A compilation of recollections of Irish Capuchin friars compiled by an unknown author (but certainly written by another friar). The text contains miscellaneous remembrances and accounts of several friars including:
Fr. Laurence Dowling OFM Cap.
Fr. Cassian O’Shea OFM Cap.
Fr. Dermot O’Reilly OFM Cap.
‘The National Friars’ (Fr. Albert Bibby OFM Cap. and Fr. Dominic O’Connor OFM Cap.). Includes the text of a ‘short talk broadcast (in both news bulletins) by Fr. Michael O’Shea OFM Cap., from Saorstát Stations, October 18th’).
Fr. Matthew O’Connor OFM Cap.
Fr. Senan Moynihan OFM Cap. (references his editorship of ‘The Capuchin Annual’ and outlines his routine in terms of managing the publication and his several notable acquaintances).
Fr. Canice Bourke OFM Cap.
Fr. Maurice Dowd OFM Cap.
The second half of the volume appears to contain the texts of sermons or possibly retreat notes.
Ledger and account book for the Capuchin community at St. Mary of the Angels, Church Street. The ledger provides a daily record of income received and expenses incurred by the community. Notes are made of income derived from mass stipends, street collections, sodalities, Third Order payments and temperance publications. Reference is also made to monies received from donations, alms, bequests, and cheques. Expenses include travel tickets, lay staff wages, groceries, building repairs and other sundries. An entry from November 1908 refers to the payment of £30 to John Keogh for the completion of work on the Calvary at St. Mary of the Angels. The entries are periodically signed by the Friary Guardian and by the Provincial Minister at visitations.
Manuscript annotation on first page reads:
‘Particulars supplied to the Archbishop at his Grace’s request.
Church of St Mary of the Angels – building was begun June 12th 1868. Total cost including altar pulpit, altar rails, organ but not furniture was £60,000
Architect, James McCarthy
Contractors, Michael Meade & son.
The Sacred Heart Chapel built as an aisle church was begun in March 1908. Cost: £4,000.
Architects, Ashlin & Coleman
Contractors, Thomas Connolly’.
A later annotation (in the hand of Fr. Angelus Healy OFM Cap.) reads:
‘House ledger from October 1907 (Fr. Laurence Dowling, Guardian) to December 1929 (Fr. Angelus Healy, Guardian)’.
A List of Friary Guardians is supplied:
1907-1910, Fr. Laurence [Dowling]
1910-1913, Fr. Angelus [Healy]
1913-1916, Fr. Augustine [Hayden]
1916-1919, Fr. Fiacre [Brophy]
1919-1925, Fr. Benedict [Phelan]
1925-1928, Fr. Edward [Walsh]
1928-1931, Fr. Angelus [Healy]
1931-1934, Fr. Edward [Walsh]
Scale: 8 feet to 1 inch
Plan and elevation by George Coppinger Ashlin & Thomas Aloysius Coleman, architects, 7 Dawson Street, for the new Sacred Heart Chapel designed for Fr. Laurence Dowling OSFC, Guardian, Church Street. The Sacred Heart Chapel was an aisle-church addition to St. Mary of the Angels. Construction was begun in March 1908 and was completed a year later at a cost of £4,000. The contractors were W. Connolly & Son and plastering work was completed by John Ryan. The design includes a ground floor plan, a side elevation from the friary garden, a longitudinal section, a front elevation, and a cross section.
File of newspaper clippings mainly re various anniversaries and commemorations connected with Fr. Theobald Mathew OSFC and the temperance campaign. The file includes:
• ‘The Church’s Peril / Crusade against the drink evil / Glasgow’s Great Welcome to Father Hays’. [c.1905].
• ‘Temperance Legislation for Ireland / The Very Rev. Father Aloysius Travers OSFC’. [c.1912].
• ‘Father Mathew: Leader and Priest / Oration by Very Rev. Father Aloysius Travers OSFC’, 'Irish Catholic', 18 Oct. 1913.
• ‘Intemperance / Powerful Sermon by Fr. Laurence Dowling OSFC’. [c.1912].
• ‘Temperance Cause in Enniscorthy / A Capuchin Father on local topics’. [c.1912]. Refers to a sermon given by Fr. Laurence Dowling OFM Cap.
• ‘Twelve “Half-Ones” / Drunk by a youth of 17’.
• ‘Our Pioneer Column / Pioneer Total Abstinence Association of the Sacred Heart / Annual Meeting’, 'Irish Catholic', 14 Dec. 1912.
• ‘The Temperance Cause / Great Mission by Capuchin Fathers / Demonstration at Graigue, County Kilkenny’.
• ‘Father Mathew’s Day’ / Reminiscences of his visit to the United States’.
• ‘Total Abstinence in Scotland / The League of the Cross in Glasgow’, 'Glasgow Observer', 12 Sept. 1891.
• ‘Father Hays and the Apostolate of Temperance / Father Mathew’s work revived’. 26 Jan. 1901.
• ‘For Total Abstinence / The Rev. Thomas F. Burke CSP preaches in St. Joseph’s Cathedral’, 'The Hartford Daily Times', 7 Aug. 1901.
• ‘The Great Catholic Veteran / Right Rev. Monsignor Nugent’s Long Career’, 'The Monitor and New Era', 27 May 1904.
• ‘The Cause of Temperance / Demonstration in Ardmore’. Refers to a total abstinence mission given by Fr. Laurence Dowling OSFC.
Letters to Fr. Peter Bowe OSFC, Provincial Minister, Fr. Aloysius Travers OSFC, Fr. Stanislaus Kavanagh OSFC, Fr. Joseph Fenelon OSFC, Fr. Laurence Dowling OSFC and other Capuchin friars, regarding requests for parish missions and retreats. The file includes letters requesting missions in Quin (Clare), Tuam (Galway), Scariff (Clare), Belfast, Crossmaglen (Armagh), Scotstown (Monaghan), Schull (Cork), Frenchpark (Roscommon), Bunbeg (Donegal), Wicklow, and Castledermot (Carlow).
Letters to Fr. Peter Bowe OSFC, Provincial Minister, Fr. Edwin Fitzgibbon OSFC, Fr. Sylvester Mulligan OSFC, Fr. Laurence Dowling OSFC, Fr. Fiacre Brophy OSFC and other Capuchin friars regarding parish missions and retreats. Many of the requests from religious congregations and institutions. The letters refer to retreats in the South Parish (Cork), Eyrecourt (Galway), the Convent of the Poor Clares, Lynton (Devon), Our Lady of Sorrows Capuchin Friary, Peckham (London), Kilrooskey (Roscommon), Crosshaven (Cork), Athy (Kildare), Kinsale (Cork), the Sisters of Mercy Convent, Thurles (Tipperary), the Capuchin Friary, Pantasaph (Wales), Saint Alban’s Convent, Pontypool (Wales), Curragh Army Camp (Kildare), Dunfanaghy (Donegal), Dunmore East (Waterford), Bundoran (Donegal), Mooncoin (Kilkenny), Ballyshannon (Donegal), Sisters of Charity Convent (Dublin), Carmelite Convent, Tallaght (Dublin), Catholic Truth Society (Kerry), Loreto Convent, Navan (Meath), St. Joseph’s Daughters of the Cross Convent, Donaghmore (Tyrone), and the Little Sisters of the Poor Convent (Waterford).
Letter of William Kavanagh, brass plate engraver, 28 Wellington Quay, to Fr. Laurence Dowling OSFC, guardian, Church Street, referring to the designs and illustrations of brass memorial tablets for St. Mary of the Angels. With printed enclosure of various brass memorial templates which could be used.
Letter from W.M. Wooldridge to Fr. Laurence Dowling OFM Cap., Rochestown, County Cork. The letter discusses a recent meeting in Helena, Montana, with Bishop Brondel regarding the year-long proposal to establish a Catholic mission in Hinsdale. The bishop advised that because the Jesuit Order controls the territory, the matter must be referred to Rome; however, Wooldridge expressed a willingness to assist and suggested Father Laurence write to him directly. Additionally, the agent notes that local leading Catholics in Northern Montana are eager to co-operate, concluding that a thorough investigation would show widespread community support and that the bishop remains highly interested in developing the region.
Letter from W.M. Wooldridge to Fr. Laurence Dowling OFM Cap., Rochestown, County Cork. The letter outlines a proposal to establish a Catholic church and an industrial training school in the Milk River Valley in Montana. Wooldridge notes that while Bishop Brondel was initially hesitant due to a past incident with an unauthorized priest, the bishop has become supportive. The letter emphasizes the region’s rapid development, the strong presence of influential Catholic families, and the unique opportunity to build an educational institute that bridges the gap between common schools and universities. Wooldridge explicitly offers his cooperation, leveraging his position and connection with the Great Northern Immigration Department, and suggests that Father Laurence consult with a Mr. William Murphy to further discuss the valley’s potential.
Letter from W.M. Wooldridge to Fr. Laurence Dowling OFM Cap., Rochestown, County Cork. Wooldridge is described as an industrial agent for a railway company in Hinsdale, Valley County, Montana. The letter discusses the potential establishment of Irish priests in Montana, noting that the current local bishop has not taken kindly to the idea despite local interest. Wooldridge mentions discussing the matter with a well-known County Cork man, John McGuire, and expresses a strong desire to see Capuchin members establish a church and college in the rapidly developing Milk River Valley, where Catholic growth has stalled compared to other denominations. The letter closes with personal updates regarding local families.