For information on William Wray (1708-c.1789), a former owner of the Ards estate, see:
https://www.askaboutireland.ie/reading-room/environment-geography/transport/roads-bridges-in-county-d/road-works-ahead/
For biographical information on Alexander Stewart (1746-1831), a former owner of the Ards estate, see http://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1790-1820/member/stewart-alexander-ii-1746-1831
See also:
http://lordbelmontinnorthernireland.blogspot.com/2014/06/ards-house.html
For biographical information on Lady Ena Dingwall Tasca Stewart (1885-1945) see:
https://www.ebooksread.com/authors-eng/edward-walford/the-county-families-of-the-united-kingdom-or-royal-manual-of-the-titled-and-un-fla/page-341-the-county-families-of-the-united-kingdom-or-royal-manual-of-the-titled-and-un-fla.shtml
For biographical information on John Hargrave (c.1788-1833), the architect of Ards House, see:
https://www.dia.ie/architects/view/817/HARGRAVE-JOHN#tab_biography
For biographical information on Sir Pieter Canzius Blommestein Bam (1869-1928) see:
https://af.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pieter_Bam
See also: https://www.greatwarforum.org/topic/70178-commanding-officer-7th-londons/
For information on Ards Forest Park, managed by Coillite, the state-run forestry body, see: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ards_Forest_Park
For biographical information on James Rupert Boyd Barrett (c.1904-1976), the architect responsible for design of the present-day Ard Mhuire Capuchin Friary and the adjoining Retreat House, see: https://www.dia.ie/architects/view/262/BARRETT,+JAMES+RUPERT+EDWARD+BOYD#tab_biography
For more information on the Ards Friary Retreat and Conference Centre see http://www.ardsfriary.ie/
Published
IE CA DL
In March 1930 the Capuchin Franciscans purchased Ards House near Creeslough in County Donegal. The Order procured Ards House and its 100-acre demesne from the Irish Land Commission who had acquired the estate from its previous owners, the Stewart-Bam family. The Ards estate, situated on a sheltered inlet of Sheephaven Bay, had a long history. The picturesque and mostly forested estate, located about fourteen miles from Letterkenny, was acquired by the Wrays, Williamite settlers from Yorkshire, in about 1700. The original house at Ards was constructed by the Wray family in 1710. In the eighteenth century, William Wray was described as ‘a celebrated figure, eccentric and autocratic, though kind and generous’. As a consequence of his extravagance and accumulating debts, William Wray was forced to sell his estate at Ards for £13,250 to Alexander Stewart (1746-1831) in 1781. Stewart was a younger brother of Robert Stewart, First Marquess of Londonderry (1739-1821), and an uncle of the renowned statesman, Robert Stewart, Viscount Castlereagh (1769-1822). Alexander Stewart served as High Sheriff of County Donegal from 1791-2, was a Member of Parliament from 1814-8, and was an owner of extensive properties at Ards, Doe Castle, Dunfanaghy, and in Letterkenny in County Donegal. He carried out extensive renovations to the Wray estate and towards the end of his life rebuilt Ards House into a two-storied Georgian mansion with an elaborate façade and expansive interior public rooms. The house was designed by John Hargrave (c.1788-1833) and was completed in about 1830. By the early twentieth century ownership of the Ards estate had passed to Lady Ena Dingwall Tasca Stewart (1885-1945) who inherited the property from her grandfather in 1904. In 1910, Lady Ena Stewart married Sir Pieter Canzius Blommestein Bam (1869-1928), a South African soldier, politician and businessman. From this point on, the property was known as the Stewart-Bam estate. Ards House and its 2,000-acre estate remained in the family’s possession until its acquisition by the Irish Land Commission in 1926.
The Commission assigned the northern portion of the estate to the Department of Lands for afforestation. This portion of the estate, covering over 1,200 acres, is now managed by Coillite, the state-run forestry body, as Ards Forest Park, which is an important tourist and public amenity in the locality. The remaining portion of the former Stewart-Bam estate was divided among tenants. Ards House and its demesne of over 100 acres was left unoccupied and gradually fell into disrepair. About this time, the Irish Capuchins were seeking a suitable location for a novitiate for the education of friars and students. In March 1930 the Capuchins purchased Ards House from the Irish Land Commission for £4,500. Extracts from the minute book of the Irish Capuchin Provincial Council provides some further detail:
'7 February 1930
It was decided that, the permission of the Bishop of Raphoe having been obtained for a foundation in his Diocese, to purchase Ards House and a portion of the demesne from the Irish Land Commission and to apply to Rome for sanction.
5 March 1930
It was decided that the purchase of Ards House in the Diocese of Raphoe for a canonical foundation be completed immediately and that provision be made for heating, lighting, and furnishing it and that Fr. Colman Griffin OFM Cap. be appointed Guardian of the new foundation, which will be known as Ard Mhuire Friary, dedicated to the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary'.
The first community in the newly established Ard Mhuire Friary consisted of the above-mentioned Fr. Colman Griffin OFM Cap., who was joined by Fr. Peter Kelleher OFM Cap. and Fr. Andrew Carew OFM Cap. Ards House, while solidly built (some of its stone walls were nearly three feet thick), was apparently not as commodious as exterior appearance would lead one to believe. It was also evident that the interior layout and facilities would require significant adaption to suit the needs of a religious community. An article on the history of Ard Mhuire provides the following details on the challenges facing the friars upon their arrival in Donegal:
'Fr. Colman, recalling their arrival, said they found the place under a mantle of snow (it was mid-March 1930). In every way, it was a rather dismal, depressing scene. Ards House had been vacant for a long time, the only occupiers being Paddy and Mrs O’Brien, who had shared the care-taking chores. In the intense cold, the absence of heating and lighting offered a cheerless prospect. The solitary concession was a fire in one room. They had brought bedding, but settling down in unaired, damp-ridden rooms posed a hazard to health. … First priority was an internal restructuring to comply with the needs of community life. What had been a room for dancing was converted into an oratory where Mass was celebrated. Gradually, the transformation took place, two massive mantle pieces which had to be removed were later erected in Glenveigh Castle. It was the same outside. The expansive grounds had been neglected for years, resembling a wilderness; roads and paths were blocked by fallen trees. … Progress was satisfactory enough to have the first novices brought to Ard Mhuire in January 1931. Bit by bit, the community, supported and encouraged by the local people, changed the former manor house into a friary that lacked none of the essentials'. (CA DL/6/22).
Ard Mhuire Friary quickly developed as focal point for the education of Capuchin friars for the priesthood as the Order’s novitiate and later as a house of theology. It was at Ard Mhuire where Capuchin clerical students spent their final four years of training before ordination. The entire course of their training took at least eight years from the completion of secondary school studies, with a year-long novitiate, three to four years of philosophy scholarship at university and a final four years of theological studies at Ard Mhuire. In the 1950s an increase in the number of vocations made it necessary to find more space at Ard Mhuire. It also became evident that the former Ards House would require extensive renovations. A serious fire in December 1944 had caused significant damage to the old mansion (see CA DL/3/10) and it was clear that the building would need substantial repair work. The condition of the old friary had by this point deteriorated considerably. The roof was developing cracks and the oldest part of the building, the elaborate façade, was physically crumbling. Three separate plans were drawn up for proposed alterations to the existing building, but all proved unsatisfactory. A decision was therefore made to build a new friary and house of studies along with a public church able to accommodate three hundred worshippers. Designs for the new buildings by the architect, James Rupert Boyd Barrett (c.1904-1976), were approved and the new friary and church were formerly opened on 13 November 1966. The old friary building was demolished shortly afterwards. The new buildings cost over £200,000 to complete. Money for the project was gathered through missions in the United States as well as subventions from the Order’s leadership in Rome. There were also several bequests and further donations. A collection in the diocese of Raphoe raised a total of £16,000. The new house of studies at Ard Mhuire provided accommodation for forty students, eight priests and six lay brothers. The new chapel was designed to meet the demands of the liturgical requirements of the Second Vatican Council with provision made for the con-celebration of Mass and an extensive sanctuary specifically designed for ordination ceremonies.
In September 1972 the Irish Capuchins decided to centralize theological studies and transfer their novices to Dublin. In the wake of the Second Vatican Council, it was felt that the Ard Mhuire was too remote and that friars studying for new forms of ministry should live in locations which offered more scope for and access to different kinds of social and pastoral work. This change had obvious implications for the future of Ard Mhuire which would now have a vastly diminished community of friars. During the forty-one years in which theological studies continued in the Donegal friary, one hundred and ninety-two students were ordained to the priesthood. Many of these friars went on to minister in overseas missions, mainly in the United States and in Africa where the Irish Capuchins had established custodies. Concerns were expressed by the then Bishop of Raphoe, Anthony McFeely (1909-1986), that Ard Mhuire would be closed and that the Capuchins would leave Donegal. At the Capuchin Provincial Chapter in 1973, it was decided to explore alternative pastoral and social uses for the Ard Mhuire foundation. In the summer of 1974, Ards Friary opened as a retreat house for use by both religious and lay communities. More attention was also paid to the use of the friary’s grounds as a public amenity. The old walled gardens of the former estate and the adjoining forest walks had been open to the public since the Capuchins acquired Ards House in 1930 and from 1972 the friary itself was opened up for various uses including social events for local lay organisations, outreach and fundraising conferences, and functions for charitable and religious purposes. In 2002 a new reception area and coffee shop were added. At the end of 2006 changes were made in relation to the management of the conference and retreat centre which ensured a greater role for the clergy of the diocese of Raphoe. Extensive renovations were made to the centre from 2007 to 2013 with the costs borne by the local diocese. Today, Ard Mhuire serves as the retreat and conference centre of the diocese of Raphoe. Priests and religious from many congregations and dioceses continue to make use of the centre for retreats. Ards Friary also offers conferences amenities for lay organizations with an emphasis on facilitating periods of rest, relaxation, reflection, prayer and vacation.
Collection Content
The collection consists of records relating to the Capuchin Franciscan community in Donegal and in particular to the foundation known as Ard Mhuire Friary (or Ards Friary) located near Creeslough in the county. Most of the records post-date 1930 when the Capuchins acquired ownership of Ards House, the former Stewart-Bam mansion, which they re-named Ard Mhuire and transformed into a theological seminary. The fonds includes legal records relating to the acquisition of Ards House from the Irish Land Commission, financial and business records, and photographic records assembled by individual members of the Capuchin community residing at Ard Mhuire. The collection also contains records relating to physical alterations to the Ard Mhuire foundation including correspondence, architectural plans and financial records relating to the construction of a new friary and house of studies on the existing site in the 1960s. Other records in the collection relate to Ard Mhuire’s use (particularly from 1972 onward) as a retreat and conference centre in the diocese of Raphoe. The fonds also contains historical research, newspaper clippings, photographic records and ephemera compiled by various Capuchin friars relating to the history of the locality including material on the previous owners of Ards House in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Much of this historical research was amassed by Fr. David Kelleher OFM Cap. (1912-1995) who spent nearly sixty years of his ministry as a Capuchin friar at Ard Mhuire.
The material has been catalogued (2019) and a new arrangement has been imposed upon the fonds. The collection has been divided into eight principal series. One of the series (relating to property and lands) has been further divided into three sub-series. The papers in each of the sub-series represent either a particular area of activity, a subject or a specific document or record type and have been arranged accordingly. Within the various divisions all the papers have been arranged chronologically.
The papers are generally in good condition
The Papers of the Stewart-Bam family, the owners of Ards House (later Ard Mhuire Capuchin Friary), are held in the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland (D4137 and D2784/19). See introduction and guide to the collection at https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/publications/introduction-stewart-bam-papers
Access is open to bona fide researchers. Records containing personal information are subject to access restrictions.
Descriptive catalogue
Captain Francis McCullagh, ‘The Return of the Franciscans to Tyrconnell’, 'The Capuchin Annual' (1931), pp 33-8. https://designrr.page/?id=315535&token=1645072556&type=FP&h=9858
Fr. David Kelleher OFM Cap., ‘Ard Mhuire, County Donegal’ in Fr. Nessan Shaw OFM Cap. (ed.), 'The Irish Capuchins / Record of Century / 1885-1985' (Dublin, 1985), pp 104-7.
Fr. David Kelleher OFM Cap., 'A History of Ards' (Ard Mhuire Capuchin Friary, Creeslough, 1991).
https://catalogue.nli.ie/Record/vtls000257723
For more on access to the Irish Land Commission collection see https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/treasure-trove-includes-record-for-almost-all-land-in-ireland-1.4762067
Published
The series contains documents relating to the sale of Ards House and its 2,000-acre estate by the Stewart-Bam family. The estate was acquired by the Irish Land Commission in 1926. The Capuchin Franciscans purchased Ards House and a portion of its demesne in 1930 and converted it for use as a friary and theological seminary.
Published
Brochure advertising the sale of Ards House and Estate. The brochure has photographic prints of Sheephaven Bay, Ards House, and the associated workmen’s cottages. It is noted that the sale includes 2,000 acres. Ards House comprises a stone-built Georgian style residence with ‘six reception rooms, a billiard room, 19 principal bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, a nursery suite, splendid servant’s quarters, ample garages and stabling, 20 cottages and beautiful pleasure grounds’. The brochure provides details on various facets of the property and notes that the owner (Lady Ena Stewart-Bam) ‘has been in negotiation with the Irish Land Commission, who are quite prepared to give every facility to an intending purchaser’. The agent is noted as Messrs Battersby & Co., 39 Westmoreland Street, Dublin. The brochure also notes:
• The sale of the historic ‘Doe Castle’ ruin with about 30 acres of demesne land.
• The potential sale of ‘furniture which includes some old and rare pieces and a valuable library’.
• That the ‘Ards Estate has been in the possession of the Stewart family for about 150 years. The first Stewart of Ards and the First Marquess of Londonderry were only brothers. The present head, Lady Stewart-Bam of Ards, is selling the property as her husband’s chief interests are in South Africa’.
• That the price for the freehold is £50,000 including sporting and fishing rights.
A 'Catalogue of the valuable library of books to be sold by auction, commencing on Thursday, 9th May, 1929 ... at Ards House, Dunfanaghy, Co. Donegal / the residence of Lady Stewart-Bam' is extant in the National Library of Ireland. https://catalogue.nli.ie/Record/vtls000435713
Published
Advertisements from the 'Irish Times' (5 Mar. 1927), the 'Londonderry Sentinel' (15 Dec. 1928) and the 'Derry Journal' (24 Apr. 1929) for the sale of ‘the well-known and historical mansion of Ards and its demesne’. The 'Irish Times' advertisement includes a brief account of the Stewart-Bam ownership of the estate. The 'Sentinel' article advertises a ‘two-day dispersal sale of stock, crop, farming implements’ and other sundries at the Ards Estate farmyard on 19-20 Dec. 1928. The 'Derry Journal' advertisement itemizes the contents of the house (including furniture, oil portraits, silver, linen and ‘an extensive library of books’) which will be offered for sale at a series of auctions from 6 May 1929.
Published
Letters from the Most Rev. William MacNeely, Bishop of Raphoe (1888-1963), to Fr. Aloysius Travers OFM Cap. re arrangements for the purchase of Ards House by the Capuchins. A letter of 1 Mar. 1930 expresses his pleasure on hearing that ‘negotiations with the Land Commission have been successful. About the time of taking over the property, really it does not matter; just make arrangements as you consider convenient’. A letter on 18 Mar. 1930 affirms that the friars ‘may fix up an Oratory at once … as soon as things are in order’.
Published
File relating to the purchase of Ards House and a portion of the former Stewart-Bam estate by the Irish Land Commission to the Capuchin friars. The purchase (for £5,500) was finalized in April 1930. The file includes valuation reports, receipts (from the Irish Catholic Church Property Insurance Ltd.) and correspondence with the Land Registry Office, solicitors and the National Bank Ltd. Letters from the Forestry Department refer to the proposed acquisition of a portion (33 acres) of the lands adjoining Ards House for £330.
Christopher Boyle was born in the town of Boyle in County Roscommon on 30 May 1877. He joined the Irish Capuchins in October 1896 and took Kevin as his religious name. He obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree from the Royal University in Cork in 1901. Following his theological studies, he was ordained to the priesthood on 28 September 1902. There followed further academic studies at the Catholic University of Louvain in Belgium where he was awarded a Doctorate in Philosophy. In 1907 he was appointed guardian (local superior) of Rochestown Friary in County Cork. Three years later he was appointed Rector of the Seraphic College at Rochestown. In 1919 he assumed the role of master of novices. He was five times elected Provincial Definitor (Councillor) and held the office of Provincial Minister of the Irish Capuchins from 1928 to 1931. His term of office as Provincial Minister witnessed the opening of Ard Mhuire Friary in County Donegal (for the training of cleric novices) in 1930, and the establishment of a foreign mission in Barotseland, a vast territory located in Northern Rhodesia (now Zambia) in 1931. Fr. Kevin spent most of his life in ministry in Rochestown holding various offices including guardian, director of students and professor of theology. He died (suddenly) at St. Bonaventure’s Friary in Cork on 20 January 1959. He was buried in the cemetery adjoining Rochestown Friary.
Baptismal name: Christopher Moynihan
Religious name: Fr. Kevin Moynihan OFM Cap.
Date of birth: 30 May 1877
Place of birth: Boyle, County Roscommon (Diocese of Elphin)
Name of father: Michael Moynihan
Name of mother: Margaret Moynihan (née Murphy)
Date of reception into the Capuchin Order: 4 Oct. 1896
Date of first profession: 4 Oct. 1897
Date of final profession: 2 Aug. 1902
Date of ordination (as priest): 28 Sept. 1902
Educational attainments: BA, RUI (1901); PhD, Catholic University of Louvain
Leadership positions: Provincial Definitor (Councillor), 1910-3, 1913-6, 1919-21, 1940-3, 1943-6; Provincial Minister, 1928-31; Custos General, 1931-4.
Date of death: 20 Jan. 1959
Place of death: St. Bonaventure’s Capuchin Friary, Cork
Place of burial: Cemetery, Rochestown Capuchin Friary, County Cork
Published
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.
Published
This section includes legal records relating to the management of properties at Ard Mhuire Capuchin Friary. The series also includes papers relating to the construction, renovation and repair history of Ards Friary and the Capuchin House of Studies. A sub-series includes correspondence, architectural plans, and financial records relating to the construction of a new friary and theological seminary on the existing Ard Mhuire site in the 1960s.
Published
Published
File relating to an application seeking a remission on the valuation (and rates) paid on Ard Mhuire Friary. It is noted that the Friary ‘is used exclusively as a theological training centre for the Capuchin Franciscan Order, which is a charitable religious organization, in which students are prepared for the missionary and apostolic work of the Order, both at home and abroad’. The correspondents include Fr. Berchmans McCarthy OFM Cap., guardian, Donegal County Council, James P. Sweeney, Falcarragh, County Donegal, solicitor, and Donal O’Buachalla & Co., property consultant, 86 Merrion Square, Dublin 2. The file includes demand notices (and receipts) for rate payments.
Published
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'.
Published
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'.
Published
Letters from James P. Sweeney & Co., Falcarragh, Letterkenny, County Donegal, solicitors, and Seán Ó hUadhaigh & Son, 20 Eden Quay, Dublin, solicitors, re negotiations for the sale of cottage and plots of lands at Ards, Creeslough, to Anne Green and Monica Cassidy. The correspondence refers to the need for consent forms from the Commissioner of Charitable Donations and Bequests, information re title from the Land Registry, and a memorandum and articles re the vesting of certain lands at Ards with named trustees of the FMC Trust (enclosed).
Published
Draft lease from Fr. Patrick Flynn OFM Cap., Guardian, Ard Mhuire Capuchin Friary, County Donegal, to Brendan McFadden, Greenhill, Dunfanaghy, County Donegal, of a portion of lands for five years at an annual rent of £1,550. With draft instructions for the ‘letting of land and farm buildings at Ards’.
Published
File relating to the proposal from Bord Fáilte to build a heritage and exhibition centre celebrating the life and times of St. Colmcille on the site of the Capuchin Retreat House at Ards, Creeslough, County Donegal. The correspondents include Fr. Fidelis O’Connell OFM Cap., Fr. Patrick Flynn OFM Cap., Fr. Eustace McSweeney OFM Cap., Provincial Minister, Fr. F.X. Martin OSA, and Dermot A. Walsh, Chairman, Donegal, Leitrim, Sligo Tourism. It was noted that the ‘location of Ards Friary for this project would ensure that the monastic theme would have a real and live meaning and would enhance the existing and well supported facilities’. The project was not ultimately realized.
Published
Form more information on Hugh A. Law (1872-1943) see https://www.photoalbumoftheirish.com/law-county-galway/ldonegalmuseum008-2/
Published
Letter from Hugh A. Law (1872-1943), Marble Hill, County Donegal, to Fr. Colman Griffin OFM Cap., guardian, Ard Mhuire Friary, seeking permission to place trout fry in a lake located on the friary estate.
Published
Specifications for a local government land improvement scheme for the Ards estate. Includes sketch maps of the old friary residence and adjoining farmyard with a legend indicating the scrub-land to be removed and the existing drainage system. The specification and map were sent to the guardian of Ard Mhuire Capuchin Friary.
Published
Copy extract from the Register of Freeholders re ‘a right to pass and repass on foot and with horses or other animals … over parts of the lands of Cashelmore and Doocashel Glebe’ in County Donegal. It is noted that the Capuchin friars are the owners of these lands by a deed registered on 14 Jan. 1931.
Published
File of documents (mainly from the County Donegal Committee of Agriculture) re a scheme to encourage landholders to plant trees on their lands in the county. The file includes information sheets and blank application forms relating to the proposal to plant conifers for a ‘shelter belt scheme in arable fields which cannot be cultivated in the usual way, on steep banks or hillsides, rocky or broken ground practically bare of vegetation, … and in swamps and bogs which cannot be reclaimed for agricultural purposes’. The file also includes a letter from A.M.S. Hanan re an article for the Royal Forestry Society on ‘southern hemisphere conifers in Ireland’ (12 Feb. 1970).
Published
Correspondence (with invoices) of Fr. Berchmans McCarthy OFM Cap., guardian, Ard Mhuire Friary, with A.H. Masser Ltd., Kylemore Road, Dublin 10, re the installation of a washing machine.
Published
Correspondence of Fr. Berchmans McCarthy OFM Cap., guardian, Ard Mhuire Friary, with Bord Fáilte Éireann, re an application for a grant to widen the road above the Friary as it would be ‘immense benefit to tourism in the area’.
Published
Letter from Irish Shell Ltd. to Fr. Pacificus Jennings OFM Cap., guardian, Ard Mhuire Friary, enclosing a contract agreement for the supply of fuel oil to the friary.
Published
Correspondence re plumbing and electrical work on Ard Mhuire Capuchin Friary. The file includes a Bill of Quantities (and costs) for ‘sundry works in connection with proposed alterations to mechanical, electrical and sanitary plumbing services’ at Ard Mhuire. The correspondents include Fr. Simeon Breen OFM Cap., guardian, J.R. Boyd Barrett, 5 Camden Place, Cork, architect, Fr. Anthony Boran OFM Cap., Provincial Minister. Some of the letters refer to the deferment of plans for the painting of the Friary church and choir.
Published
Tender from Neil Sheridan & Son, Drimeason, Creeslough, County Donegal, for extensive building works on the Capuchin Retreat House at Ard Mhuire.
Published
For more information see: https://www.dia.ie/works/view/1008/building/CO.+DONEGAL%2C+CREESLOUGH%2C+CAPUCHIN+HOUSE+OF+STUDIES
Published
Architectural plans (elevations and sections), designs, drawings and sketches for the new Capuchin House of Studies and Ard Mhuire Friary and Church, County Donegal, prepared by James Rupert Boyd Barrett (c.1904-1976), architect, 5 Camden Place, Cork. The file includes the following architectural records:
1. Sketch plan for House of Studies, Ard Mhuire Friary
Date: Nov. 1958
Number: Sketch 1
Scale: 1 inch to 16 feet
Sheet size: OS; 104 cm x 77 cm
Note: With colour washes
2. Sketch plan for basement and ground floors of the House of Studies
Date: 5 Jan. 1959
Number: Sketch 2
Scale: 1 inch to 16 feet
Sheet size: 69 cm x 67 cm
Note: With colour washes
3. Sketch plan of alterations to accommodation block of the House of Studies.
Date: 5 Jan. 1959
Number: Sketch 3
Scale: 1 inch to 16 feet
Sheet size: 69 cm x 67 cm
Note: With colour washes
4. Elevations and sections for alterations to the House of Studies and Friary
Date: 7 Apr. 1959
Number: Drawing 5
Scale: 1 inch to 16 feet
Sheet size: 110 cm x 66 cm
Note: With colour washes
5. Sketch, elevation, floor plan and axonometric view of the Friary
Date: 14 Jan. 1960
Number: Sketch 1
Scale: 1 inch to 32 feet
Sheet size: 117 cm x 69 cm
Note: With colour washes
6. Elevation and sections of the House of Studies
Date: 9 Oct. 1962
Number: Drawing 8
Scale: 1 inch to 16 feet
Sheet size: 126 cm x 71 cm
Note: With colour washes
7. Floor plans (ground, first and second) of the House of Studies
Date: 15 Oct. 1962
Number: Drawing 7
Scale: 1 inch to 16 feet; 1 inch to 22 feet
Sheet size: 130 cm x 72 cm
Note: With colour washes. The sheet shows the location of the Old Ard Mhuire Friary (formerly Ards House) with a note indicating that this is ‘to be demolished’.
8. Revisions to ground floor plan of the House of Studies
Date: Jan. 1963
Number: Drawing 3
Scale: 1 inch to 8 feet
Sheet size: 114 cm x 67.5 cm
Note: The sheet is torn and frayed. Careful manual handling is required.
9. First-floor plan of the House of Studies
Date: Jan. 1963
Number: Drawing 4
Scale: 1 inch to 8 feet
Sheet size: 110 cm x 67 cm
10. Revisions to second-floor plan of the House of Studies
Date: Jan. 1963
Number: Drawing 5
Scale: 1 inch to 8 feet
Sheet size: 110 cm x 67 cm
11. Survey of proposed Ard Mhuire Friary and the House of Studies
Date: 26 July 1963
Number: No file number given
Scale: 1 inch to 32 feet
Sheet size: 76 cm x 61 cm
Note: The survey was completed by E.G. Pettit, consulting engineer, 7 South Mall, Cork, for J.R. Boyd Barrett. The survey shows the location of the Old Ard Mhuire Friary (formerly Ards House) relative to the site of the new House of Studies.
12. Details of Altar Rail in Ard Mhuire Friary Church
Date: 1965
Number: Drawing 53
Scale: ½ inch to 1 foot
Sheet size: 72 cm x 48 cm
13. Details of seating in Ard Mhuire Friary Church
Date: Nov. 1965
Number: Drawing 54
Scale: ½ inch to 1 foot
Sheet size: 104 cm x 73 cm
14. Sketch plan of sanctuary layout in Ard Mhuire Friary Church
Date: 24 Aug. 1965
Number: No file number given
Scale: 1 inch to 4 feet
Sheet size: 66 cm x 56 cm
15. Design for layout of sacristy in Ard Mhuire Friary Church
Date: Oct. 1965
Number: Drawing 52
Scale: ½ inch to 1 foot
Sheet size: 61 cm x 36 cm
16. Details of choir stalls in Ard Mhuire Friary
Date: Mar. 1965
Number: Drawing 40
Scale: 3 inches to 1 foot; 1 inch to 1 foot; ⅛ inch to 1 foot
Sheet size: 94 cm x 70 cm
17. Landscaping and garden plan for Ard Mhuire Friary
Date: July 1965
Number: No file number given
Scale: 1 inch to 16 feet
Sheet size: 92 cm x 67 cm
Note: The plan was compiled by Powers of Waterford.
Published
Photographic prints of an architectural model of the new Capuchin House of Studies and Ard Mhuire Friary, Creeslough, County Donegal. The model was prepared by James Rupert Boyd Barrett, architect, 5 Camden Place, Cork. The photographs show the model from various perspectives.
Over-sized storage
Published
Letters from James Rupert Boyd Barrett, architect, 5 Camden Place, Cork, regarding design work, tenders, bills of quantities and furnishings for the new Capuchin House of Studies at Ard Mhuire Friary in County Donegal. The letter recipients include Fr. Conrad O’Donovan OFM Cap., Fr. Berard Creed OFM Cap., Fr. Berchmans McCarthy OFM Cap., and Fr. Barnabas Gaynor OFM Cap. The file also includes receipts and certificates of payment for construction work on the House of Studies.
Published
Bill of Approximate Quantities for the Capuchin House of Studies at Ard Mhuire Friary, County Donegal. The volume was prepared by James Rupert Boyd Barrett, architect, 5 Camden Place, Cork, and James Sheehan, chartered surveyor, 20 South Mall, Cork. The scope of the work is described as follows:
'The work consists of the erection of a House of Studies, consisting of a three-storey classroom and cell block; single storey parlours, kitchen and refectory blocks; chapel, choir, sacristy, Third Order etc.; drains, sewerage disposal, drives, paths, yard, playing pitch etc., and demolition of the existing buildings'.
Published
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.
Published
Letters from P.J. McLoughlin & Co., builders and public works contractors, Ardnacassa, County Longford, re their work on the new Capuchin Friary and House of Studies at Ard Mhuire in County Donegal. Letter recipients include Fr. Conrad O’Donovan OFM Cap. and Fr. Nicholas O’Brien OFM Cap. Most of the letters are acknowledgments of payments received for contracted work on the building project.
Published
File relating to the promotion of a series of Silver Circle draws in aid of the building fund for the new House of Studies and Ard Mhuire Friary, Cashelmore, County Donegal. The file includes letters (mainly from the local clergy) in support of the fund, promoters’ cards and ephemera, legal permits, and bank statements and receipts associated with the fund. The file also includes a list of parishes in Donegal in which the promotion of the fund was permitted.
Published
An inventory for furniture and interior fittings belonging to ‘Ards Castle’ (presumably Ard Mhuire Friary), Creeslough, County Donegal, to be sold at a demolition sale on 12 Oct. 1966. The auctioneers are noted as Quinn Bros. & McGowan, Longford. The building contractors are P.J. McLoughlin & Co., Longford.
Published
Letters to Fr. Hilary McDonagh OFM Cap. responding to invitations to attend the blessing and opening of the Capuchin House of Studies and the new Ard Mhuire Friary on 13 Nov. 1966. The attendees included many local parish priests, Capuchin friars, members of other religious congregations and various lay people involved in the construction of the buildings. The file also includes a copy of the official declaration of the blessing of the foundation (in Latin) signed by Fr. Conrad O’Donovan OFM Cap., Provincial Minister, a list of donations to the building fund, an invitation card to the solemn blessing and opening and a menu card for the celebratory dinner.
Published
Bills for construction work on Ard Mhuire Friary and the Capuchin House of Studies in County Donegal. The costs include fees payable to J.R. Boyd Barrett, architect, J. McLoughlin & Co., builders, James Sheehan, surveyor, and to various other firms and individuals for furnishing and decorating the buildings.
Published
Correspondence of Fr. Berchmans McCarthy OFM Cap., guardian, Ard Mhuire Friary, with Gill & Gunning, church furnishers, 50 Upper O’Connell Street, Dublin 1, regarding the installation of a set wooden Stations of the Cross in the new church at Ard Mhuire Friary.
Published
Letter from Lionel Percy, Bunlin Lodge, Milford, County Donegal, to Fr. Pacificus Jennings OFM Cap, guardian, Ard Mhuire Friary, re items which he would like to acquire before the demolition of the old Ard Mhuire Friary building. The items include the ‘mahogany bookcases in the library’ and ‘the stone steps outside the building’. The file also includes an inventory for an auction of mainly livestock and agricultural equipment at Ard Mhuire on 13 Mar. 1971.
Published
This section includes files relating to the Capuchin community resident in Ard Mhuire Friary. The series includes records relating to various aspects of their religious life, to their ministries and their interactions with the clergy of the diocese of Raphoe and with various lay fraternities and associations.
Christopher Boyle was born in the town of Boyle in County Roscommon on 30 May 1877. He joined the Irish Capuchins in October 1896 and took Kevin as his religious name. He obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree from the Royal University in Cork in 1901. Following his theological studies, he was ordained to the priesthood on 28 September 1902. There followed further academic studies at the Catholic University of Louvain in Belgium where he was awarded a Doctorate in Philosophy. In 1907 he was appointed guardian (local superior) of Rochestown Friary in County Cork. Three years later he was appointed Rector of the Seraphic College at Rochestown. In 1919 he assumed the role of master of novices. He was five times elected Provincial Definitor (Councillor) and held the office of Provincial Minister of the Irish Capuchins from 1928 to 1931. His term of office as Provincial Minister witnessed the opening of Ard Mhuire Friary in County Donegal (for the training of cleric novices) in 1930, and the establishment of a foreign mission in Barotseland, a vast territory located in Northern Rhodesia (now Zambia) in 1931. Fr. Kevin spent most of his life in ministry in Rochestown holding various offices including guardian, director of students and professor of theology. He died (suddenly) at St. Bonaventure’s Friary in Cork on 20 January 1959. He was buried in the cemetery adjoining Rochestown Friary.
Baptismal name: Christopher Moynihan
Religious name: Fr. Kevin Moynihan OFM Cap.
Date of birth: 30 May 1877
Place of birth: Boyle, County Roscommon (Diocese of Elphin)
Name of father: Michael Moynihan
Name of mother: Margaret Moynihan (née Murphy)
Date of reception into the Capuchin Order: 4 Oct. 1896
Date of first profession: 4 Oct. 1897
Date of final profession: 2 Aug. 1902
Date of ordination (as priest): 28 Sept. 1902
Educational attainments: BA, RUI (1901); PhD, Catholic University of Louvain
Leadership positions: Provincial Definitor (Councillor), 1910-3, 1913-6, 1919-21, 1940-3, 1943-6; Provincial Minister, 1928-31; Custos General, 1931-4.
Date of death: 20 Jan. 1959
Place of death: St. Bonaventure’s Capuchin Friary, Cork
Place of burial: Cemetery, Rochestown Capuchin Friary, County Cork
Published
Official dedication of the foundation at Ard Mhuire to the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The document is signed by Fr. Kevin Moynihan OFM Cap., Provincial Minister. With manuscript and typescript copies.
Published
Letter from Earley & Co., stained glass manufactures, 4 Upper Camden Street, Dublin, to Fr. Aloysius Travers OFM Cap. re measurements for the ‘eleven lower panels of windows’ in the oratory of Ard Mhurie Capuchin Friary.
Published
Letters from the Most Rev. William MacNeely, Bishop of Raphoe (1888-1963), granting diocesan faculties to the Capuchin friars of Ard Mhuire. The letter of 4 May 1931 reads:
'I hereby grant to the Fathers at Ard Mhuire the faculties of the diocese as our priests usually enjoy them. Apart from general or provincial reservations, there is no peculiar limitations with us, except in regard to makers of poteen or sellers of spirits (even licit) outside licensed premises'.
Published
List of benedictions at Ard Mhuire Capuchin Friary approved by the Most Rev. William MacNeely, Bishop of Raphoe (1888-1963). An addendum reads ‘Novenas for Feasts of St. Francis and Immaculate Conception. Exposition of the Most Blessed Sacrament on First Fridays (monthly retreat)’. With typescript copies signed and dated 21 Dec. 1952.
Published
Letters re reduced travel rates for Capuchin friars of the Ard Mhuire community on the Londonderry and Lough Swilly Railways.
William Patrick Travers was born into a prominent Cork family on 20 March 1870. The family were devoutly Catholic. John, his elder brother, was also a Capuchin friar and took Anthony as his religious name. Another brother was an Augustinian friar while a sister became an Ursuline nun. William joined the Capuchin Franciscans in 1887, took the religious name of Aloysius, and was ordained to the priesthood in 1894. From his earliest years, Aloysius took a keen interest in promoting the work of the temperance movement. He was appointed President of the Father Mathew Hall in Dublin, and held this position from 1904-13. During his years as President, he used the Hall for the promotion of temperance and as a recreational venue for the members of the Sacred Heart Sodality. To further support the ideals of temperance and to revitalise interest in Irish culture, he founded 'The Father Mathew Record' which began publication in January 1908. The year before, he had inaugurated the Féis Maitiu which promoted Gaelic cultural revivalist activities such as storytelling and festivals of native song and dance. Fr. Aloysius also used the pages of the 'Record' to strongly promote a ‘Buy Irish Campaign’. About this time, he also established the League of Young Irish Crusaders. Like many of the Capuchin friars of the Dublin community, Fr. Aloysius was involved in ministering to the Rising leaders during their imprisonment and was present at the execution of James Connolly in Kilmainham Jail on 12 May 1916. He later championed the cause of various labour leaders in Dublin. It has also been speculated that Fr. Aloysius undertook a secret mission to Pope Benedict XV in connection with the Irish struggle. He was elected seven times to the office of Provincial Definitor (Councillor) and was Provincial Minister of the Irish Capuchins from 1913-6. In his later years, he became an enthusiastic member of the Legion of Mary and published numerous devotional tracts including a popular prayer book, 'The Voice of the Church', 'The Seraphic Standard' and 'ĺosa Mo Mhian'. He died on 2 May 1957 at the Capuchin Friary, Church Street, Dublin. He was 89 years old and was a Capuchin friar for almost 69 of these years. He was buried in Glasnevin Cemetery.
Published
Report of the canonical visitation of Ard Mhuire Capuchin Friary by Fr. Aloysius Travers OFM Cap. It is noted that the community consists of eighteen students of theology, four priests, and three lay brothers. It is also noted that Fr. Aloysius examined the ‘Mass books and account books of the House’.
Published
Letter from Fr. J. Carr, parish priest, Convoy, County Donegal, expressing his gratitude to the Capuchin community for their hospitality during a recent retreat at Ard Mhuire.
A list of missions and retreats given by the Capuchin fathers is endorsed on the reverse of one the pages. The list is on headed paper from Lalor Ltd., Church Candle Manufacturers, 14 Lower Ormond Quay, Dublin.
Published
Horarium for the Capuchin students at Ard Mhuire Friary. Horariums are the name given to the daily schedule for those living in a religious community or seminary. Details are given in respect to the hours of lectures in theology and sacred scripture and the names of the lecturers and clerics in the community.
Published
Programmes for ‘New Year’s Entertainment’, ‘It’s the trade mark Counts’, and ‘Professor Tim’ presented by the theological Students at Ard Mhuire Capuchin Friary. The programmes list the characters and the actors (friars) playing these parts.
Published
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.
Published
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.
Patrick Kelleher was born in Coolea near Ballyvourney in County Cork on 28 February 1912. His early schooling was in Coolea National School and in the Capuchin College in Rochestown in County Cork. He was received into the novitiate in Kilkenny in October 1929 and took David as his religious name. He undertook a formidable course of academic studies obtaining a Bachelor of Arts (1933) and later a Master of Arts (1934) from University College Cork. He was solemnly professed as a Capuchin friar in St. Bonaventure’s in Cork in October 1933. Following three years of theological studies in Ard Mhuire Friary in County Donegal, he was ordained to the priesthood in October 1937. He was sent to Rome after his ordination and spent six years at the International Capuchin College from 1937 to 1943, taking a Doctorate in Theology and a Licentiate in Scripture from the Pontifical Gregorian University. He also obtained a Diploma in Library Science from the Vatican Library. His time in Rome coincided with the difficult years of conflict in Italy during the Second World War. He returned to Ireland in 1943 and he resided in Ard Mhuire Friary for the remainder of his life, teaching dogmatic theology and liturgical and spiritual theology (1943-72). Aside from his pastoral work, he served as guardian (local superior) of the Ard Mhuire community for two terms and was the local vicar for eleven years. He also served on the Provincial Definitory (Council) from 1955 to 1958. He also retained a life-long interest in promoting the temperance cause. He died on 21 November 1995 and was buried in the cemetery attached to Ard Mhuire Friary in County Donegal.
Baptismal name: Patrick Kelleher
Religious name: Fr. David Kelleher OFM Cap.
Date of birth: 28 Feb. 1912
Place of birth: Coolea, Ballyvourney, County Cork (Diocese of Cloyne)
Name of father: Daniel Kelleher (Farmer)
Name of mother: Johanna Kelleher (née Mullane)
Date of reception into Capuchin Order: 3 Oct. 1929 (at Kilkenny)
Date of first profession: 4 Oct. 1930
Date of solemn profession: 4 Oct. 1933
Date of ordination (as priest): 10 Oct. 1937 (Ard Mhuire Capuchin Friary, County Donegal)
Educational attainments: BA (1st class hons.) and scholarship, UCC, (1933); MA, UCC, (1934); Doctor of Sacred Theology, (1940); Licentiate of Sacred Scripture, (1942).
Leadership positions: Provincial Definitor (Councillor), 1955-8; Custos General, 1958-61
Date of death: 21 Nov. 1995
Place of death: Ard Mhuire Capuchin Friary, County Donegal
Place of burial: Cemetery, Ard Mhuire Capuchin Friary, County Donegal
Published
Record Book of the Father Mathew Total Abstinence Association attached to Ard Mhuire Capuchin Friary. The volume contains lists of life and temporary members of the Association and records members who were given temperance badges. The book appears to have been compiled by Fr. David Kelleher OFM Cap.
Published
A list of (plenary) indulgences for Marian Year as contained in a decree of the Sacred Penitentiary. The document is stamped with the seal of the Most Rev. William McNeely, Bishop of Raphoe.
Published
Schedule of fruits and foodstuffs available from A. Morgan & Son, direct fruit importers, 6 Talbot Street, Dublin 1.
Published
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.
Published
Letter to Fr. Berchmans McCarthy OFM Cap, guardian, Ard Mhuire Friary, from the Irish Catholic Church Property Insurance Company, 9 College Green, Dublin 2, enclosing a copy of car insurance policy for the community car.
Published
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.
Published
Correspondence of Fr. Berchmans McCarthy OFM Cap, guardian, Ard Mhuire Friary, with Córas Iompair Éireann re travel concessions on rail and bus fares for the Capuchin community.
Published
Letter from Fr. Patrick Deegan, parish priest, Frosses, Lifford, County Donegal, to Fr. Berchmans McCarthy OFM Cap, guardian, Ard Mhuire Friary, re a quest to fund the repair of two churches in his parish.
Published
Correspondence of Fr. David Kelleher OFM Cap. with P.J. McLoughlin & Company, Ardnacassa, Longford, Mount Salus Press Ltd., Sandymount, Dublin 4, and Aerofilms Ltd., 6 Elstree Way, Borehma Wood, Hertfordshire, re the taking of aerial photographs of Ard Mhuire Friary for reproduction in postcard prints.
Published
An anonymous letter to Fr. Pacificus Jennings OFM Cap., guardian, complaining about the presence of the Derry Peace Women group at Ard Mhuire Friary. The letter reads: ‘It would fit them better to remain at home and do some house-work … and make peace with some of their relations and neighbours’.
Published
A memorandum outlining ‘some reasons for retaining our foundation in the Diocese of Raphoe’. The document provides bullet points on the rationale for retaining Ard Mhuire Friary. The document notes:
'To give up Ard Mhuire would not be good for the Province. It would mean bad distribution of Friars in the country, virtually confining them to three cities, Cork, Dublin and Kilkenny. Ard Mhuire can now be said to be our only country house. … Ard Mhuire is [also] one of the few foundations of clerical religious in Northern Ireland'.
Reference is also made to the attitudes of the local parish clergy and lay community who are very favourably disposed to the friars remaining in the locality.
Published
List with dates for the Forty Hours Exposition and Devotion ('Quarant’ore') in various churches in the diocese of Raphoe. The date specified for Ard Mhuire Capuchin Church was 10 Feb. 1974.
Published
Prayers sheets used by the Capuchin community, Ard Mhuire Friary, Creeslough, County Donegal.
Published
Oder of Holy Week Ceremonies at Ard Mhuire Friary, Creeslough, County Donegal.
Published
Programme and schedule for a carol service at Ard Mhuire Friary, Creeslough, County Donegal.
Published
Report of Fr. Paul Murphy OFM Cap., chaplain to Letterkenny Regional Technical College in County Donegal (10 May 1983). The file also includes a prospectus and student union’s handbook for the college (1982-3).
Published
List of community members at Ard Mhuire Capuchin Friary, County Donegal. Fr. Fidelis O’Connell OFM Cap. (1927-2007) is noted as guardian of the fraternity.
For more on the Cardinal Ó Fiaich Library and Archive in Armagh see https://www.ofiaich.ie/
Published
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’.
Published
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.
Published
Daily schedules for religious retreats for lay men at Ard Mhuire Capuchin Friary, Creeslough, County Donegal.
Published
Fliers advertising retreats at Ard Mhuire Retreat Centre, Creeslough, County Donegal. One of the fliers has photographic print of the exterior of Ard Mhuire Friary and the Retreat House.
Published
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’.
Published
Daily retreat timetable at Ard Mhuire Capuchin Friary, Creeslough, County Donegal.
Published
Photographic prints of retreats for religious congregations at Ard Mhuire Retreat House, Creeslough, County Donegal. The file includes prints of the Franciscans Together Retreats at Ard Mhuire in August 1977 and in August 1978. The latter has an annotation attached giving the names of the retreat participants which included Capuchin friars, Observant Franciscans (OFM) and Franciscan Missionaries of the Divine Motherhood (FMDM).
Published
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.
Published
Schedules for retreats for priests of the diocese of Derry in Ard Mhuire Retreat Centre in June 1985 and in May 1993.
Published
Photographic print of a Franciscan retreat at Ard Mhuire Friary, Creeslough, County Donegal. The group includes Fr. Benjamin O’Connell OFM Cap., Fr. Adrian Curran OFM Cap. and Fr. David Kelleher OFM Cap.
Published
Programmes for retreats at 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.
Published
Programme for ‘Cumann na Sagart’ on the subject of St. Colmcille held in Ard Mhuire Retreat Centre from 1-3 Apr. 1997.
Published
Letter re a retreat at the Ard Mhuire Centre for the Convent Grammar School, Strabane, County Tyrone.
Published
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.
Published
Statement read at all Masses at Ard Mhuire Friary Church re the future of the Capuchins in Donegal. The statement reads:
'Our higher superiors now face the possibility of having to minimize or withdraw us from our retreat house ministry. They are also pursuing the possibility of inviting the involvement of other religious in this ministry. However, the bottom line is that we have no plans nor intention of leaving Ards'.
The file includes a circular letter from Fr. Eustace McSweeney OFM Cap., Retreat Director, re changes in the management of the Ard Mhuire Retreat Centre which will see a greater input from the clergy of the diocese of Raphoe. With a copy clipping of an article titled ‘Donegal friary to end spiritual retreats’. 'Irish Times', 17 Mar. 2006.
Published
The section includes photographic images of both the old Ard Mhuire Friary (formerly Ards House, the seat of the Stewart-Bam family) and the present-day Friary and House of Studies (now a retreat and conference centre) built on the same site in the 1960s. There are also images of Capuchin friars who resided at Ard Mhuire and prints of the surrounding towns, scenic landscapes and sites of historical and religious significance.
Published
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.
Published
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 County Donegal 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)’.
Published
An image of Ena Dingwell Tasca Stewart-Bam on the front stairway in Ards House.
Published
The staff of Ards House in 1906. The photograph is annotated on the reverse with the names of the male and female servants.
Published
A view of the exterior of Ards House, Creeslough, County Donegal.
Published
A view of the exterior of Ards House, Creeslough, County Donegal.
Published
A view of Ards House and demesne as seen from the shores of Sheephaven Bay in County Donegal.
Published
A woman with a young child (presumably tenants) outside a cottage on the former Ards estate in County Donegal.
Published
A view of Ards House and demesne as seen from the shores of Sheephaven Bay in County Donegal.
Published
Copy print of a sketch map of the 'Ards Estate Home Farm Offices, the property of A.J.R. Stewart'. The map dates to c.1870. The copy photographic print is of a later date.
Published
Colourized postcard print of the Catholic Church in Doe, Ballymore, County Donegal. It was published by S.R. Butler & Sons, Carndonagh, County Donegal.
Published
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).
Published
Photographic print of Fr. Angelus Healy OFM Cap. with five other Capuchin friars and a young girl. The photograph was taken at Doe Castle, County Donegal. One of the other friars is Fr. Bonaventure Murphy OFM Cap.
Note: A manuscript annotation on the reverse reads: ‘Taken at Doe Castle, July 12th, 1930’.
Published
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.
Published
An image of a group of Capuchin friars in the front garden of Ard Mhuire Friary in County Donegal. An annotation on the reverse reads 'Students, Ards'. The group includes Fr. Conrad O'Donovan OFM Cap. and Fr. Agathangelus Herlihy OFM Cap.
Published
A photographic print of a group of Capuchin friars and presumably the crew of a small boat docked at Ards Pier in County Donegal. An annotation on the reverse of the print reads 'Ards Pier / 1954 / left to right, Br. Gabriel McGillicuddy OFM Cap., Br. Bruno McKnight OFM Cap., Br. Dermot Barry OFM Cap., Br. Elzear Keavney OFM Cap., and Br. Ronald Grace OFM Cap.'.
Published
A photographic print of a group of Capuchin friars and presumably the crew of a boat docked at Ards Pier in County Donegal. The group includes Fr. Godfrey Mannion OFM Cap., Fr. Angelus O'Neill OFM Cap., and Br. Angelus Leahy OFM Cap.
Published
Photographic print of a large group of lay persons outside the main entrance to Ard Mhuire Friary. The group may have been assembled for a religious ceremony. The group includes some members of An Garda Síochána.
Published
Photographic prints of the visit by Fr. Virgilio da Valstagna OFM Cap., Capuchin Minister General, to Ard Mhuire Friary. The file includes a group photograph of Irish friars with Fr. Virgilio. A manuscript annotation on the reverse of one of the prints reads: ‘Ard Mhuire, 1937, Front, left to right, Frs. Andrew, Cassian, Colman (Provincial Minister), Sylvester Mulligan, Fr. Minister General, Frs. Killian Flynn (Prefect Apostolic of Victoria Falls), unknown, Felix and Columban’.
Published
Photographic print of Fr. Nicholas O’Brien OFM Cap. and (on the left) Fr. David Kelleher OFM Cap. with the Most Rev. William MacNeely, Bishop of Raphoe (1888-1963), at Ard Mhuire Friary in County Donegal.
Published
Photographic print of Fr. Theodore Murphy OFM Cap. (1912-1993) on the occasion of his ordination in County Donegal.
Published
Photographic print of a group of student friars at Ard Mhuire Friary.
Published
File containing photographic prints of the old Ard Mhuire Friary (formerly Ards House), Creeslough, County Donegal. A small number of these prints were reproduced in 'A history of Ards' (1991) by Fr. David Kelleher OFM Cap. The file includes:
• A view of corn harvesting in August 1940. The photograph is captioned: Left to right: Paddy McGinley, Paddy Ward, Br. Ronan McCabe OFM Cap., Willie Barr and Anton McBride in the fields around Ard Mhuire Friary.
• A large crowd assembled at the front of Ard Mhuire Friary for a religious ceremony.
• The gates to the demesne of the Ards estate.
• ‘Rear view of Ards House’.
• ‘Ards House from the Flagpole’.
• Exterior (front) views of the gardens and the old Ard Mhuire Friary building.
• The statute of the Blessed Virgin Mary on the front lawn of the old Ard Mhuire Friary.
• Br. Louis O’Meara OFM Cap. turning the pages of the psalter in the choir (formerly Ards House dining room) in the old Ard Mhuire Friary.
• A Capuchin friar perusing the bookshelves in the library of the old Ard Mhuire Friary.
• A Capuchin friar talking to a lay individual at the portico entrance to the old Ard Mhuire Friary.
• Aerial view of the old Ard Mhuire Friary.
• Fr. Columban McGarry OFM Cap. (1901-1987) picking apples in the orchard in the old Ard Mhuire Friary.
• A view of the Friary from across Sheephaven Bay.
The file also includes a photoengraving plate (mounted on a wooden block) for a photographic image of the old Ard Mhuire Friary. One of the prints has a Christmas greeting from Br. Benedict Cullen OFM Cap. and Br. De Sales Cullen OFM Cap.
One of the prints has suffered a small burn mark.
Published
An image of the exterior of Ard Mhuire Capuchin Friary (formerly Ards House) in County Donegal.
Published
A view of corn harvesting in the fields around Ard Mhuire Capuchin Friary in August 1940. The photograph is captioned (left to right) Paddy McGinley, Paddy Ward, Br. Ronan McCabe OFM Cap., Willie Barr and Anton McBride.
Published
An aerial view of Ard Mhuire Capuchin Friary (formerly Ards House) in County Donegal.
Published
A view of the exterior of Ard Mhuire Capuchin Friary (formerly Ards House) in about 1950.
Published
A view of the exterior of Ard Mhuire Capuchin Friary (formerly Ards House) in about 1950.
Published
An image of a large crowd assembled for a religious ceremony outside Ard Mhuire Capuchin Friary in County Donegal.
Published
An image of the main portico entrance to Ard Mhuire Capuchin Friary (formerly Ards House) in County Donegal.
Published
Br. Louis O’Meara OFM Cap. turning the pages of the psalter in the community choir (formerly the dining room of Ards House) in Ard Mhuire Capuchin Friary, County Donegal.
Published
A friar perusing the bookshelves in the library room of Ard Mhuire Capuchin Friary in County Donegal.
Published
A view of a crowd assembled outside Ard Mhuire Capuchin Friary following an ordination ceremony,
Published
An image of the statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary which stood in front of Ard Mhuire Capuchin Friary in County Donegal.
Published
An image of the exterior of Ard Mhuire Capuchin Friary in County Donegal. A typescript title on the image reads 'Capuchin Franciscan Friary / Co. Donegal'.
Published
An image of the exterior of Ard Mhuire Capuchin Friary (formerly Ards House) in County Donegal.
Published
An aerial view of Ard Mhuire Capuchin Friary (formerly Ards House) in County Donegal.
Published
An image of the exterior of Ard Mhuire Capuchin Friary (formerly Ards House) in County Donegal.
Published
A view of the exterior of Ard Mhuire Capuchin Friary (formerly Ards House) in about 1950.
Published
A view of the rear of Ard Mhuire Friary (formerly Ards House) in County Donegal. A manuscript annotation on the reverse of the print reads 'rear view of Ards House'.
Published
A view of the exterior and grounds of Ard Mhuire Capuchin Friary (formerly Ards House) in County Donegal.
Published
A postcard print of the interior of the oratory in Ard Mhuire Capuchin Friary.
Published
Photographic prints of forest scenery around Ard Mhuire Friary. One of the prints is annotated: ‘The Cork Tree / Isabella Bay’. Another of the prints is credited to Charles A. Jones, 136 St. Stephen’s Green, Dublin. The remaining print is titled ‘The Mulberry Tree’ and shows the Friary in the background.
Published
Postcard print of the exterior of St. Eunan’s College, Letterkenny, County Donegal.
Published
Photographic print of the female boarders at Coláiste Bríghde, Falcarragh, County Donegal. Coláiste Bríghde was one of four preparatory colleges founded between 1926 and 1929 to provide secondary education for aspiring primary school teachers. A manuscript annotation on the reverse reads ‘Coláiste Bríghde, Falcarragh, c.1944 / Chaplain, Fr. Danny Molloy’.
Published
Photographic print of a family picnicking on the grounds of Ard Mhuire Friary, Creeslough, County Donegal.
Published
Photographic print of a solitary Capuchin friar at prayer in the oratory of Ard Mhuire Friary, County Donegal.
Published
Photographic print of the main doorway looking out onto the front garden at Ard Mhuire Friary, County Donegal.
Published
Photographic prints of the ordination of Fr. Cyril Kelleher OFM Cap. at Ard Mhuire Friary in County Donegal. One of the prints is annotated on the reverse: Fr. Nicholas O’Brien OFM Cap. (1912-1980), Bishop William MacNeely, Fr. Andrew Carew OFM Cap. (1902-1987), Fr. David Kelleher OFM Cap. and Fr. Cyril.
Published
Studio photographic print of Pieter Stewart Bam (1914-2001). The portrait print is autographed. An annotation on the reverse reads: ‘Mr. Pieter Stewart Bam, son of the former owners of Ards House. Portrait presented by himself on occasion of his visit. Jan. 23rd 1949’.
Published
Photographic print of the exterior of St. Eunan’s Cathedral, Letterkenny, County Donegal.
Published
Colourized postcard prints of the exterior of Ard Mhuire Friary in County Donegal. The postcard is captioned and reads ‘Franciscan Friary, Ards, Co. Donegal’. It was published G. Kelly, Ballyshannon. (57 copies). The file also includes one copy of a postcard image of an aerial view of Ard Mhuire Friary and adjoining grounds. It was published by Margaret Joyce Ltd., Dublin / successor to Valentine & Sons Ltd., Dundee and London.
Published
Photographic print of several student friars playing football a beach near Ard Mhuire Friary in County Donegal.
Published
Photographic prints of Fr. David Kelleher OFM Cap. (1912-1995) and Fr. Ephrem O’Sullivan OFM Cap. (1904-1958) blessing a Holy Year Cross atop Muckish Mountain (Derryveagh Mountain Range, County Donegal) on the Feast of the Assumption (15 August) in 1951. The file includes a note written by Fr. David giving information on some of the people in one of the photographic prints. See also CA DL/6/10.
Published
Bound volume containing photographic prints of student friars at the Ard Mhuire House of Studies. Some of the prints are captioned. The album includes images of student friars at work (potato harvesting, bailing hay and routine household work) and at recreation (theatrical plays, weekend retreats, sleighing on snow-covered hills, and visits to the beach). Locations visited by the friars include Burtonport, Errigal Mountain, Aranmore, Doe Castle, Fanad and Kindrum. The album contains several views of Ard Mhuire Friary (formerly Ards House) and surrounding gardens. A small number of prints show friars examining what appears to be un-exploded ordnance on the shoreline. Other prints show ordinations at Ard Mhuire in 1955. Fr. Eustace McSweeney OFM Cap. and Fr. Donal O’Mahony OFM Cap. are present in some of the prints.
The volume is in fair condition. Several of the pages and prints are detached from the volume. The loose prints have been reattached using plastic clips. Careful manual handling is required.
Published
An image showing Capuchin friars examining what appears to be unexploded ordnance on the shoreline near Ard Mhuire Friary in County Donegal.
Published
An image of Capuchin friars and other individuals harvesting at Ard Mhuire Friary in County Donegal.
Published
An image of Capuchin friars and other individuals on top of a belt-driven thresher feeding sheaves of corn into the thresher drum. The image was taken on the farm adjoining Ard Mhuire Friary.
Published
An image of Capuchin friars enjoying wintry conditions in the countryside around Ard Mhuire Friary in County Donegal.
Published
An image of two friars on a break during an excursion to the Fanad peninsula on the north coast of County Donegal.
Published
An image of Capuchin friars during an excursion to the Fanad peninsula on the north coast of County Donegal.
Published
A view of Capuchin friars during an excursion to Fanad Lighthouse on the north coast of County Donegal.
Published
Capuchin friars about to embark upon an excursion to Arranmore Island (‘Árainn Mhór’) off the coast of County Donegal. A manuscript annotation on the reverse of the print reads 'August '54, Arranmore Excursion'. It is likely that the image was taken at Burtonport Harbour.
Published
File of photographs of Fr. David Kelleher OFM Cap. (1912-1995) at Ard Mhuire Friary, County Donegal. Some of the prints show friends and relations visiting the friary and adjoining grounds. Most of the prints are annotated with details and dates on the reverse.
Published
Photographic print of the Marian Shrine in Milford Bakery and Flour Mills, County Donegal. The shrine was erected in 1954.
Published
Photographic print of a group of Capuchin friars on the staircase in Ard Mhuire Friary (formerly Ards House). The group includes Br. Godfrey Mannion OFM Cap., Br. Dermot Barry OFM Cap., Br. Nicholas O’Brien OFM Cap., Br. David Kelleher OFM Cap., and Br. John Chrysostom O’Mahony OFM Cap.
Published
Photographic prints of Capuchin friars at devotions in Ard Mhuire Friary in County Donegal.
Published
Photographic print of a group of Capuchin friars in front of a Raidió Éireann van at Ard Mhuire Friary in County Donegal. Fr. David Kelleher OFM Cap. is in the front row (first on the left).
Published
Photographic print of two Capuchin friars with the Most Rev. William MacNeely, Bishop of Raphoe (1888-1963). The print is from the 'Derry Journal', Shipquay Street, Derry.
Published
Photographic print of newly ordained Capuchin friars at Ard Mhuire Friary. The print shows Fr. Bruno McKnight OFM Cap., Fr. Sylvius McCarthy OFM Cap., Fr. Dermot Barry OFM Cap., Fr. Matthias McCarthy OFM Cap., and Fr. Enda Heffernan OFM Cap.
Published
Photographic print of newly ordained Capuchin friars at Ard Mhuire Friary. The print shows Fr. Mark Coyle OFM Cap., Fr. Donatus McNamara OFM Cap., Fr. Eustace McSweeney OFM Cap., Fr. Flannan Buckley OFM Cap., Fr. De Sales Cullen OFM Cap., Fr. Benedict Cullen OFM Cap., Fr. Myles Jackman OFM Cap., Fr. Ronald Grace OFM Cap. with Bishop William Mac Neely. See also CA DL/6/11.
Published
Photographic print of Fr. Senan Dooley OFM Cap. and two other friars fishing on the beach at Sheephaven Bay near Ard Mhuire Friary in County Donegal. An manuscript annotation on the reverse of the print makes reference to Fr. Pacificus Jennings OFM Cap.
Published
Photographic prints of the demolition of the old Ard Mhuire Friary in County Donegal. Some of the images also show the shell of the former Ards House and construction work on the new friary building and oratory. Several of the prints show the two buildings during the transition phase of construction of the new House of Studies and Ards Friary. A small number of the prints have annotations on the reverse:
• ‘Ceiling of choir, in old house, Ards, a few days before it was demolished’.
• ‘Demolition of old Ards House in progress’.
• ‘Ards, Autumn 1964’.
Published
An image of construction work on the new Ard Mhuire Friary in County Donegal. The old friary building (formerly Ards House) stands in the foreground.
Published
An image of construction work on the new Ard Mhuire Friary in County Donegal.
Published
An image of construction work on the new Ard Mhuire Friary in County Donegal.
Published
An image of construction work on the new Ard Mhuire Friary in County Donegal.
Published
An image of the near-completed new Ard Mhuire Friary and adjoining Capuchin House of Studies in County Donegal.
Published
An image of the near-completed new Ard Mhuire Friary in County Donegal. The old friary building (formerly Ards House) stands in the foreground.
Published
A view of the new Ard Mhuire Friary and adjoining Capuchin House of Studies adjacent to the soon-to-be demolished former friary building (formerly Ards House) in County Donegal.
Published
Photographic prints of a ‘fingerpost’ road sign noting the direction and distance to Ard Mhuire Capuchin Friary (2¾ miles). The signage is an old-style directional ‘fingerpost’ produced by the Department of Posts and Telegraphs.
Published
Photographic print of Fr. Conrad O’Donovan OFM Cap. and Fr. Colga O’Riordan OFM Cap. in the garden of Ard Mhuire Capuchin Friary.
Published
Photographic prints of Fr. Conrad O’Donovan OFM Cap., Fr. Nicholas O’Brien OFM Cap., Fr. Virgilius Murtagh OFM Cap., Bishop Anthony McFeely and other clerics at a reception to celebrate the official opening of the new Ard Mhuire Friary.
Published
Photographic print of the ordination of Capuchin friars at Ard Mhuire. The group includes Fr. Noel (Conal) Brennan OFM Cap., Fr. Dan Joe (Ephrem) O’Mahony OFM Cap., Fr. Patrick (Oliver) Dowling OFM Cap. Fr. Michael (Ivor) Duffy OFM Cap. Fr. Laurence (Roderic) Heffernan OFM Cap. and Bishop Anthony McFeely.
Published
Photographic prints of student friars in Ard Mhuire Friary in County Donegal. The file includes images of the students at recreation and prints of the Friary Church. A manuscript annotation on the reverse reads ‘Students, Ards’
Published
Photographic print of Fr. Nicholas O’Brien OFM Cap. and newly ordained Capuchin priests at Ard Mhuire Friary in County Donegal.
Published
Photographic prints of the exterior of Ard Mhuire Friary and members of the Capuchin community bathing in the waters of Sheephaven Bay. The prints are date-stamped on the reverse.
Published
Photographic print of Capuchin friars celebrating Mass at Ard Mhuire Friary Church.
Published
Photographic print of Fr. Nicholas O’Brien OFM Cap. and Godfrey Mannion OFM Cap. at Ard Mhuire Friary in County Donegal.
Published
Photographic prints of the interior (and High Altar) of the Oratory in Ard Mhuire Capuchin Friary in County Donegal. The prints have annotations on the reverse: ‘Fr. Augustine [Donal] O’Mahony OFM Cap.’ and ‘A. O’Shea, Art Studios, Letterkenny’. The prints were probably for publication in 'Eirigh', an Irish Capuchin periodical.
Published
Photographic print of Fr. Angelus O’Neill OFM Cap., Fr. Giles Fitzgerald OFM Cap. and Fr. Dermot Barry OFM Cap. celebrating Mass in Ard Mhuire Friary Church.
Published
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.
Published
A view of the exterior of Ard Mhuire Capuchin Friary and the adjoining church in County Donegal.
Published
A view of the exterior of Ard Mhuire Capuchin Friary and the adjoining church on the shores of Sheephaven Bay in County Donegal.
Published
A view of snow-covered exterior and grounds of Ard Mhuire Capuchin Friary and the adjoining church in County Donegal.
Published
File of fifteen colour postcard prints showing various views (exterior and aerial) of Ard Mhuire Capuchin Friary and Retreat Centre, Creeslough, County Donegal. There are multiple copies of some of the postcards and most are annotated on the reverse with captions and information regarding printers and publishers. Printed titles on the postcards include ‘Capuchin Franciscan Friary’, ‘Ard Mhuire, Cresslough, County Donegal’, ‘Capuchin Theological Seminary, Ard Mhuire’ and ‘Centre for Retreats, Conference and Seminars’.
Published
Postcard print of an aerial view of Ard Mhuire Capuchin Friary and Retreat Centre, Creeslough, County Donegal.
Published
Postcard print of an aerial view of Ard Mhuire Capuchin Friary and Retreat Centre, Creeslough, County Donegal.
Published
Postcard print of a view of Ard Mhuire Capuchin Friary and Retreat Centre (taken from the shoreline of Sheephaven Bay) in County Donegal.
Published
Photographic print of the ordination of Capuchin friars at Ard Mhuire. The group includes Fr. John Joseph Manley OFM Cap., Fr. Senan Dooley OFM Cap., Fr. James Connolly OFM Cap. and Bishop Anthony McFeely.
Published
Photographic print of the ordination of Capuchin friars at Ard Mhuire. The group includes Fr. Paul Murphy OFM Cap., Fr. Kieran O’Driscoll OFM Cap., Br. Christopher Twomey OFM Cap., Br. Terence Harrington OFM Cap. and Bishop Anthony McFeely.
Published
Photographic print of a group of Capuchin friars at Ard Mhuire Friary, County Donegal. The group includes Fr. Nessan Shaw OFM Cap., Fr. Bruno McKnight OFM Cap., Fr. Pádraig Ó Cuill OFM Cap., Fr. Albert Hayes OFM Cap., and Fr. Colga O’Riordan OFM Cap.
Published
Photographic prints of Fr. Pascal Rywalski OFM Cap. (1911-2002), Minister General, and Fr. John Corriveau OFM Cap., Definitor General, with the friars of the Capuchin community at Ard Mhuire Friary. The group includes Fr. Albert Hayes OFM Cap., Fr. David Kelleher OFM Cap., Fr. Michael Duffy OFM Cap., Fr. Fidelis O’Connell and Fr. Pádraig Ó Cuill OFM Cap.
Published
Photographic print of Fr. Flavio Roberto Carraro OFM Cap., Minister General, with the friars of the Capuchin community at Ard Mhuire Friary. The group includes Fr. Fidelis O’Connell OFM Cap. Fr. David Kelleher OFM Cap., Fr. Benjamin O’Connell OFM Cap., guardian, Fr. Silvester O’Flynn OFM Cap., and Fr. Joachim Lyttle OFM Cap. The file also includes a newspaper clipping of the photograph with caption details.
Published
Photographic prints of the stained-glass windows in Ard Mhuire Friary Church. The file includes two-page description of the windows with reflections on their symbolism and meaning. With a roughly drawn sketch map showing the positions of the windows in the church.
Published
The series contains newspaper and magazine clippings relating to the history of the Capuchin friars in Donegal and to their residence at Ard Mhuire Friary.
Published
Clipping of a photograph (and article) from the 'Liverpool Daily Post & Mercury' referring to the wedding of Captain Sir Pieter Canzius Van Bloommestein Bam and Ena Dingwall Tasca Stewart of Ards House, County Donegal, at St. Andrew’s Church, Wells Street, London, on 26 July 1910.
Published
Clipping of an article titled ‘Lady Stewart-Bam at Ards House’ published in 'The Gentlewoman' magazine. The article refers to the marriage of Captain Sir Pieter Canzius Van Bloommestein Bam and Ena Dingwall Tasca Stewart of Ards House, County Donegal, on 26 July 1910. The article also provides an account of the Stewart-Bam residence in Ards, County Donegal. With a photographic print of Lady Stewart-Bam and Ards House. The article reads:
'Lady Stewart-Bam, although the heiress to an Irish estate, was not born in Ireland: but here heart is often with her people there, and she loves nothing so much as to find herself surrounded by those who hail from the “distressful Isle”. She told the writer that when she settles down in her own home in London, she intends to have none but her “own people” about her as servants'.
The file includes a photostat copy of the article.
Published
Clippings from 'Country Life' advertising the sale of the ‘well-known and historical Mansion of Ards and its demesne … extending to 2,000 acres’. The file includes photostat copies (and information re) the article.
Published
Clipping from of an article titled ‘New Capuchin Home’ from 'The Father Mathew Record' (May 1930) referring to the opening of Ard Mhuire Capuchin Friary in County Donegal. The article reads:
'On the shores of Sheephaven Bay, there stands Ards House, the former home of the Stewart family. This house and adjoining estate have been in the hands of the Irish Land Commission, and the Capuchin Fathers purchased the residence and part of the surrounding land. … The house is large and commodious, and is in splendid condition, having been occupied until quite recently'.
The file also includes a article titled 'The Brown Habit in Tirconaill again' published in the 'Franciscan Annals' (May 1930) and a copy of a poem by Máire Ní Shioradáin titled 'Failte', composed for the friars on assuming ownership of Ards House.
Published
Clipping of an article from the 'Derry Journal' referring to the ordinations by the Most Rev. Bernard O’Kane, Bishop of Derry, of Capuchin friars in St. Eunan’s Cathedral, Letterkenny. The clipping is super-imposed onto an article titled ‘Doe Castle / Historic Donegal Landmark / Lecture by Mr. E. Durning’. The text of the lecture is in Irish.
Published
Clippings of articles from the 'Derry Journal' referring to the ordinations by Bishop William MacNeely of Capuchin friars in St. Eunan’s Cathedral, Letterkenny. It is noted that Margaret Pearse, sister of Patrick Pearse, attended the ceremony on 5 June 1932.
Published
Clipping of a poem by Lizzie MacDerby (dated 6 Aug. 1933) referring to the arrival of the Capuchin Franciscan friars in County Donegal. The poem was published in the 'Derry Journal'.
Published
Clipping of an article titled ‘With the Franciscan Capuchins at Ard Mhuire, County Donegal’ by J.D. The article was published in the 'Derry Journal'. The article provides a history of Ards House and refers to the life of the friars in the house with reference to significant geographic and topographical features of the locality.
Published
A complete copy of 'The Tatler and Bystander', 18 Feb. 1948, which includes an article (and photographic print) re the wedding in London of Pieter Stewart Bam (1914-2001) and Margaret Agnes Kitson. A manuscript annotation notes that ‘Pieter Stewart Bam is the son of the former owner of Ards House’.
Published
Clippings (from the 'Derry Journal') re the installation of a Holy Year Cross atop Muckish Mountain (Derryveagh Mountain Range, County Donegal) on the Feast of the Assumption. Includes a photographic print showing Fr. David Kelleher OFM Cap. and Fr. Ephrem O’Sullivan OFM Cap. (1904-1958) who blessed the Cross. In 2000, a large metal cross was placed on the summit, replacing the wooden one (erected in 1951) which had been destroyed in a storm. See also CA DL/5/24.
Published
Clipping of an article (with photographic print) of the ordinations of Capuchin friars at Ard Mhuire Friary. The print shows Fr. Mark Coyle OFM Cap., Fr. Donatus McNamara OFM Cap., Fr. Eustace McSweeney OFM Cap., Fr. Flannan Buckley OFM Cap., Fr. De Sales Cullen OFM Cap., Fr. Benedict Cullen OFM Cap., Fr. Myles Jackman OFM Cap., Fr. Ronald Grace OFM Cap. with Bishop William Mac Neely. See also CA DL/5/33.
Published
Clippings of articles referring to the building (and funding) of the new House of Studies and Ard Mhuire Capuchin Friary, Creeslough, County Donegal. The file includes:
• ‘New Capuchin Friary for Ard Mhuire / to replace former landlord mansion’. 'The Derry People', 9 May 1964. The article has an extensive photograph of the building site with the old Ard Mhuire Friary in the background.
• ‘New Capuchin Friary’. 'The People’s Press', 9 May 1964. Includes photographs of the old Ard Mhuire Friary and of an architectural model of the new building.
• ‘The visitor to Ards is mystified’ by John Moore, referring to the history of the Capuchins in Donegal and to the new Ard Mhuire Friary.
• ‘First Silver Circle Draw for Ard Mhuire’. 'The Derry People', 12 Feb. 1966. Includes a photograph of Fr. Godfrey Mannion OFM Cap., Fr. Nicholas O’Brien OFM Cap. and others at the aforementioned draw in aid of the Friary building fund.
See also CA DL/2/3/7.
Published
‘New Capuchin Friary’. 'The People’s Press', 9 May 1964. The article includes a photograph of an architectural model of the new Ard Mhuire Friary in County Donegal.
Published
Complete copies of the 'Derry Journal' (15 Nov. 1966, 18 Nov. 1966 and 19 Nov. 1966), 'Donegal Press' (18 Nov. 1966), and 'Donegal Democrat' (18 Nov. 1966) which include extensive reportage on the opening of the new Ard Mhuire Friary and Capuchin House of Studies. Includes photographic prints of Bishop Anthony McFeely (1909-1986) blessing the new church and friary and various friars and attendees at the celebration. The file also includes some loose clippings of articles (from the 'Irish Press' and 'Irish Independent') covering the opening.
Published
Clipping of an article titled ‘Demolition for a Stately Home’ published in the 'Derry Journal'. The article refers to opening of the new Ard Mhuire Friary and House of Studies and recalls the history of the friars in Donegal since they acquired the former Ards House in 1930. The article includes a photographic print of Fr. Fergus Lawless OFM Cap. (1904-1991), Regular Superior, Capuchin Custody of California, in the oratory of the ‘soon-to-be demolished’ old Ard Mhuire Friary. It is noted that Fr. Fergus entered the old friary in 1933 and was ordained in St. Eunan’s Cathedral in Letterkenny.
Published
A photocopy of an article titled ‘Ards House’ published in 'The Father Mathew Record' (Feb. 1967), pp 17-24. The article was written by Edward MacIntyre with an introduction by Fr. Benedict Cullen OFM Cap. The article provides a history of Ards House and the former Stewart-Bam estate. The article headings are as follows: The Lifford Inquisition, John (‘half-hanged’) MacNaughton, The builder of Ards House, Road from Letterkenny, Magistrate, Beggard the Estate, Uncle of Lord Castlereagh, Land Acts, Chapel and Choir, and A Greater Landlord. The article also publishes two images of Lady Ena Stewart and the staff of Ards House.
Published
Copy clipping from 'The Father Mathew Record' with biographical details of the ten Capuchin friars ordained at Ard Mhuire Friary on 21 May 1967. Includes details (and photographic prints) of Fr. Ephrem (Dan Joe) O’Mahony OFM Cap., Fr. Ivor (Michael) Duffy OFM Cap., Fr. Flavian Welstead OFM Cap., and Fr. Conal (Noel) Brennan OFM Cap.
Published
Copy articles on performances given by Capuchin students and others in Cresslough Hall, Ards, in aid of the new church building fund. The report refers to a performance of John B. Keane’s three-act play ‘The Year of the Hiker’. The articles are taken from the 'Donegal Democrat'.
Published
Clipping of an article titled ‘Coming of the Capuchin Franciscans’ published in the 'Donegal Democrat'. The article refers to the history of the Ards Estate and to the arrival of the Capuchin friars in Donegal in 1930. With a copy print of Ard Mhuire Friary and a group of Capuchin friars including Fr. Cassian O’Shea OFM Cap. (1897-1981), Fr. Columban McGarry OFM Cap. (1901-1987), Fr. Andrew Carew OFM Cap. (1902-1987) and Fr. Finbarr O’Callaghan OFM Cap. (1879-1963).
Published
Clipping of an article referring to a vocations workshop held in Ard Mhuire Capuchin Friary. The undated article is from the 'Donegal Democrat'.
Published
A complete copy of the 'Derry Journal' (29 June 1965) covering the consecration of Most Rev. Anthony McFeely as Bishop of Raphoe in St. Eunan’s Cathedral, Letterkenny, on 27 June 1965.
Published
Clipping of a photographic print showing three (unidentified) Capuchin friars fishing at a lough in County Donegal. The clipping is taken from the 'Sunday Times'.
Published
Clipping of an article titled ‘Ards House: now Ard Mhuire’ published in the 'Derry Journal'. The article explores (in some detail) the history of Ards House and the early years of its occupation by the Capuchin friars.
Published
Clipping of an article by Paddy Walsh titled ‘A Visit to Ard Mhuire’ published in the 'Donegal People’s Press' (28 Dec. 1984). The article traces the history of the Ards estate and refers to the work of the friars at the retreat centre. The article includes a photographic print of Fr. David Kelleher OFM Cap. (1912-1995), Fr. Albert Hayes OFM Cap. (1915-2005) and Br. Gabriel McGillicuddy OFM Cap. (1901-1998).
Published
Copy clipping of an article re the history of Creeslough and its environs. The article also refers to a meeting held in Ard Mhuire Friary at which a local history committee was established.
Published
Clipping of an article from the 'Strabane Chronicle' referring to the death of the Most Rev. Anthony McFeely, Bishop of Raphoe. The article includes a photographic print of the bishop at the official opening of the new Ard Mhuire Friary in November 1966.
Published
Copy clipping of an article on the experiences of Catherine McGarvey who in 1907 (aged 15) entered the service of Lady Ena Dingwell Stewart at Ards House. The article was published was published in the ‘Irish Press’ (22 July 1987). The article has lengthy recollections of her experiences as a servant to the Stewart-Bam family. It reads:
'All the time in Ards, the house staff were completely insulated from the outside world. Catherine only saw her parents at Sunday Mass in Doe Chapel, and then only for a few snatched seconds as she hurried back to the big house'.
Published
Clipping of a photograph of Fr. David Kelleher OFM Cap., Ard Mhuire Friary, with members of the St. Michael’s Centre of the Pioneer Total Abstinence Association, Creeslough, County Donegal.
Published
Clipping of articles from 'The Tirconaill Tribune' titled ‘From Ballyvourney to Creeslough / Fr. David of Ards’ and ‘The Death of Fr. David, Ards Friary’ referring to the life of Fr. David Kelleher OFM Cap. The articles refer to Fr. David’s experiences as student in Rome during the Second World War, to his life as a friar in the old Ard Mhuire Friary, and to the history of Ards House and its occupants.
Published
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.
Published
Copy clippings of articles from the 'Derry Journal' and the 'Irish Times' referring to the anniversaries of the Owencarrow Viaduct Disaster (30 Jan. 1925) near Creeslough, County Donegal.
Published
Clipping of an article from the 'Donegal Democrat' (30 Jan. 2002) referring to the golden jubilee of Br. Edward Dunne OFM Cap. (1930-2012). The article refers to his memories of the old Ard Mhuire Friary and to the fire in the house in December 1944. The file also includes a clipping from the 'Irish Catholic' (19 Feb. 2004) referring to the arrival of two European religious sisters of the Spiritual Family the Work (FSO) to assist the Capuchins at Ard Mhuire Retreat Centre in Donegal. With a photographic print of Sr. Christiane and Sr. Maria who are working in the diocese of Raphoe.
Published
Clipping of an article by Pat O’Leary from the 'Irish Catholic' on the history of the Ard Mhuire Retreat Centre.
Published
Copy clipping from the 'Donegal Democrat' (27 July 2007) referring to the departure of Fr. Eustace McSweeney OFM Cap. from Ard Mhuire Friary. Includes photographic print of Fr. Eustace.
Published
Clipping of an article titled ‘New Methods at Friary / Piers and retreats: a day’s work at Ards’ from the 'Donegal News' (17 Feb. 2017). The article refers to the closure (due to safety concerns) of the old pier alongside Ard Mhuire Friary.
Published
The series contains records compiled mainly by Capuchin friars relating to the history of the locality around Ard Mhuire Friary including material on the previous owners of Ards House in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Much of this historical research was amassed by Fr. David Kelleher OFM Cap. (1912-1995) who spent nearly sixty years of his ministry as a Capuchin friar in County Donegal.
Published
Headed note paper titled: ‘Ards, Cashelmore, County Donegal, Ireland’. A manuscript annotation reads: ‘Note paper of Ards House ere it became a Friary’.
Patrick Healy was born on 26 February 1875 in Graiguenamanagh, a small town on the border between Counties Carlow and Kilkenny. He entered the Capuchin novitiate at Rochestown in County Cork on 7 July 1894 and took the religious name of Angelus. He took his solemn vows in December 1897 and was ordained a priest in February 1902. Fr. Angelus cultivated a life-long interest in the history of the Irish Capuchins. In 1904, he worked alongside Fr. Stanislaus Kavanagh OFM Cap. (1876-1965) in transcribing autograph copies of two seventeenth century histories of the Irish friars by Nicholas Archbold ‘The historie of the Irish Capucins’ (1643) and Robert O’Connell ‘Historia Missionis Hiberniae Fratrum Minorum Capucinorum’ (c.1654). The original texts had been brought from France to the National Library of Ireland in Dublin for copying. Fr. Angelus was considered an authority on the history of the Irish Capuchin Province, and in 1919 he was chosen as a witness in the beatification cause of two seventeenth-century Capuchin martyrs, Fr. Fiacre Tobin OSFC (c.1620-1656) and Fr. John Baptist Dowdall OSFC (c.1626-1710). He also held several important administrative positions in the Irish Province. Three times he was elected as definitor (or counsellor), from 1910-3 and from 1922-5. He also held the position of Vicar-Provincial and was elected Custos General in 1913 which enabled him to attend the General Chapter of the Order in Rome. He was appointed Guardian of the Church Street Friary and was, at various times, Master of Novices, editor of ‘The Father Mathew Record’ periodical, and director-general of the Total Abstinence Association. Fr. Angelus never considered himself an academic historian but throughout his life he worked assiduously to assemble a vast corpus of documentary records on the history of the friars in Ireland. His ‘Pages from the Story of the Irish Capuchins’, published in 1915 to mark the tercentenary of the arrival of the first friar in Ireland, offered a concise introduction to the subject. ‘The execution of a more scholarly work’, he claimed, demanded ‘more patient research than he could ever command’. Known as an able missionary and preacher, he was also acclaimed as the ‘Guardian of the Reek’ in honour of his long association with the annual Croagh Patrick pilgrimage in County Mayo. His association with Croagh Patrick (also called ‘St. Patrick’s Reek’) lasted from 1906 to 1949, during which he climbed the mountain forty-two times missing only two years, in 1919 due to a railway strike, and in 1922 due to the Civil War. He died at the Presbytery in Westport Parish at the foot of Croagh Patrick on 20 August 1953. He was buried in the Capuchin plot in Glasnevin Cemetery in Dublin.
John Kavanagh was born in Mountmellick in Queen’s County (later County Laois) on 12 June 1876. Having spent some years in the Seraphic College in Rochestown, County Cork, he was received into the Capuchin Order in March 1893. He was ordained a priest in Dublin on 23 February 1902. Soon after his ordination he was stationed in Kilkenny as a Professor of Philosophy, but most of his life as a priest was spent in Dublin and in Cork. An accomplished scholar, Kavanagh spent many years in libraries and archives in England, France, Italy, Spain and Belgium, transcribing thousands of documents in a very clear hand, recording everything relating to the Irish Capuchins which could be discovered overseas. His work in transcribing the seventeenth-century Latin text, the ‘Commentarius Rinuccinianus’, published by the Irish Manuscripts Commission in six volumes between 1932 and 1949, is well known. His extremely important corpus of manuscripts, surrogate copies and transcribed materials for early Capuchin history are now extant in the Irish Capuchin Archives. He served as Provincial Archivist for the Capuchin Order in Ireland from 1919 to 1958. In 1918 he was appointed to investigate the cause of two seventeenth century Irish Capuchin martyrs, Fr. Fiacre Tobin OSFC (d. 1656) and Fr. John Baptist Dowdall OSFC (d. 1710). Kavanagh also had a life-long interest in Fr. Theobald Mathew OSFC (1790-1856) and amassed a huge quantity of research and documentary material relating to his life and nineteenth-century temperance campaign. In recognition of his contribution to Irish historical scholarship, the National University of Ireland awarded him an honorary Doctorate of Literature (D. Litt.) in 1947. Outside of academia, Kavanagh was a well-known preacher, missionary, and retreat-giver. In 1924 he was asked to travel to the United States where he spent several months assisting Irish Capuchin friars in missionary and preaching work. He was also a long-time incumbent of the position of Secretary of the Irish Capuchin Province (1922-31; 1937-55) and was elected Provincial Deifintor (Councillor) in 1931. His later years were blighted by dementia and he died on 16 May 1965 in the Bon Secours Hospital in Dublin. He was buried in Glasnevin Cemetery.
Baptismal name: John Kavanagh
Religious name: Fr. Stanislaus Kavanagh OFM Cap.
Date of birth: 12 June 1876
Place of birth: Mountmellick, Queen’s County (County Laois), Diocese of Kildare & Leighlin
Name of father: Edward Kavanagh
Name of mother: Joanna Kavanagh (née Costello)
Date of reception into the Capuchin Order: 20 Mar. 1893
Date of first profession: 2 July 1894
Date of final profession: 25 Dec. 1897
Date of ordination (as priest): 23 Feb. 1902
Educational attainments: Doctor of Literature (D. Litt.), 1947
Leadership positions: Provincial Definitor, 1931-4; Provincial Secretary, 1922-31, 1937-55; Provincial Archivist, 1919-1958
Date of death: 16 May 1965
Place of death: Bon Secours Hospital, Glasnevin, Dublin
Place of burial: Glasnevin Cemetery, Dublin
Published
Notes compiled by Fr. Angelus Healy OFM Cap. and Fr. Stanislaus Kavanagh OFM Cap. on the history of Ards House and its acquisition by the Capuchin friars in 1930. Extensive reference is made to the previous occupiers of the estate:
'The Sampsons, the Wrays, the Stewarts, one of whom was married to Lady Isabella Toler, granddaughter of the notorious Lord Norbury are gone, and the Capuchin Fathers are in their ancient home. In the graveyard at Clondahorky, can be seen the grave of the second wife of the first Wray of Ards, and in the grounds of Ards, some trees recall the birthdays of members of the Stewart family. To the Capuchins however, a stronger appeal is made by a lonely tomb in the graveyard around Doe Castle, the last resting place of a Franciscan Friar, Rev. Father Dominick Curden “who departed this life August ye 17th. 1809, aged 85 yrs”'.
The file includes a newspaper cutting of a poem titled ‘On the return of the Brown-Robed Friars to Donegal’ by Bernard A. Furey.
Published
Scale: 6 inches to 1 mile
Sheet No.: Donegal, Sheet No. 26
Copy ordnance survey map (Dublin, 2nd ed., 1905) showing the Ards Estate and surrounding townlands and localities. Notable features include Ards House and demesne, Ards farm, the largely forested estate, St. Michael’s Catholic Church, Cashelmore, Doe Castle, Sheephaven Bay, and Creeslough.
John Kavanagh was born in Mountmellick in Queen’s County (later County Laois) on 12 June 1876. Having spent some years in the Seraphic College in Rochestown, County Cork, he was received into the Capuchin Order in March 1893. He was ordained a priest in Dublin on 23 February 1902. Soon after his ordination he was stationed in Kilkenny as a Professor of Philosophy, but most of his life as a priest was spent in Dublin and in Cork. An accomplished scholar, Kavanagh spent many years in libraries and archives in England, France, Italy, Spain and Belgium, transcribing thousands of documents in a very clear hand, recording everything relating to the Irish Capuchins which could be discovered overseas. His work in transcribing the seventeenth-century Latin text, the ‘Commentarius Rinuccinianus’, published by the Irish Manuscripts Commission in six volumes between 1932 and 1949, is well known. His extremely important corpus of manuscripts, surrogate copies and transcribed materials for early Capuchin history are now extant in the Irish Capuchin Archives. He served as Provincial Archivist for the Capuchin Order in Ireland from 1919 to 1958. In 1918 he was appointed to investigate the cause of two seventeenth century Irish Capuchin martyrs, Fr. Fiacre Tobin OSFC (d. 1656) and Fr. John Baptist Dowdall OSFC (d. 1710). Kavanagh also had a life-long interest in Fr. Theobald Mathew OSFC (1790-1856) and amassed a huge quantity of research and documentary material relating to his life and nineteenth-century temperance campaign. In recognition of his contribution to Irish historical scholarship, the National University of Ireland awarded him an honorary Doctorate of Literature (D. Litt.) in 1947. Outside of academia, Kavanagh was a well-known preacher, missionary, and retreat-giver. In 1924 he was asked to travel to the United States where he spent several months assisting Irish Capuchin friars in missionary and preaching work. He was also a long-time incumbent of the position of Secretary of the Irish Capuchin Province (1922-31; 1937-55) and was elected Provincial Deifintor (Councillor) in 1931. His later years were blighted by dementia and he died on 16 May 1965 in the Bon Secours Hospital in Dublin. He was buried in Glasnevin Cemetery.
Baptismal name: John Kavanagh
Religious name: Fr. Stanislaus Kavanagh OFM Cap.
Date of birth: 12 June 1876
Place of birth: Mountmellick, Queen’s County (County Laois), Diocese of Kildare & Leighlin
Name of father: Edward Kavanagh
Name of mother: Joanna Kavanagh (née Costello)
Date of reception into the Capuchin Order: 20 Mar. 1893
Date of first profession: 2 July 1894
Date of final profession: 25 Dec. 1897
Date of ordination (as priest): 23 Feb. 1902
Educational attainments: Doctor of Literature (D. Litt.), 1947
Leadership positions: Provincial Definitor, 1931-4; Provincial Secretary, 1922-31, 1937-55; Provincial Archivist, 1919-1958
Date of death: 16 May 1965
Place of death: Bon Secours Hospital, Glasnevin, Dublin
Place of burial: Glasnevin Cemetery, Dublin
Published
Note by Fr. Stanislaus Kavanagh OFM Cap. re the existence of an apartment in the Ards House called ‘the Friar’s Room’. It reads:
'The morning after the building and property were taken over from the Land Commission Holy Mass was celebrated in the portion of the building assigned an oratory. In the course of the day one of the fathers remarked to the steward “I expect this is the first time Mass was said here”. The steward was doubtful and mentioned a tradition prevalent … [that] one of the apartments is called “The Friar’s Room”. The explanation given is that about 100 or 150 years ago a friar was accustomed to visit the family and inhabited that room. The steward presumed that when he came, he said Mass in the building'.
For biographical information on Louis J. Walsh (1880-1942) see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louis_Joseph_Walsh
Published
Letter from Louis J. Walsh (1880-1942) to Fr. Colman Griffin OFM Cap., guardian, Ard Mhuire Friary, welcoming the arrival of the Capuchins in County Donegal. He writes: 'I hope … above all that the Holy Mass is being offered up every morning in the halls where alien lords revelled and plotted against our religion and our race. … Your monastery will add wonderful richness to the spiritual life of Tír Chonaill and of Ulster and bring down countless blessings on us all'. He also suggests that Ard Mhuire Friary would serve as an excellent location ‘in which lay men could make retreats’.
Published
An extract from an article by Capt. Francis McCullagh titled ‘The Return of the Franciscans to Tyrconnell’ published in 'The Capuchin Annual' (1931), pp 33-8. The article refers to the establishment by the Capuchin friars of the Ard Mhuire novitiate in the former Ards House in County Donegal.
Captain Francis McCullagh, ‘The Return of the Franciscans to Tyrconnell’, 'The Capuchin Annual' (1931), pp 33-8. http://annual.capuchinfranciscans.ie/1931/html5/
Patrick Healy was born on 26 February 1875 in Graiguenamanagh, a small town on the border between Counties Carlow and Kilkenny. He entered the Capuchin novitiate at Rochestown in County Cork on 7 July 1894 and took the religious name of Angelus. He took his solemn vows in December 1897 and was ordained a priest in February 1902. Fr. Angelus cultivated a life-long interest in the history of the Irish Capuchins. In 1904, he worked alongside Fr. Stanislaus Kavanagh OFM Cap. (1876-1965) in transcribing autograph copies of two seventeenth century histories of the Irish friars by Nicholas Archbold ‘The historie of the Irish Capucins’ (1643) and Robert O’Connell ‘Historia Missionis Hiberniae Fratrum Minorum Capucinorum’ (c.1654). The original texts had been brought from France to the National Library of Ireland in Dublin for copying. Fr. Angelus was considered an authority on the history of the Irish Capuchin Province, and in 1919 he was chosen as a witness in the beatification cause of two seventeenth-century Capuchin martyrs, Fr. Fiacre Tobin OSFC (c.1620-1656) and Fr. John Baptist Dowdall OSFC (c.1626-1710). He also held several important administrative positions in the Irish Province. Three times he was elected as definitor (or counsellor), from 1910-3 and from 1922-5. He also held the position of Vicar-Provincial and was elected Custos General in 1913 which enabled him to attend the General Chapter of the Order in Rome. He was appointed Guardian of the Church Street Friary and was, at various times, Master of Novices, editor of ‘The Father Mathew Record’ periodical, and director-general of the Total Abstinence Association. Fr. Angelus never considered himself an academic historian but throughout his life he worked assiduously to assemble a vast corpus of documentary records on the history of the friars in Ireland. His ‘Pages from the Story of the Irish Capuchins’, published in 1915 to mark the tercentenary of the arrival of the first friar in Ireland, offered a concise introduction to the subject. ‘The execution of a more scholarly work’, he claimed, demanded ‘more patient research than he could ever command’. Known as an able missionary and preacher, he was also acclaimed as the ‘Guardian of the Reek’ in honour of his long association with the annual Croagh Patrick pilgrimage in County Mayo. His association with Croagh Patrick (also called ‘St. Patrick’s Reek’) lasted from 1906 to 1949, during which he climbed the mountain forty-two times missing only two years, in 1919 due to a railway strike, and in 1922 due to the Civil War. He died at the Presbytery in Westport Parish at the foot of Croagh Patrick on 20 August 1953. He was buried in the Capuchin plot in Glasnevin Cemetery in Dublin.
Published
A draft schema for the compilation of the Ard Mhuire Friary archives. The schema was devised by Fr. Angelus Healy OFM Cap. and refers to some of the foundational documents which should be obtained and secured for safe keeping. Reference is made to documents from the Land Commission, correspondence with the Bishop of Raphoe and letters from the Capuchin General Minister re the establishment of a novitiate at Ard Mhuire.
Published
An article on the history of the Wray family in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. The Wrays were the owners of the Ards Estate before it was purchased by the Stewarts in 1781. It is noted that in about 1700 William Wray ‘bought 5,000 acres of land between Dunfanaghy and Doe from William Sampson’. The article adds: 'In 1781 the estate was sold to Mr Alexander Stewart, brother of the first Marquess of Londonderry and uncle of the infamous Lord Castlereagh, for the sum of £13,250 in order to meet the owner’s debts'. An appendix to the article includes some brief notes on the Stewarts of Ards compiled by Fr. T.J. Walsh, a diocesan priest in Cork.
Published
Copies of a poem titled ‘The Old Metal Man’ referring to the acquisition of Ards House by the Capuchin friars. The poem reads:
'Gone, gone the Ascendancy, “gentry” and others
That lorded it over the old native clan,
Replaced by the people, the friars and brothers,
Whilst still to the fore stands the Old Metal Man'.
The file includes a clipping of the poem published in the 'Derry Journal' on 30 Nov. 1935.
Published
Transcript of a poem titled ‘Ard Mhuire’ by Peter Kelly published in 'Ireland’s Own', 20 Feb. 1936, at p. 17. The poem refers to the presence of the Capuchin friars in Donegal.
Patrick Healy was born on 26 February 1875 in Graiguenamanagh, a small town on the border between Counties Carlow and Kilkenny. He entered the Capuchin novitiate at Rochestown in County Cork on 7 July 1894 and took the religious name of Angelus. He took his solemn vows in December 1897 and was ordained a priest in February 1902. Fr. Angelus cultivated a life-long interest in the history of the Irish Capuchins. In 1904, he worked alongside Fr. Stanislaus Kavanagh OFM Cap. (1876-1965) in transcribing autograph copies of two seventeenth century histories of the Irish friars by Nicholas Archbold ‘The historie of the Irish Capucins’ (1643) and Robert O’Connell ‘Historia Missionis Hiberniae Fratrum Minorum Capucinorum’ (c.1654). The original texts had been brought from France to the National Library of Ireland in Dublin for copying. Fr. Angelus was considered an authority on the history of the Irish Capuchin Province, and in 1919 he was chosen as a witness in the beatification cause of two seventeenth-century Capuchin martyrs, Fr. Fiacre Tobin OSFC (c.1620-1656) and Fr. John Baptist Dowdall OSFC (c.1626-1710). He also held several important administrative positions in the Irish Province. Three times he was elected as definitor (or counsellor), from 1910-3 and from 1922-5. He also held the position of Vicar-Provincial and was elected Custos General in 1913 which enabled him to attend the General Chapter of the Order in Rome. He was appointed Guardian of the Church Street Friary and was, at various times, Master of Novices, editor of ‘The Father Mathew Record’ periodical, and director-general of the Total Abstinence Association. Fr. Angelus never considered himself an academic historian but throughout his life he worked assiduously to assemble a vast corpus of documentary records on the history of the friars in Ireland. His ‘Pages from the Story of the Irish Capuchins’, published in 1915 to mark the tercentenary of the arrival of the first friar in Ireland, offered a concise introduction to the subject. ‘The execution of a more scholarly work’, he claimed, demanded ‘more patient research than he could ever command’. Known as an able missionary and preacher, he was also acclaimed as the ‘Guardian of the Reek’ in honour of his long association with the annual Croagh Patrick pilgrimage in County Mayo. His association with Croagh Patrick (also called ‘St. Patrick’s Reek’) lasted from 1906 to 1949, during which he climbed the mountain forty-two times missing only two years, in 1919 due to a railway strike, and in 1922 due to the Civil War. He died at the Presbytery in Westport Parish at the foot of Croagh Patrick on 20 August 1953. He was buried in the Capuchin plot in Glasnevin Cemetery in Dublin.
Published
Extracts by Fr. Angelus Healy OFM Cap. from the Patent Rolls of James I (1611) and the Civil Survey (1654) re the occupiers of lands around Ards in County Donegal.
Published
Letter from Dr. Harry C. Trimble to Fr. David Kelleher OFM Cap. requesting information on the Stewart family, the former owners of the Ards Estate. He writes:
'Several of my ancestors came to the United States from County Donegal more than a century ago. The maiden name of our great-grandmother was Jane Elizabeth Stewart. She was born about 1790 and was marked to William Wilkinson in County Donegal. … It has been suggested that our great-grandmother was related to the Stewarts of Ards'.
Published
Photostat copies from an unidentified publication referring to the history of Dunfanaghy and its hinterland with reference to the Stewart family of Ards.
Published
Extracts from by John J. Dunne, 'Haunted Ireland / her romantic and mysterious ghosts' (Belfast, 1977) re an apparition called ‘The Blue Lady of Ards’ which supposedly haunted the old Ard Mhuire Friary (the former Ards House). The text reads:
'She did not make her presence felt until after the mansion had been taken over by the Capuchins and became their house of theological studies for Irish novices. … It is reported that the apparition was seen on top of the oak staircase in the mansion. The stairs were horseshoe-shaped, forming a horseshow meeting at the landing above. A priest is said to have seen the ghost, a lovely lady in blue, at the top of the stairs, just as he was about to ascend them'.
Patrick Kelleher was born in Coolea near Ballyvourney in County Cork on 28 February 1912. His early schooling was in Coolea National School and in the Capuchin College in Rochestown in County Cork. He was received into the novitiate in Kilkenny in October 1929 and took David as his religious name. He undertook a formidable course of academic studies obtaining a Bachelor of Arts (1933) and later a Master of Arts (1934) from University College Cork. He was solemnly professed as a Capuchin friar in St. Bonaventure’s in Cork in October 1933. Following three years of theological studies in Ard Mhuire Friary in County Donegal, he was ordained to the priesthood in October 1937. He was sent to Rome after his ordination and spent six years at the International Capuchin College from 1937 to 1943, taking a Doctorate in Theology and a Licentiate in Scripture from the Pontifical Gregorian University. He also obtained a Diploma in Library Science from the Vatican Library. His time in Rome coincided with the difficult years of conflict in Italy during the Second World War. He returned to Ireland in 1943 and he resided in Ard Mhuire Friary for the remainder of his life, teaching dogmatic theology and liturgical and spiritual theology (1943-72). Aside from his pastoral work, he served as guardian (local superior) of the Ard Mhuire community for two terms and was the local vicar for eleven years. He also served on the Provincial Definitory (Council) from 1955 to 1958. He also retained a life-long interest in promoting the temperance cause. He died on 21 November 1995 and was buried in the cemetery attached to Ard Mhuire Friary in County Donegal.
Baptismal name: Patrick Kelleher
Religious name: Fr. David Kelleher OFM Cap.
Date of birth: 28 Feb. 1912
Place of birth: Coolea, Ballyvourney, County Cork (Diocese of Cloyne)
Name of father: Daniel Kelleher (Farmer)
Name of mother: Johanna Kelleher (née Mullane)
Date of reception into Capuchin Order: 3 Oct. 1929 (at Kilkenny)
Date of first profession: 4 Oct. 1930
Date of solemn profession: 4 Oct. 1933
Date of ordination (as priest): 10 Oct. 1937 (Ard Mhuire Capuchin Friary, County Donegal)
Educational attainments: BA (1st class hons.) and scholarship, UCC, (1933); MA, UCC, (1934); Doctor of Sacred Theology, (1940); Licentiate of Sacred Scripture, (1942).
Leadership positions: Provincial Definitor (Councillor), 1955-8; Custos General, 1958-61
Date of death: 21 Nov. 1995
Place of death: Ard Mhuire Capuchin Friary, County Donegal
Place of burial: Cemetery, Ard Mhuire Capuchin Friary, County Donegal
Published
A short article by Fr. David Kelleher OFM Cap. on the history of the Capuchin friars in County Donegal. The article refers to the importance of the missionary work performed by the friars who were ordained in Ard Mhuire. Reference is also made to the financing of the building of the new friary and church in the 1960s. The article reads: 'In the year 1930 the Irish Capuchin Franciscans took over the old Stewart mansion in County Donegal and fitted it out as a theological seminary. Between 1931 and 1972 over two hundred priests were ordained at Ard Mhuire. They are now working in almost every continent'.
Published
A letter from Dermot MacIntyre to Fr. David Kelleher OFM Cap. referring to the history of the former Stewart-Bam residence in Ards. An extract from the letter reads:
'In regard to Ards and Ards House, I have just found an old notebook of my father’s. He used to jot down bits and pieces on anything to hand and in this old notebook he has an entry dated, Friday, December 30, 1910. He writes: "Was at a dance in Ards House last night given by Sir Pieter Bam. Charlie Coll and I played for them. Bam came in about 9 o’clock. I did not like it all but would rather be in the poorest thatch house in Doe, with the Gaelic sounding round me, than in the midst of it all. Bam does his best to unbend, but it is plainly an effort and he seems to know himself that it won’t be successful. His wife is outrageously proud. She sat all the time like an incarnate goddess and noticed no one. Such pride is a sin against Heaven. You would think the ordinary people were less than dogs to her. Her sister is not one whit better"'.
Further extracts from his father’s journal refer to the landlord’s relationships with the workers and tenants on the Ards estate, to the histories of various local churches, to a Feis at Doe Castle in 1910, and to the building of the Lough Swilly railway in Donegal.
For more information on Hugh A. Law (1872-1943) see https://www.photoalbumoftheirish.com/law-county-galway/ldonegalmuseum008-2/
Published
Photographic prints of a hand-drawn portrait of the Irish nationalist politician, Hugh A. Law (1872-1943) and his residence at Marble Hill House, Dunfanaghy, County Donegal. The portrait is dated 12 Sept. 1928.
Published
An article on the history of Doe Castle on the shores of Sheephaven Bay near Creeslough, County Donegal. The article was compiled by Sheila MacMahon. A note from the author to Fr. David Kelleher OFM Cap. is extant on the reverse of the last page. The file includes a colour postcard print of a painting of Doe Castle and a short note re the restoration by a local branch of the Legion of Mary of broken or neglected Penal-era Mass Rocks in the area around Doe.
Published
A copy of 'Uproar in Dungloe' by Naoi nGiallach. The text refers to the famous personages from Dungloe including the 1916 Rising and War of Independence veteran, Joseph Sweeney (1897-1980).
Published
Personal recollections, family history and local folklore in Donegal collected by Peadar MacMahon and submitted to Fr. David Kelleher OFM Cap. The memoir includes a short chapter titled ‘Anahire or Aultcrum / Ards House / Creeslough’.
Published
Two poems by Eddie McClafferty titled ‘Doe Chapel’ and ‘The Sand Eel Strand on Sheephaven Bay’.
Published
A watercolour illustration (possibly by Br. John Manley OFM Cap.) of the exterior of Ard Mhuire Capuchin Friary.
Published
Sketches of oak, cedar and lebanon trees on the grounds of the Ard Mhuire Friary.
Published
Letter from Colette Gallagher to Fr. Eustace McSweeney OFM Cap., guardian, Ard Mhuire Friary, conveying a local tradition re the existence of a ‘half-way house between Ards Friary and Rossnowlagh’.
Published
The series contains printed ephemera mostly pertaining to the history of Ard Mhuire Capuchin Friary and the surrounding locality.
Printed arms of Alexander Stewart on inside front cover (see digital object above).
A manuscript note found in the volume reads: ‘Alexander Stewart took over Ards House and grounds [County Donegal] from William Wray in 1782. He died in 1831’. The volume formed part of the library of Ards House when the Capuchins acquired the property in 1930. The contents of the library were apparently auctioned before the Capuchins took up residence, but this volume was probably retained and was later transferred to the Irish Capuchin Archives. See https://catalogue.nli.ie/Record/vtls000435713
Published
Date: 1796
Author: Andrew Fuller
Publisher: London: Printed for, and sold by T. Gardiner, No. 19, Princes-Street, Oxford-Street / Sold also by W. Button, No. 24, Pater-Noster-Row and J. Mathews, Strand.
Full title: 'The Calvinistic and Socinian systems examined and compared as to their moral tendency in a series of letters. Addressed to the friends of vital and practical religion. The third edition. By Andrew Fuller'.
Bound in contemporary hard covers with gilt title to spine. Internally, the volume is firmly bound.
Published
Copy of the Lenten Pastoral Letter (with Lenten Regulations) from the Most Rev. William MacNeely (1888-1963), Bishop of Raphoe, for 1932. The file also includes printed Lenten Regulations for the diocese for 1964 and 1967.
Published
A vocations’ flier for the House of Theological Studies at Ard Mhuire Capuchin Friary. It is noted that ‘since 1932 Ard Mhuire has produced well over a hundred priests. They are now labouring on the Irish Capuchin foreign mission in Africa, in the United States of America, and at home in Ireland’. The flier also has a photographic print of the exterior of the old Ard Mhuire Friary (formerly Ards House).
Published
A flier seeking support for the construction of a new chapel (St. Michael’s) at Cashelmore, Doe, County Donegal. The leaflet notes that ‘St. Michael’s Church, Cashelmore, is probably the oldest church being used by the Catholics of the diocese of Raphoe. Two inscriptions set in the eastern wall inform us that the church was built by Father Bernard Rodan in 1784 and re-built by Father Peter Gallagher in 1830’.
Published
Articles on Ard Mhuire Capuchin Friary published in 'The Father Mathew Record', an Irish Capuchin periodical magazine. The file includes:
• The opening of the new Ard Mhuire Capuchin Friary. 'The Father Mathew Record', Jan. 1967, pp 12-29. With numerous photographic prints of the official ceremony which was held on 13 Nov. 1966.
• An article on the history of Ards House by Edward MacIntrye. 'The Father Mathew Record', Feb. 1967, pp 18-24.
See also CA DL/6/15.
Published
A guide to Ards Forest Park and Sheephaven Bay published by Irish Forest and Wildlife Service. The book has been annotated by Fr. David Kelleher OFM Cap. The guide reads: 'The Stewart family held Ards until 1926, the property being known as the Stewart-Bam estate in its later years from the marriage in 1910 of the heiress, Miss Eva Stewart to Sir Pieter Bam, a native of South Africa. The great estate was finally broken up following its acquisition by the Irish Land Commission in 1926 and the area that was to become our Forest Park came into our possession in 1929'.
Published
An illustrated guide to the Fanad peninsula with images of the principal towns, features and sites of historical interest in the area. Includes a fold-out map.
Published
Telephone directory for priests, religious foundations, schools and hospitals in the diocese of Raphoe.
Published
Information fliers advertising various amenities at Creeslough, Dunfanaghy and Port-na-Blagh in County Donegal.
Published
Booklet for a Mass Celebration on Medal Hill (formerly Doe Chapel) near Creeslough in County Donegal to mark Fr. Theobald Mathew’s temperance gathering at the same location on 15 June 1841. The commemorative mass, which was celebrated by friars from Ard Mhuire, was held on 21 August 1988. The file also includes a photostat copy of a letter from Andrew MacIntyre (25 Feb. 1955) to Fr. David Kelleher OFM Cap. referring to Father Mathew’s temperance meeting at Cashelmore, County Donegal, in June 1841. For more on this local commemoration see CA FM/RES/4/1/3.
Published
A guidebook to the Creeslough-Dunfanaghy locality published by the Doe Historical Committee. The booklet contains an illustrated chapter titled ‘The Peninsula of Ards’ which explores the history of the Ards estate and Ard Mhuire Capuchin Friary and Retreat House. With inserts, photographs and a ‘a progress report on the work of the Doe Historical Committee’ written by Fr. David Kelleher OFM Cap.
Published
'A History of Ards' by Fr. David Kelleher OFM Cap. published by Ard Mhuire Capuchin Friary. The booklet traces the history of the Ards estate from its occupation by the Wrays and the Stewarts to the arrival of the Capuchins in 1930. The chapter headings include: Life in the old mansion, The auction (1927), From manor house to Capuchin Friary, Novitiate and House of Theology, Life in the Friary, and Retreat House. The file also includes typescript and manuscript drafts of the text. Some of the photographs which appeared in the publication are extant at CA DL/5/1
Published
A metal artefact (possibly a nameplate). The engraving on the plate reads: ‘IARGONNELL’. A covering note reads: ‘Artefact from walled gardens found by Br. Rufino Ferris OFM Cap. (South Africa) in the summer of 2006. Placed in this envelope by Br. Michael Duffy OFM Cap., 11th Jan. 2007’. The artefact probably dates to the occupation of Ards House by the Stewarts.