Photographic prints of Fr. David Kelleher OFM Cap. (1912-1995) and Fr. Ephrem O’Sullivan OFM Cap. (1904-1958) blessing a Holy Year Cross atop Muckish Mountain (Derryveagh Mountain Range, County Donegal) on the Feast of the Assumption (15 August) in 1951. The file includes a note written by Fr. David giving information on some of the people in one of the photographic prints. See also CA DL/6/10.
Photographic prints of the demolition of the old Ard Mhuire Friary in County Donegal. Some of the images also show the shell of the former Ards House and construction work on the new friary building and oratory. Several of the prints show the two buildings during the transition phase of construction of the new House of Studies and Ards Friary. A small number of the prints have annotations on the reverse: • ‘Ceiling of choir, in old house, Ards, a few days before it was demolished’. • ‘Demolition of old Ards House in progress’. • ‘Ards, Autumn 1964’.
Photographic prints of the interior (and High Altar) of the Oratory in Ard Mhuire Capuchin Friary in County Donegal. The prints have annotations on the reverse: ‘Fr. Augustine [Donal] O’Mahony OFM Cap.’ and ‘A. O’Shea, Art Studios, Letterkenny’. The prints were probably for publication in 'Eirigh', an Irish Capuchin periodical.
Photographic prints of exterior views of Ard Mhuire Friary and the Retreat Centre, Sheephaven Bay, County Donegal. Some of the images show the surrounding gardens and grounds (including a few images of snow-covered buildings). Some of the images are in the form of printed prayer cards.
Clipping from of an article titled ‘New Capuchin Home’ from 'The Father Mathew Record' (May 1930) referring to the opening of Ard Mhuire Capuchin Friary in County Donegal. The article reads: 'On the shores of Sheephaven Bay, there stands Ards House, the former home of the Stewart family. This house and adjoining estate have been in the hands of the Irish Land Commission, and the Capuchin Fathers purchased the residence and part of the surrounding land. … The house is large and commodious, and is in splendid condition, having been occupied until quite recently'. The file also includes a article titled 'The Brown Habit in Tirconaill again' published in the 'Franciscan Annals' (May 1930) and a copy of a poem by Máire Ní Shioradáin titled 'Failte', composed for the friars on assuming ownership of Ards House.
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.
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.
