference centre in the diocese of Raphoe.