A file relating to Fr Laurence O'Neill SJ, his entry into the Society of Jesus, his ill health, his four years in Australia as a scholastic and his death.

From Fr Patrick Bracken SJ, writing from Tullabeg, to James O'Shaughnessy. Replies to the latter’s enquiry in relation to Fr Gahan’s will, and also with regard to the agreement to Bishop Briggs to give £800 to the Society in compensation for their property on the Isle of Man.

Part of a letter from Fr Patrick O'Kelly SJ, St Ignatius College, Galway regarding the acquisition for the library in Tullamore, an old parchment bound folio volume entitled ‘Defensio Fidei Catholicae a Francesco Suario Soc. Iesu Coimbra 1613’.

Letters to the Irish Fr Provincial from various Jesuits in response to Fr Provincial’s letter (16 April 1941, 1p.) seeking volunteers to serve as chaplains: ‘Mgr. Coghlan (an Irishman from the diocese of Meath) who is in charge of the military chaplains has called upon me and informed me that the need of chaplains is acute and urgent, in some areas Catholic soldiers have no priests to look after them’. Includes responses from: John Hayes SJ (See CHP2/18); John Burden SJ (See CHP2/13); Thomas O'Donnell SJ; Cyril Perrott SJ (See CHP2/35); Conal Murphy SJ (See CHP2/30); Thomas P. Kelly SJ; Brendan Lawler SJ; John McCarron SJ; Brian MacMahon SJ; Daniel Shields SJ (See CHP2/37); Maurice Dowling SJ (See CHP2/16); Frank O'Riordan SJ and Joseph Garland SJ.

Diary includes entry dated 31 August 1909 which reads, ‘Since coming here to Mungret six years ago I’ve been struggling on much on the old lines ever seeking peace one way or another…It came upon me quite by surprise to be sent here from M(ill)town Park. I had been told I sh(oul)d be there 10 years (of course not for certain). Any way I made best of it. It was compensation to get away from relatives who had given me awful bother, poor creatures. I came here as Vice Rector & had lots of teaching. I had to study much & got on well enough. I expected to be appointed Rector, but after 2 years ceased to be Superior & felt it someways though I would have chosen it too.…In the matter of Latin it seems to me as if I had never known much about it before & still I am far from being a Latin scholar. This is absolutely true. Last year I had 2nd Arts Pass Greek & learnt a good deal about it too & glad of additional insight.…First year I had 1st Arts English Pass & Honors besides Pass [ ] of B.A. [And] 2nd Arts. Eyes got affected. Two months not allowed to read. Enjoyed the time. This year I had only Lat(in) B.A. & 2nd Arts & so like last year.…For all my reading, writing, thinking, results not much. I have not turned out at all what I expected. Much better so. I have given up thinking I ever shall.…I am now in my 63rd year, old enough to have sense. It is something to know that one has not much sense & never shall. Men are but children of larger growth.…one w(oul)d think I ought to have made more mark. Since I came here six years ago I have never been asked to preach anywhere, not even at the Crescent. I am glad now. I am determined for the future to be absolutely truthful with regard to mental state, & give up all sham.…I have a great deal of the buffoon in me. This vacation I was three weeks away at C.W.C.,…(Clongowes Wood College, Co. Kildare)…in Dublin & in [...]. All that time I was going about & meeting many. I joked & told stories & made people laugh &…in my own esteem shone & I am sure several thought I was always goodhumoured… the truth is very different.…As I have given up all desire of distinguishing myself, of attracting notice etc. I will try to make diary a companion.…The way to please God is to be as useful & helpful as one can. I must try. Reading & writing may be best for me.’

Diary is resumed after a three year break, on 1st October 1912, in an entry beginning ‘Tullabeg. here since Aug. 24th 1911.’

File of correspondence from Irish Jesuits mainly in Chikuni and Choma, Northern Rhodesia (Zambia) to Fr Thomas J. Martin SJ, Mission Office, Milltown Park (later Upper Sherrard Street), Dublin concerning the Chikuni Mission (administration, building plans, school life, finance, requests for supplies and general life there). Includes letters from Frs Dan Byrne, Arthur Clarke, Bernard Collins, Tom Cooney, Joseph Mary Gill, William Lee, Joe McCarthy, Tom McGivern, Louis Meagher, Des O'Loghlen, Charles O'Connor and Brian Sharkey.

• letter from Fr Joseph Mary Gill SJ indicating the work he has to do as a teacher as well as been Mission Procurator '...the farm is a big worry. There is something wrong with the cattle and five have just died and a number of the others are sick' (12 October 1950);
• statement by Fr Brian Sharkey SJ entitled 'Some highlights in missionary life for me' which outlines his time at the Chikuni Mission [1951];
• letter from Fr Tom Cooney SJ in which he describes the plant needed from Bord na Mona, 'the 60 K.V.A. would be rather large for Chikuni' (16 September 1953); - Chikuni Mission statistics for the year ending 31st December 1953; - letter from Fr Thomas McGivern SJ which includes plan of a map of the buildings at Chikuni (1 January 1954);
• letter in which Fr Louis Meagher SJ is frustrated with the lack of skills of those been sent out to the mission, 'Could it not be possible to arrange that the brother in Tullabeg be detailed off to give lesson to the scholastics once their names are made known for the missions' (29 September 1956);
• letter from Fr Des O'Loghlen SJ, Choma, Northern Rhodesia informing of the death of Fr Danny Byrne SJ (6 May 1964);
• account of the death of Fr Arthur Cox (11 June 1965).

Bound handwritten register of the female and male members of the Apostleship of Prayer and Confraternity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Includes lists of promoters; inserts of a Certificate of Enrolment to the Apostleship of Prayer of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (1877); list of books in library used for different subjects: Latin, Greek, Theology, Physics, German, Jesuitica, Mathematics. English Literature, Periodicals and Religion (1633-1918).

With signatures and practice handwriting by Daniel Leap[e], Bolart, Clara, King's County, 9 October 1912 and James Dolan, Roscommon.

Copy of death certificate of Fr. James F. Murphy SJ.

'A Diary or Jottings, from day to day of events, especially 1 Nov. 1892 regarding the Society and, in particular, this (Irish) Province, which may prove interesting &, perhaps, even useful when The Writer shall be many years dead and gone.’ Found enclosed is a typed note (n.d., 2pp) by an unknown Jesuit (possibly Fr Fergal McGrath SJ, Irish Province Archivist 1975-1986) giving brief biographical details of Fr Murphy. Also comments on the contents of the diary, ‘Some interesting things recorded are: the initial history of all the houses of the province: the story of the setting up of Milltown as a Coll. Max.: the dispute with the Bishop of Meath (Dr Nulty) over faculties for fathers at Tullabeg: the biographies of various S.J.s (and, e.g., reference to W. Coyne, later father of Fr Eddie Coyne and to Charles Kennedy a benefactor of the province): the account of the great storm of 1890/1 and of the influenza epidemic which swept over Europe from Russia. Minutiae of the day-to-day life, customs, studies and so on, and the final account of the Provincial Congregation (June 1892) after Fr General’s (Anderledy) death are also of interest and some historical value.’ Enclosures includes extracts from diary kept in Tullabeg, 1856 (9pp).

Postcard sent by ‘E.F.R.’, Edward Frank Ryan, Clongowes Wood College, County Kildare to Fr Henry Johnston SJ at St Stanislaus’ College, Tullamore, Kingscounty (County Offaly), planning a day trip depending on the weather.

Photograph of the grave of D. F. Mahony and Emily Geoghegan, Melbourne, Australia. Mahony was past pupil of St Stanislaus College, Tullabeg, County Offaly. Details on reveres of photograph.

Letters to the Irish Fr Provincial Laurence J. Kieran SJ from various Jesuits volunteering to become military chaplains following the outbreak of the Second World War. Includes letters from: Frs Michael J. Morrison SJ (See CHP2/29), Arthur Little SJ, Fr Edward J. Coyne SJ, Joseph Garland SJ, Thomas Shuley SJ, Richard Kennedy SJ (See CHP2/23), Leonard Sheil SJ, James McCann SJ and Michael Pelly SJ (See CHP2/33).

Copy letter from Irish Fr Provincial Laurence Kieran SJ to Fr Hurley concerning the change of Fr Joseph Hurley's status from Clongowes to Tullabeg. Includes a reply from Fr Hurley.

Photocopy of pages from the Novice Journal (Beadle) at Tullabeg (IE IJA FM/TULL/55, early part of journal; deals with Loyola House, Dromore, County Down), which references the arrival at Dromore of Fr Hopkins ‘from Dublin to make his Retreat’ (15 September) and ‘Rev[eren]d Fr Rector came to evening recreation accompanied by Fr Hopkins whom he introduced to the Novices (26 September).

Kevin A. Laheen S.J. 2007
ISBN 978 0 9531053 7 3
Published in July 2007
O'Brien Book Publications,
'Mount Arley', Drumline,
Newmarket-on-Fergus,
Co.Clare.
[email protected]

Some Jesuit Contributions to Irish Education: A Study of the Work of Irish Members of the Society of Jesus in connection with the Irish College, Salamanca (1592-1610); Mungret College, Limerick (1881 to 1889): St. Stanislaus College. Tullabeg 1818 to 1886): and University College, Dublin (1883 to 1909)

Two Volumes

Thomas J. Morrissey, M.A.

Ph.D Degree N-U.I.
Faculty of Arts, University Collge, Cork.
Department of education: Professor V.A. McClelland.

1975

Parties:
Evelyn Egan, Sion Hill Convent, Blackrock, County Dublin, Spinster: 1st part.
Rev. Peter Finlay SJ, Milltown Park, Milltown, County Dublin;
Daniel Purcell, 45 Lower Leeson Street, Dublin, Solicitor: 2nd part.

Terms:
Miss Egan appoints Daniel Purcell and Fr Finlay as trustees and transfers £436 4% debenture stock of the Midland Great Western Railway of Ireland Company to the trustees, to be held by them, subject to the following conditions: they shall pay one-fifth of the annual income of the trust fund to the parish priest of Tullamore, county Offaly and one fifth to the Superioress of the Tullamore Convent of Mercy, for the furnishing and upkeep of the parish church ‘now being erected in the town of Tullamore’; one-fifth annually to the St. Vincent de Paul Society; one-fifth to the ‘Police Aided Childrens’ Clothing Society in the City of Dublin for its general purposes’ and one-fifth to the Homestead District Nursing Association of No.22 Lincoln Place. If Miss Egan withdraws at any time from the Dominican Order she shall be at liberty to revoke all or any of the trusts, and the trustees shall transfer the trust fund to her.

Holograph letters and one typewritten letter by Willie Doyle: as a schoolboy in Ratcliffe College, Leicestershire, England to his brother Bob and mother (30 May 1886 - 9 April 1887); as a Jesuit novice at St Stanislaus, Tullabeg, County Offaly to his mother and father, and sisters Mai and Lena (8 August 1891 - 9 July 1892); as a scholastic at Milltown Park, Dublin to his father and brother Bob (31 May - Christmas 1893) and to Brother Cahill on finishing his noviceship (8 June 1893) and at Clongowes Wood College, County Kildare to his mother and father, and brothers Bob and Charles (3 September 1894 - 23 August 1896).

A file relating to Fr Joseph Hurley's wish to write some of the Messenger of the Sacred Heart in Irish. Includes a letter from Fr F. Schwendimann SJ, Directio Generalis, Apostolatus Orationis, Borgo S. Spirito 5, Rome, Italy to Irish Fr Provincial Thomas Byrne SJ expressing his worry over different dialects in Ireland and the possibility of misinterpretation (21 November 1952, 1p). Includes a copy reply from Fr Provincial explaining that although differences do occur within the Irish language in different parts of Ireland the meaning would not be misinterpreted (26 November 1952, 1p).

Letter from Fr Joseph Hurley SJ, St Stanislaus College, Tullamore, County Offaly to Irish Fr Provincial Thomas Byrne SJ detailing the literary work he has been engaged in as Scriptor in Tullabeg.

Copy letter from [Irish Fr Provincial John R MacMahon SJ], St. Francis Xavier's, Upper Gardiner Street, Dublin to Fr Joseph Hurley SJ instructing him to cease working on the organisation of local branches of the Gaelic League. Remarks '...I think that it would be better if you did not even write on this subject...' Includes a reply from Fr Hurley, St. Stanislaus College, Tullamore, County Offaly.

Letter from Fr Joseph Hurley SJ, St Stanislaus College, Tullabeg, County Offaly to Irish Fr Provincial Thomas Byrne SJ concerning his editorship of An Timire.

Letter from Fr Joseph Hurley SJ, St Stanislaus College, Tullamore, County Offaly to Irish Fr Provincial John R MacMahon SJ seeking permission to attend the funeral of his cousin, Mother M Teresa. Refers to his need for a typewriter to keep up to date with his writing.

Letter from Fr Joseph Hurley SJ, St Stanislaus College, Tullamore, County Offaly to Irish Fr Provincial John R. MacMahon SJ asking permission to attend Fr Kehoe's golden jubilee.

Letter from Fr Joseph Hurley SJ, St Stanislaus College, Tullamore, County Offaly to Irish Fr Provincial John R MacMahon SJ seeking permission to visit his cousin, Mother M. Teresa, St Louis Convent who is dying of cancer.

Letter from Fr Joseph Hurley SJ, St Stanislaus College, Tullamore, County Offaly to Irish Fr Provincial John R MacMahon SJ concerning a letter he wishes to send to the Editor of the Irish Times in reply to an 'attack' made on Fr Stephen Brown's book.

Copy letter from Irish Fr Provincial Laurence Kieran SJ, St Francis Xavier's, Upper Gardiner Street, Dublin to Mr Joseph Hurley SJ concerning faults he must correct before progressing to Theology.

Letter from Timothy Hurley (father of Joseph Hurley), Rusnacahara NS, Ahakista, Durrus, Bantry, County Cork to Irish Fr Provincial John Fahy SJ, St Francis Xavier's, Upper Gardiner Street, Dublin concerning his son's progress in Tullabeg. Refers to his contribution towards his son's upkeep.

Holograph letters and typewritten letters by Mr Willie Doyle SJ while: at Clongowes Wood College to his mother and father, and sister Lena (6 April 1897 - 1898); undertaking philosophy at Enghien, Belgium to his mother and father (2 October 1898 - 3 June 1899); at St. Mary’s Hall, Stonyhurst College, England to his mother and father (14 October 1900 - 31 March 1901); at Clongowes Wood College to his mother and father, and sister Mai (18 December 1901 - 5 August 1903); undertaking theology at Milltown Park (23 December 1904 - Easter 1906).

File of photographs of First World War scenes (Military convoy, 30 July 1916 and the Menin Road), Rathfarnham Castle and Dalkey. Includes copies of images of St Stanislaus College, Tullabeg, County Offaly and Kemmel Hill and Zonnebeke, Belgium and small handwritten sketch maps of Ypres (11 February 1935).

From Fr Patrick Bracken SJ, writing from Tullabeg, County Offaly to Fr Gahan in the Isle of Man. Reports on some members of the community in Tullabeg, including Fr Robert Haly and Fr Aylmer, and adds that Fr Esmonde is on his way to Rome. Refers to Fr Gahan’s problems in the Isle of Man in relation to the provision of Mass for Catholics in Douglas, and the question of whether the Bishop would permit this. Asks him to defer the sale of the chapel in Castletown until he (Fr. Bracken) receives a reply from the Fr. General.

From Fr Peter Kenney SJ to Fr Patrick Bracken SJ. Announces that he will not be able to go to Tullabeg that year. Reports on the situation in Clongowes, and on the various Jesuits residents there. Reports also on the Jesuit mission in the Isle of Man, where Fr Aylmer stopped for a time to assess the situation. Refers to the debate on the question of whether the mission there should be retained by the Irish Jesuits, and also to the opening of a new chapel in Douglas.

From Fr Matthew Gahan SJ in the Isle of Man to Fr Patrick Bracken SJ in Tullabeg. Declares that he would not think he should cross the Channel (back to Ireland) in his current state of health, and furthermore that he would only leave if the person who was to supply for him had been there for a time. Refers to the debts owed by him to various people. States that he would rather ‘die in a ditch’ before yielding to ‘a Judas like trick on the part of Dr Briggs [Bishop of the Northern District]’.