Clipping of an article titled ‘Coming of the Capuchin Franciscans’ published in the 'Donegal Democrat'. The article refers to the history of the Ards Estate and to the arrival of the Capuchin friars in Donegal in 1930. With a copy print of Ard Mhuire Friary and a group of Capuchin friars including Fr. Cassian O’Shea OFM Cap. (1897-1981), Fr. Columban McGarry OFM Cap. (1901-1987), Fr. Andrew Carew OFM Cap. (1902-1987) and Fr. Finbarr O’Callaghan OFM Cap. (1879-1963).
Views of Parow parish, Flats District, Cape Town, South Africa. The prints are annotated on the reverse: ‘This is Parow in the Cape Flats. We could build a church and convent in the foreground. … The orphanage is in the distance’. ‘Parow / the ground in front is Vicariate-owned. Building on left is church. The other buildings are the orphanage’. ‘Three of the coloured orphans at the little Oratory, Parow’. ‘Fr. Kelly’s Church in the heart of the Flats. Typical flat country with occasional roads thro it. But he has very few residents in such a place. He is very old now and I expect we shall be asked to take it later. He has his own house and four mission churches attached – all built by his own parishioners’ hands’.
A hand-coloured sketch of the emblem of the Catholic Boys’ Brigade, founded at the Capuchin Friary, Church Street, in March 1894. The legend or motto reads: ‘Valour and Innocence’. Two saintly figures (on the left St. Michael the Archangel, and on the right possibly St. Joseph, the patron saint of the organisation) stand between a Boys’ Brigade member. The Brigade member is identified by the standard uniform: a simple rosette and sash with a pillbox cap (a popular military cap of the day) worn over everyday clothing. Two drafts of the emblem are extant. The drafts vary slightly in composition. With a photographic print of the finished emblem. The photographic print (on card) was produced by W.F. O’Connor, 1 Wellington Quay, corner of Parliament Street, Dublin.
Annual reports of the Catholic Boys’ Brigade, Dublin. The reports mainly refer to the history and work of the organisation, the numbers of enrolments and to the on-going need for subscriptions from benefactors. The annual report for the year ending 1899 noted that ‘with regret we have had to refuse situations to well-deserving members, who through poverty or neglect, never enjoyed the advantage of being taught their letters. This terrible drawback … set us thinking as to how we might devise a plan, which would enable us to do something for these poor illiterate lads, and afford them an opportunity of at least a sound rudimentary education. It was with great therefore, that we saw our long-cherished wishes realised on the 10th October when we were able to open a much-needed "Night School" in connection with the Catholic Boys’ Brigade’.
Notices of meetings of the Catholic Boys’ Brigade Committee, Church Street. The file includes invitations requesting attendance at annual meetings which were held in the Brigade Hall, Church Street. The notices and resolutions are mainly signed by James J. Darragh, Honorary Secretary, and refer to routine administrative matters including the election of officers, expenditure and accounts, the arrangement of rooms and premises, the repair of the Hall, and various rules and constitutional matters. The file also includes the correspondence of Fr. Fiacre Brophy OSFC and James J. Darragh regarding a dispute within the committee regarding an amendment to rule 10 of the constitution which noted that the ‘Brigade shall be governed by the President assisted by a Capuchin Father as Vice President who shall be appointed by the President. … The President alone shall have authority in spiritual matters – the lay members being responsible for the financial affairs’.
Constitution of the Catholic Boys’ Brigade authorised under the patronage of the Most Rev. William J. Walsh, Archbishop of Dublin. One copy is endorsed on the front cover ‘Founded by Fr. Benvenutus Guy OFM Cap.’. The file contains eight copies of the document.
Photographic print of Our Lady’s Shrine in the garden of Holy Trinity Friary in Cork. An annotation on the reverse of one of the prints reads ‘Our Lady’s Shrine, end of garden, Holy Trinity, Cork’.
Bound volume containing photographic prints of student friars at the Ard Mhuire House of Studies. Some of the prints are captioned. The album includes images of student friars at work (potato harvesting, bailing hay and routine household work) and at recreation (theatrical plays, weekend retreats, sleighing on snow-covered hills, and visits to the beach). Locations visited by the friars include Burtonport, Errigal Mountain, Aranmore, Doe Castle, Fanad and Kindrum. The album contains several views of Ard Mhuire Friary (formerly Ards House) and surrounding gardens. A small number of prints show friars examining what appears to be un-exploded ordnance on the shoreline. Other prints show ordinations at Ard Mhuire in 1955. Fr. Eustace McSweeney OFM Cap. and Fr. Donal O’Mahony OFM Cap. are present in some of the prints.
Copy circular letter from Fr. Kevin Moynihan OFM Cap., Provincial Minister, announcing the purchase of Ards House by the Capuchin Order. The letter reads:
'It is more than 350 years since the Franciscans laboured “for the glory of God, and the honour of Erin” in the historic Abbey of Donegal. Now they are returning and let us hope that this new Friary of the Order will be a centre of spiritual force, the influence of which will be felt, not only in Tirconaill, but in the whole of the north of Ireland'.
He also expresses his gratitude to Fr. Aloysius Travers OFM Cap. whose ‘untiring energy’ ensured the acquisition of the property. A note (added by Fr. Angelus Healy OFM Cap.) states that a meeting of the Provincial Definitory on 5 Mar. 1930 confirmed the plan to purchase of Ards House for a canonical foundation. It is also noted that Fr. Colman Griffin OFM Cap. was appointed guardian of the new foundation.
Photographic prints of student friars in Ard Mhuire Friary in County Donegal. The file includes images of the students at recreation and prints of the Friary Church. A manuscript annotation on the reverse reads ‘Students, Ards’
