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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 of Ronan Daly & Hayes, 12 South Mall, Cork, solicitors, with Fr. Nicholas O’Brien OFM Cap., Provincial Secretary, re an application for an order from the Charitable Commissioners vesting the Ard Mhuire Friary and adjoining lands (consisting of 167 acres 3 roods and 15 perches in the townland of Ards and 38 acres 2 roods in the townland of Rinnsligo, County Donegal) in new trustees (appointed by the FMC trust). Reference (19 Mar. 1976) is made by Fr. Nicholas to the difficulties in locating documents in relation to the purchase of the Ards property from the Irish Land Commission in 1930:
'A search made in the Provincial Archives revealed ecclesiastical documents only (sanction by the Holy See, the local Bishop etc.) I had enquiries made both here in Dublin and in Letterkenny of solicitors whose firms might have been involved in the sale negotiations, but the results were negative. It is possible that the deal was made directly with the representatives of the Land Commission'.

Photographic print of Fr. Nicholas O’Brien OFM Cap. and newly ordained Capuchin priests at Ard Mhuire Friary in County Donegal.

Letters from the Most Rev. Anthony McFeely, Bishop of Raphoe (1909-1986), to Fr. Nicholas O’Brien OFM Cap. and Fr. Berard Creed OFM Cap. thanking the Capuchin friars for placing Ard Mhuire at the disposal of diocesan priests for their annual retreats. Bishop McFeely also refers to the plans for the Friary. He writes: ‘We understand, of course, that the future of Ards presents you with a difficult problem; we only hope that the Fathers can remain’.

Letters from James Sheehan, chartered quality surveyor, 20 South Mall, Cork, J. Varming & S. Mulcahy, consulting engineers, 4 Northbrook Road, Dublin 6, Gunning & Son Ltd., ecclesiastical art manufacturers and church furnishers, 18 Fleet Street, Dublin 2, Murphy-Devitt Studios, stained glass manufacturers, 63 Carysfort Avenue, Blackrock, Dublin, and J & C McLoughlin, constructional engineers, Jamestown Road, Inchicore, Dublin 8, re payments for the building, furnishing and decoration of the new Ard Mhuire Friary and Capuchin House of Studies. The recipients include Fr. Conrad O’Donovan OFM Cap. and Fr. Nicholas O’Brien OFM Cap.

Correspondence regarding the sale of properties in Kilkenny city formerly held in trust by the late Fr. Thomas (Hilary) McDonagh OFM Cap. and subsequently held by the FMC Trust. The file specifically relates to the sale to Thomas J. Barrett of a three-storey building over a ground floor shop located at No. 19 Rose Inn Street, The Parade, Kilkenny, and to a house situated at No. 1 Castlecomer Road. The correspondents include Fr. Daniel (Nicholas) O’Brien OFM Cap., secretary of the FMC Trust, John Lanigan & Nolan, solicitors, Donal O’Buachalla, valuers and estate agents, and John Stanton & Sons, solicitors. With manuscript notes regarding title to the said properties which John Lanigan affirms is ‘rather “messy” as most of the deeds appear to have been lost’ (5 Jan. 1972).