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.
Correspondence relating to the disposal of the books from the library of Ard Mhuire Friary. A letter from Fr. Eustace McSweeney OFM Cap. to Fr. Benedict Cullen OFM Cap. affirms that ‘Fr. Raymond Murray took all the books that you suggested for the Cardinal Ó Fiaich Library and Archive in Armagh’. Fr. Eustace confirmed that the books will be stamped as suggested. The file includes a copy letter from the Most Rev. Seán Brady, Archbishop of Armagh, expressing his gratitude to the friars ‘for the wonderful collection of books which you have gifted to the Cardinal Ó Fiaich Library and Archive. I understand that it is a very large collection of valuable books, many of great scholarly interest and value’.
The series includes records relating to the use of Ard Mhuire Capuchin Friary as a retreat centre in the diocese of Raphoe. The section includes material pertaining to retreats given to both the diocesan clergy and other religious as well as lay people, parish communities and school groups.
Schedule and list of retreats at the Ard Mhuire Retreat Centre, Capuchin Friary, Creeslough, County Donegal. The list refers to the groups (both religious and lay) who have booked retreats in the Centre.
Fliers advertising the Ard Mhuire Retreat Centre, Creeslough, County Donegal. One of the fliers provides the programme for retreats from 1 Jan. 2005- 8 Dec. 2005. The fliers have photographic prints of the exterior of the Retreat Centre.
File containing photographic prints of the Stewart-Bam residence at Ards House, Creeslough, County Donegal. These are images of the residence (and former owners) before the Capuchin friars took possession of Ards House in 1930. Some of the prints were reproduced in 'A history of Ards' (1991) by Fr. David Kelleher OFM Cap. The file includes: • Copy print of the gardens at Ards House in 1859. Fr. David notes that this photograph was taken by David Knox (1821-1895). • Sir Pieter von Blommenstein Bam in the uniform of a Lieutenant Colonel during the Boer War in South Africa, c.1900. • The staff of Ards House in 1906. The photograph is annotated on the reverse with the names of the male and female servants. • Servants and staff welcoming the newly married Ena Dingwell Tasca Stewart-Bam and Sir Pieter von Blommenstein Bam (d. 20 Dec. 1928) at Ards House in 1910. The smaller copy of the print has the following annotation: ‘Taken over 20 years ago, at some kind of reception given to the Stewards by his tenants xx – Sir Peter and Lady Stewart. Arrow on photograph points to present gardener (W. Barr)’. • An original print of a group with two jarveys outside Ards House in about 1910. • Copy print of a sketch map of the Ards Estate Home Farm Offices, the property of A.J.R. Stewart. • Ena Dingwell Tasca Stewart-Bam on the front stairway in Ards House in c.1910. • A woman with a young child (presumably tenants) outside a cottage on the Ards Estate.
