An image of the ‘Irish Plane’ docked at Cape Town in South Africa. The ‘Irish Plane’ was built in 1949 by William Gray & Company in Hartlepool, England, for Irish Shipping Limited. This state-owned company was established in 1941, soon after the outbreak of the Second World War with the object of providing the ships necessary to supply Ireland’s import needs. The 'Irish Plane' served only a short number of years with the Irish Shipping company. It was sold to a Pakistani shipping firm in January 1960 and was eventually scrapped in Karachi in 1971
An image of Jamestown, the largest settlement on the island of Saint Helena. Fr. Jarlath Gough OFM Cap. (1902-1983) was the only resident Catholic priest on the island from 1957 to 1964. The Sacred Heart Church (built in 1852) in Jamestown is visible in the image. Fr. Jarlath's principal achievement was the restoration of this church. See also CA AMI/2/10/2/22, CA AMI/1/6/9 and CA AMI/2/14/1.
An image of a woman kissing the Blarney Stone. Blarney Castle is a fifteenth-century tower house located in County Cork. According to legend, kissing the stone (which is built into the battlements of the castle) bestows upon the person the gift of eloquence, flattery, and persuasiveness. Though earlier fortifications were built on the site, the current castle structure was constructed in 1446 by the MacCarthys of Muskerry, a branch of the Kings of Desmond.
A manuscript map showing the locations of stations and churches founded by Christian (mainly Protestant) denominations in Northern Rhodesia (now Zambia). A reference key gives the dates of arrival of the various congregations and groups in the country. The map is extant on p. 11 in the volume.
Photographic prints showing the visit of Nelson Mandela to the Church of St. Mary of the Angels, Athlone, Cape Town, South Africa, on 12 September 1993. Mandela was accompanied by Allan Boesak. Some of the photographs are annotated on the reverse by the donors: James P. Rigney and Fr. Macartan Hyland OFM Cap. The photographs were printed in 'The Cape Argus' newspaper. The file also includes: • A description of the circumstances surrounding Mandela’s visit to Athlone Parish Church by Fr. Wilfrid Aherne OFM Cap. (1923-2004). • An annotated copy of the sermon preached on the occasion by Fr. Wilfrid Aherne OFM Cap. A copy of Mandela’s brief address after communion referring to the support offered by the local congregation during the apartheid era • The welcome address given by Huxley Joshua, a prominent member of the ANC in the locality. • Documents (including a copy newspaper cutting from 'The Southern Cross', 26 Sept. 1993) referring to the controversy over Mandela’s taking of communion during the Mass.
A report on Irish Capuchin missions in the Cape Province at Parow, Matroosfontein, Athlone, and Langa. Reference is made to the building and staffing of churches, friaries, schools, and halls at these locations.
An image captioned 'Dominion Monarch / 1947'. The photograph shows a line-crossing ceremony on the ship, an initiation rite that commemorates a person's first crossing of the Equator. Built in England between 1937 and 1939, the 'Dominion Monarch' was a passenger liner which regularly operated services between Britain and ports in the southern hemisphere (particularly in South Africa, Australia and New Zealand).
