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.
File of photographic prints of Capuchin friars (and students) at Ard Mhuire Friary in County Donegal. One of the prints shows Fr. Colman Griffin OFM Cap., guardian from 1930-7, with students in the community.
Group photograph of Capuchin friars at Holy Trinity Friary in Cork, marking the golden jubilee of Fr. John Butler OFM Cap. The group includes Fr. Kevin Moynihan OFM Cap., guardian of Rochestown Capuchin Friary, Fr. Colman Griffin OFM Cap., Provincial Minister, Fr. Flannan Downing OFM Cap., Fr. Stanislaus Kavanagh OFM Cap., Fr. Reginald O’Hanlon OFM Cap., Fr. Eunan Buckley OFM Cap., Fr. Brendan O’Callaghan OFM Cap., Fr. Thaddeus Field OFM Cap., Fr. Clement Connolly OFM Cap., Fr. Malachy Hynes OFM Cap., Fr. Edward Walsh OFM Cap., Br. Bernard Perry OFM Cap., Br. Crispin Brennan OFM Cap., Fr. Anslem Griffin OFM Cap. One of the prints is mounted on card and has a newspaper clipping identifying the friars present in the photograph. Photographer/Studio: 'Cork Examiner'.
Correspondence of Fr. Edwin Fitzgibbon OFM Cap., and Fr. Colman Griffin OFM Cap., with Robert F. Mahony, President, American Association for Recognition of the Irish Republic; Fr. Brendan O’Callaghan OFM Cap., Central Council of Irish County Associations; Eugene Twomey, Secretary, Fianna Fail, Inc., Irish Republican Party of America; Charles F. Tiernan; Joseph O’Byrne of the Fathers’ Albert & Dominic Committee; and the Irish American National Alliance. The letters refer to appeals from various Irish-American republican organizations calling for the repatriation to Ireland of the mortal remains of Fathers Albert Bibby OFM Cap. and Dominic O’Connor OFM Cap.
Certified copy probate of Kate Hannell Plunkett (d. 6 Jan. 1921). She bequeaths to her cousin, Kathleen Corcoran, a daughter of the late Michael Corcoran, manager of the Hibernian Bank Limited, Sackville Street, all her interest in the plot of ground formerly known as Thunder’s Court, Church Street, situated at the rear of 141 Church Street, now in the possession of the Capuchin friars. The probate was granted on 19 Feb. 1921. The copy is certified by O’Keeffe & Lynch, solicitors, 30 Molesworth Street, Dublin, 3 Dec. 1940. With copy conveyance by the said Kathleen Corcoran to Fr. Colman Griffin OFM Cap., Fr. Brendan O’Callaghan OFM Cap. and Fr. Charles Brophy OFM Cap., of said premises ‘now forming part of the grounds attached to the Catholic Church of St. Mary of the Angels, Church Street’, in consideration of the sum of £200. The copy conveyance is endorsed on the title page: ‘offered as altered on behalf of Kathleen Corcoran … 5 Dec. 1940’.
Photographic prints of the first community in Ard Mhuire Capuchin Friary. The copy print is annotated as follows: (left to right): Fr. Cassian O’Shea OFM Cap., Fr. Colman Griffin OFM Cap. (guardian), Fr. Felix Guihen OFM Cap. Standing: Fr. Andrew Carew OFM Cap. and Fr. Columban McGarry OFM Cap. The larger print is annotated as follows: seated: Br. Leopold (novice); Fr. Andrew; Fr. Colman (Guardian), Fr. Eunan, Br. Carthage. Standing: Br. Theodore (novice), Br. Robert (novice), Br. Norbert (novice), Fr. Eugene (Novice Master), Br. Evangelist (novice), Br. Colman (laybrother), Br. Roger (novice), Br. Alexius (laybrother), Br. John (tertiary).
Letters from Bishop Francis Henneman SAC (1882-1951), Vicar Apostolic of the Cape of Good Hope, Western District, later Vicar Apostolic of Cape Town, to Fr. Edwin Fitzgibbon OFM Cap. and Fr. Colman Griffin OFM Cap., Provincial Ministers. The letters refer to requests for the Irish Capuchins to take over missionary outstations including those at Matroosfontein and in the Welcome Estate.
Letters from the Most Rev. John Colburn Garner (1907-1993), Archbishop of Pretoria, to Fr. James O’Mahony OFM Cap. and Fr. Colman Griffin OFM Cap., Provincial Ministers, offering missionary work to the Irish Capuchins in the Archdiocese. The Archbishop offers the district of Rustenburg (5 Nov. 1948); Zeerust, near the boundary with Bechuanaland. He encloses a copy of an agreement between the Archdiocese and the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer (Redemptortists) re work in the township of Rustenburg (5 Apr. 1953); the district of Groblersdal (1 Aug. 1955).
Newspaper cuttings, ceremonial booklet and other documents relating to the consecration of Monsignor Timothy Phelim O’Shea OFM Cap. as Vicar Apostolic of Livingstone by the Most Rev. Ettore Felici, Apostolic Nuncio, at St. Mary of the Angels, Church Street, Dublin, on 8 September 1950. The attendees included President Sean T. O’Kelly, the Taoiseach, John A. Costello, and Éamon de Valera. The file includes cuttings of photographic prints of the consecration mass, the departure of Bishop O’Shea OFM Cap. from Dublin to return to Africa (with Fr. Colman Griffin OFM Cap., Provincial Minister). Includes cuttings from the 'Dublin Evening Mail' and the 'Irish Press'.
Letters of Fr. Oliver O’Hanlon OFM Cap. (1902-1957). The correspondents include Fr. Edwin Fitzgibbon OFM Cap., Provincial Minister; Fr. Kieran O’Callaghan OFM Cap., Provincial Secretary; Fr. Colman Griffin OFM Cap., Provincial Minister; Fr. Stanislaus Kavanagh OFM Cap.; Fr. James O’Mahony OFM Cap., Provincial Minister. Most of the correspondence relates to missionary activity in the parish of St. Monica’s, Parow, Cape Province, South Africa. The subjects include: arrangements for Fr. Oliver’s journey to South Africa on board the SS Adolf Woermann. (5 Mar.-22 May 1930); a request from Fr. Oliver to ensure that Parow parish is kept in addition to Athlone parish as it ‘contains the biggest coloured school in the vicariate’. (26 Feb. 1931); requests for mass stipends. (15 Jan. 1932); James Carlton Clarkein who wishes to join the Capuchin Order as a lay brother. (3 Mar. 1932); the resignation of Bishop Bernard Cornelius O’Riley, Vicar Apostolic of the Cape of Good Hope. Fr. Oliver wrote: ‘It is the best thing he could have done. He had not the necessary qualities to be a bishop of such vicariate as this’. (22 July 1932); requesting that Matroosfontein parish come under Capuchin ministry. (3 May 1934); the opening of a church in Matroosfontein. (17 Sept. 1935); the future of the Capuchin mission in the Cape Province. (28 May 1940); the difficulties of sending priests to the mission during wartime conditions. (15 Oct. 1940); the opportunity of establishing a mission in the Port Elizabeth Vicariate. (2 Aug. 1949). The file includes a rough sketch map of the Irish Capuchin Mission in the Cape Province. The map also indicates the distances between the various mission stations. With two photographic prints including one of Fr. Oliver O’Hanlon OFM Cap. The other may show his residence at Parow. References are also made to the following Capuchin friars: Fr. Seraphin Nesdale OFM Cap.; Fr. Casimir Butler OFM Cap.; Fr. Timothy Phelim O’Shea OFM Cap.; Fr. Alban Cullen OFM Cap.; Fr. Livinus Keane Cap.; Fr. Fintan Roche OFM Cap.; Fr. Timothy Connery OFM Cap.; Fr. Marcellus Carroll OFM Cap.
