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.
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.
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.
Accounts, publicity material (catalogue) and correspondence relating to the Foreign Missionary Exhibition held at 86 St. Stephen’s Green, Dublin, 17-25 June 1932. The official catalogue includes a list of items displayed by the friars relating to their missionary work in Africa and a photographic print of the Capuchin exhibition stand. The file also includes display cards and captions for the artefacts exhibited by the Capuchins at the event. The caption cards read as follows:
Witch Doctor’s Charms
Native Arrow
Royal Barge (Nalikwanda) / Paramount Chief and Four Paddlers
Native Dance Mask
Native Drum
Native Whip / (Made from the hide of the hippopotamus)
Model of Victoria Falls
Capuchin Mission Church, Livingstone, Northern Rhodesia
A Model of a Mission Compound
Drawings and Carving by Children / South Africa
Carving in Ivory / Barotseland, Northern Rhodesia
Native Hut used as church at first out-station
Model of Motor Lorry / made with a penknife by one of the natives
Model of Hospital / lent by Sodality of St. Peter Claver, 49 North Great George’s Street, Dublin
Booklet by Fr. Owen O’Sullivan OFM Cap. providing a brief history of the Irish Capuchin missions in Africa. The publication is divided into the following sections: A seed is sown; Key points in the Irish Capuchin Mission to South Africa; Irish Capuchin Mission in the Cape Flats; List of Capuchins on Missionary Work in Cape Town, March 1980; Growth and development of Missionary Work in Zambia; Mission stations in the Diocese of Livingstone; List of Capuchins involved in missionary work in the Diocese of Livingstone.
Photographs showing the visit of Dr. Hendrik Verwoerd (1901-1966), Minister of Bantu Affairs in the South African government (he was later Prime Minister), to the Holy Family Mission at Katima Mulilo in the Caprivi Strip (situated in present-day Namibia but then under South African control). A typescript note is extant in the file. It reads: ‘The purpose of his visit to the Mission was to assess the possible implications of implanting the infamous Bantu Education Act into the Caprivi where, at the time, all the schools were administered by the Capuchins with the aid of a very meagre subsidy from the S.A. government. Dr. Verwoerd (the “architect of apartheid”, was assassinated during his reign as Prime Minister) enforced the Bantu Education Act, in the late 1950s, as a means of preventing black South Africans from receiving an education anywhere near the standard enjoyed by other ethnic groups, e.g. whites and coloureds’. One of the photographs shows Verwoerd (identified with an 'X') with various religious including Bishop Timothy Phelim O’Shea OFM Cap. and Fr. Bartholomew Prendiville OFM Cap., superior of the Katima Mulilo Mission. See also CA AMI/2/10/3/110.
Notebook containing a record of the baptisms at the Loanja mission, Bartoseland, Northern Rhodesia. The record (which includes entries of adult baptisms and references to 'articulo mortis' or 'at the moment of death') was compiled by Fr. Seraphin Nesdale OFM Cap. (1897-1980). The entries are listed under local (birth) name, tribe, village, Christian name, date of baptism, minister officiating, date, and in some instances date of death and place of burial. The end pages of the volume also contain miscellaneous notes re baptisms at the mission. With manuscript annotations (in Irish) by Fr. Padraig Ó Cuill OFM Cap. re Fr. Seraphin.
Sem títuloDraft and copy particulars and conditions of sale of the leasehold interest in 47-50 North King Street, to be sold at Burke’s Great Rooms, 14 Upper Sackville Street, Dublin. The premises have a net rental profit of £64 1s 6½d. and are held under a lease for 9,000 years bearing the date of 1 July 1862 (See CA CS/2/2/4/13). The biddings note that Walter Murphy purchased the said premises from Fr. Lawrence Gallerani OSFC, Fr. Daniel Patrick. O’Reilly OSFC and Fr. James Edward Tommins OSFC for the sum of £570. With a poster (75 cm x 48 cm, OS printed on blue paper) advertising the said sale. The file also includes various legal documents drawn up to facilitate the sale including a schedule of taxes payable by the vendors on the properties; instructions for counsel regarding settling the conditions of sale; draft declaration from Fr. Daniel Patrick O’Reilly OSFC regarding title to the North King Street properties; Draft and copy assignment by Fr. Lawrence Gallerani OSFC and others to Walter and Daniel Murphy of the aforementioned premises. Nov. 1883; draft solicitor’s’ costs in preparing title and particulars of sale; correspondence of T. & C. Martin, James W. Nagle and Terence O’Reilly, solicitors, regarding efforts to trace title to the North King Street properties.
Leases by Ambrose Moore O’Ferrall, Balyna, County Kildare, to Fr. William (Paul) Neary OSFC, Fr. Nicholas Murphy OSFC, Fr. Patrick Joseph (Columbus) Maher OSFC and Fr. Joseph (Bernard) Jennings OSFC, St. Mary of the Angels, Church Street, Dublin, of the ‘houses known as number 133 and number 134 Church Street (old) with the yard at the rear thereof extending to Bow Street on which the house facing Bow Street and formerly known as number 27 on said street formerly stood … coloured green in the map delineated … [and] secondly the plot of ground on the east side of Bow Street on which the two houses formerly known as numbers 22 and 23 Bow Street stood, and also the plot of ground on which the Charity School formerly stood with passage thereto and on which the Presbytery attached to the Church of St. Mary of the Angels, Church Street, or a portion of it now stands … coloured pink in the map delineated’, for 300 years and in consideration of the sum of £719 12s 0d and at the yearly rent of £51 8s. With annexed hand-coloured map of the premises referred to in the said lease. Scale(s): 44 feet to 1 inch; 16 feet to 1 inch.
Conveyance of George Walsh to Fr. Nicholas Murphy OSFC and other Capuchin friars, Church Street, of 25 Bow Street, in consideration of the sum of £50. The deed has a small sketch of the properties referred to in lease. Two copies are extant in the file.