Photographic prints showing the visit of Nelson Mandela to the Church of St. Mary of the Angels, Athlone, Cape Town, South Africa, on 12 September 1993. Mandela was accompanied by Allan Boesak. Some of the photographs are annotated on the reverse by the donors: James P. Rigney and Fr. Macartan Hyland OFM Cap. The photographs were printed in 'The Cape Argus' newspaper. The file also includes: • A description of the circumstances surrounding Mandela’s visit to Athlone Parish Church by Fr. Wilfrid Aherne OFM Cap. (1923-2004). • An annotated copy of the sermon preached on the occasion by Fr. Wilfrid Aherne OFM Cap. A copy of Mandela’s brief address after communion referring to the support offered by the local congregation during the apartheid era • The welcome address given by Huxley Joshua, a prominent member of the ANC in the locality. • Documents (including a copy newspaper cutting from 'The Southern Cross', 26 Sept. 1993) referring to the controversy over Mandela’s taking of communion during the Mass.
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.
A history of the Irish Capuchin mission in Northern Rhodesia (later Zambia) compiled by Fr. Luke Browne OFM Cap. (1920-2008). The history traces the history of the mission in a chronological format from 1930 to 1981. Particular attention is given to the arrival of missionary friars, the work of clerical and lay mission personnel, relations with local communities, the construction of mission stations, schools and hospitals in Barotseland (later the Western Province of the Republic of Zambia) and to various mission appointments and transfers. Fr. Luke arrived in Northern Rhodesia in 1948 and the text includes many of his personal recollections of the mission. The file also includes a copybook containing text in Irish by Fr. Luke recounting his initial experiences as a missionary from 1948-50.
Letter from Antoinette Reilly, Bord Fáilte, to Fr. Christopher Twomey OFM Cap. enclosing £200 in payment for permission to reproduce photographs of the plaster-work in Father Mathew Hall. With a copy of 'Ireland of the Welcomes', 49 (Mar.-Apr. 2000), which includes a feature on ‘Father Mathew Hall: A Celtic Revival Treasure’ by Nicola Gordon Bow (pp 14-21).
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.
Programmes for the Father Mathew Feis, Cork. The printed programmes include timetables and syllabuses of competitions, and souvenir publications. The programmes list the dates and times of the competitions and the names of the various judges and adjudicators. The following programmes are extant: 1927-8; 1932; 1937-8; 1941; 1946; 1961; 1963-4; 1968; 1971-9; 1980-9; 1990-9; 2000-13; 2015.
Copy letter from Roger Casement, Pentonville Prison, to his chaplain, Fr. E.F. Murnane, regarding the progress of his appeal against the indictment of high treason. With a letter (2 Aug. 1916) from E.F. Murnane, The Presbytery, Dockhead, [Bermondsey, London, S.E.], in the same hand, to George Gavan Duffy regarding Casement’s last hours. Includes a copy extract from a letter from the Prison Chaplain giving a brief account of Casement’s piety before his execution. The file also includes an original letter from Roger Casement, Wellington Club, Grosvenor Place, S.W., to Francis H. Cowper (16 Dec. 1903) declaring that all is well him ‘but fearful Congo row is brewing and I shall be the storm centre I fear’. He adds 'Give the brindled John my love and a kiss on his black nose. I wish I were in Lisbon now …’. The ‘brindled John’ was presumably a domestic cat or dog owned by Cowper; brindled referring to a specific type of patchy colouring most commonly associated with the patterned fur of cats. It is unknown how this letter was acquired by the Capuchin friars but it is likely that it was given to Fr. Albert Bibby OFM Cap. for safekeeping by an nationalist acquaintance.
