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.
Correspondence Fr. Thomas Rocks OFM Cap., Guardian, Ard Mhuire Capuchin Friary, with Fr. Brendan O’Mahony OFM Cap., Provincial Minister, and Fr. Nicholas O’Brien OFM Cap., Provincial Secretary, mostly regarding property and financial matters pertaining to the Ards foundation. The subjects include improvements to the Friary and Retreat House, the potential sale of a tract of land called ‘Manus Lough’, the financial demands of the Ards community, the leasing of a camping site to the CBSI, and the potential lease of the disused pier at Sheephaven Bay. The file includes a schedule denoting the subventions from the Provincial (Central) Fund to the Ard Mhuire building fund from 1950-77. A letter (18 Feb. 1977) from Fr. Nicholas reads: 'The first agreement for the use of the pier (then known as “the flagstaff”) was made by the then Guardian – Fr. Cassian O’Shea, [who was guardian from 1937-43] with “Irish Minerals Co.” of Arklow. … And it was during this time that the pier as we know it today was constructed including the extension back to the friary grounds and the protecting wall – later the shed and repair workshop was added'.
Correspondence (with invoices) of Fr. Berchmans McCarthy OFM Cap., guardian, Ard Mhuire Friary, with A.H. Masser Ltd., Kylemore Road, Dublin 10, re the installation of a washing machine.
Letters from P.J. McLoughlin & Co., builders and public works contractors, Ardnacassa, County Longford, re their work on the new Capuchin Friary and House of Studies at Ard Mhuire in County Donegal. Letter recipients include Fr. Conrad O’Donovan OFM Cap. and Fr. Nicholas O’Brien OFM Cap. Most of the letters are acknowledgments of payments received for contracted work on the building project.
File relating to the promotion of a series of Silver Circle draws in aid of the building fund for the new House of Studies and Ard Mhuire Friary, Cashelmore, County Donegal. The file includes letters (mainly from the local clergy) in support of the fund, promoters’ cards and ephemera, legal permits, and bank statements and receipts associated with the fund. The file also includes a list of parishes in Donegal in which the promotion of the fund was permitted.
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.
Letters referring to a serious fire in Ard Mhuire Capuchin Friary on 10 Dec. 1944. The file includes a letter from the Most Rev. William McNeely, Bishop of Raphoe, to Fr. Andrew Carew OFM Cap. He wrote: 'After the terrible tragedy at Roddens’ here [in Letterkenny], our minds are very much on that kind of thing. And now Ards is next on the casualty list, followed by the nuns [Sisters of Mercy] of a house-burning at Moville. Everyone is now looking for the local chimney sweep, fearing the effects of turf fires on flews constructed for coal fuel'. The file also includes letters conveying thanks to An Garda Síochána at Creeslough and to the Derry City Fire Brigade.
File relating to the establishment of a lay confraternity of the Third Order of St. Francis attached to Ard Mhuire Capuchin Friary. The file includes a letter from the Most Rev. William McFeely, Bishop of Raphoe, granting permission for the establishment of a branch of the Third Order of St. Francis.
Faculties from the Bishop of Raphoe for members of the Capuchin community, Ard Mhuire Friary, Creeslough, County Donegal. The file includes faculties for Fr. Thomas Rocks OFM Cap., Fr. Paul Murphy OFM Cap., Fr. Terence Harrington OFM Cap., Fr. Peter Banks OFM Cap., Fr. Christopher Twomey OFM Cap., and Fr. Desmond McNaboe OFM Cap.
Correspondence of Fr. Berchmans McCarthy OFM Cap, guardian, Ard Mhuire Friary, regarding his wishes for improvements in the Post Office delivery service in the Cashelmore district in County Donegal.
