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Irish Jesuits Doyle, Willie, 1873-1917, Servant of God, Jesuit priest and chaplain
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“Father Willie” (Father Willie Doyle, SJ) as part of the “Irish Messenger Series”

  • IE IJA J/2/99
  • File
  • [1949-1970]; 11 July 1977
  • Part of Irish Jesuits

“Father Willie” (Father Willie Doyle, SJ) as part of the “Irish Messenger Series” published by the Irish Messenger Office. Includes a note from Diarmuid [ ], Fitzpatrick’s Book Shop, 12 Cathedral Street, Upper O’ Connell Street, Dublin to Fr Fergal [McGrath] SJ in which he refers to a reprint of an insert letter by T. Cain, 22 Limetree Crescent, Cockermouth, Cumberland which corrects Fr Doyle’s date of death.

Irish Messenger Office, 1888-

‘Dublin, and Proud of It!’

Copy of 'The Irish Messenger of the Sacred Heart' containing an article entitled ‘Dublin, and Proud of It!’ on Fr. Doyle (p.65-67).

Irish Messenger Office, 1888-

Appointment of Fr Frank Browne SJ as an Honorary Chaplain to the Forces 3rd Class

  • IE IJA J/7/8
  • File
  • 14 March & 25 August 1919; 14 September 1921
  • Part of Irish Jesuits

Documents found among the papers of Fr Willie Doyle SJ (with whom Fr Browne briefly served as chaplain), collated by Fr Charles Doyle SJ, concerning Fr Frank Browne SJ. Includes telegrams to Robert Browne, Bishop of Cloyne (14 March & 25 August 1919) concerning Fr Browne & circular letter from the War Office to Fr Browne, St Francis Xavier’s, Upper Gardiner Street, Dublin, informing him of his appointment as an Honorary Chaplain to the Forces 3rd Class ‘as from 1st Sept. 1921 on which date your commission as a temporary Chaplain to the Forces ceased to have effect.’ (14 September 1921).

British Army, 1660-

Appreciations of Fr Willie Doyle SJ

Original and copies of appreciations of Fr Willie Doyle SJ including letters from General Sir William Bernard Hickie, 16th Division, B.E.F.to Hugh Doyle Esq., Melrose, Dalkey, Dublin (15 December 1917) and to Fr Charles Doyle SJ (14 October 1924); Private M. Murphy, France, (Fr Willie Doyle’s orderly) (22 August 1917).

Hickie, Sir, William Bernard, 1865-1950, Major General in the British Army

Article in 'The Commonweal'

Article from The Commonweal entitled ‘Father William Doyle, S.J.’ by Henry Longan Stuart.

Society of Jesus, 1540-

Biographical information on Fr Doyle

Biographical information on Fr Doyle including a copy of his birth certificate and memorial card.

Irish Vice-Province of the Society of Jesus, 1830-

Booklet entitled “Fr. Willie”

Booklet entitled “Fr. Willie”; part of the Irish Messenger series. Subtitled ‘His world-wide appeal and favours attributed to his intercession’. Contains a short reflection on his life and a list of reports from around the world of how Fr Doyle’s intercession, when invoked, benefited those who sought it.

Irish Messenger Office, 1888-

Box with altar requisites used by Fr Willie Doyle SJ

Box with altar requisites which includes missal stand, missal, altar linen, stole (instead of maniple) burse, kneeler and Á Kempis used by Fr Willie Doyle SJ at the front. With box.

Doyle, Willie, 1873-1917, Servant of God, Jesuit priest and chaplain

Certificate given to Fr Doyle on his first leave of absence from the Front

Handwritten copy of a parchment certificate given to Fr Doyle on his first leave of absence from the Front in 1916. Issued by Major General W.B. Hickie, Commander of the 16th Irish Division, commending his ‘gallant conduct and devotion to duty in the field on April 27th & 29th’.

Hickie, Sir, William Bernard, 1865-1950, Major General in the British Army

Chasuble with maniple belonging to Fr Willie Doyle SJ

Chasuble with maniple belonging to Fr Willie Doyle SJ according to Sergeant Thomas Brady. Explanatory note gives background to provenance.

Doyle, Willie, 1873-1917, Servant of God, Jesuit priest and chaplain

Copies of photographs of Fr Willie Doyle SJ

Copies of photographs of Fr Willie Doyle SJ, collected by his brother Fr Charles Doyle SJ. Includes image of Fr Willie Doyle SJ, taken in Aberdeen, 1908 by MacMahon, portrait photographer.

MacMahon, Vincent, photographer

[Copy of] letter from Col. M. O'Grady to Hugh Doyle, father of Fr Willie Doyle SJ

[Copy of] letter from Col. M. O'Grady, Assistant Military Secretary at the War Office in Whitehall, London to Hugh Doyle, father of Fr Willie Doyle SJ. Informs him that Fr Doyle was mentioned in Despatches from General Sir Douglas Haig, which were published in the London Gazette.

O'Grady, M, Colonel in the British Army

Curl of hair of Willie Doyle

Locket with a curl from the hair of Willie Doyle, at the age of three. With box.

Doyle, Willie, 1873-1917, Servant of God, Jesuit priest and chaplain

Extracts commenting on Prof O'Rahilly’s book

Handwritten extracts from various journals and periodicals commenting on Prof Alfred O'Rahilly’s book.

O'Rahilly, Alfred, 1884-1969, former Jesuit scholastic, President of University College Cork

Family photograph with Fr Willie Doyle SJ

Family photograph with Fr Willie Doyle SJ at an formal occasion, perhaps the wedding anniversary of his parents, outside the family home in Dalkey, county Dublin.

Journal articles on the life of Fr Willie Doyle SJ

Journal articles on the life of Fr Willie Doyle SJ, collected by his brother Fr Charles Doyle SJ. Includes ‘Hosanna’, ‘The Ratcliffian’, ‘Revue D’ Ascetique et De Mystique’, ‘La Vie Spirituelle’, ‘The Messenger of the Sacred Heart’ and ‘The Catholic Fireside’.

Letter from Fr John Mulderry

Letter from Fr John Mulderry, Chaplain, 61st General Hospital, Salonica referring to a letter received from [Father Provincial] ‘as
regards your queries I must candidly confess that my evidence (and I told them so in Clonliffe) rests solely an accounts given me by other Chaplains which accounts, rested on rumour...I should have thought the Society would have probed the matter to the bottom’.

Mulderry, John, Roman Catholic priest and chaplain

Letter from Fr Willie Doyle SJ to Fr Charles Farley SJ

Letter from Fr William Doyle SJ, writing from Stonyhurst College, to Fr Charles Farley SJ. Reports on his search in the archives of the English Province for documents relating to the Irish Province. Undertakes to copy some early nineteenth century letters for Fr Farley.

Doyle, Willie, 1873-1917, Servant of God, Jesuit priest and chaplain

Letter from Fr Willie Doyle SJ to his aunt

Letter from Fr Willie Doyle SJ to his Aunt Jane. Refers to his ordination, and to his departure for Belgium the following day to complete his education in Belgium, and states that he may have a chance of going to Australia in the future. Also refers to his parents’ Jubilee celebrations.

Doyle, Willie, 1873-1917, Servant of God, Jesuit priest and chaplain

Letter from Fr Willie Doyle SJ to Irish Fr Provincial William Delany SJ

Letter from Fr Willie Doyle SJ to Irish Fr Provincial William Delany SJ informing him of his proposal for a ‘House of Retreats for Workingmen’. Includes ‘Report on the proposed House of Retreats for Workingmen’ and brochures for retreats at Rathfarnham Castle, printed in 1922.

Letters from Fr Willie Doyle SJ, 1907-1915

  • IE IJA J/2/82
  • File
  • 28 July 1907 - 6 November 1915
  • Part of Irish Jesuits

File of holograph letters and typewritten letters by Fr Willie Doyle SJ concerning his ordination at Milltown Park (28 July 1907); tertianship at L’ Ancienne Abbaye, Tronchiennes, Belgium to his mother and father, his sister Mai and brother Charles (October 1907 - 21 July 1908); attending a mission in Great Yarmouth (20 April 1908); work as a minister at Belvedere College to his sister Mai (April - July 1909); at the Convent of St John of God, Wexford to his sister Mai (2 August 1910); at Enghien, Belgium to his father (2 - 14 October 1912); while giving missions in Clare, Cork, Limerick and Dublin and working at Rathfarnham Castle, to his father and sister Mai (20 March 1914 - 6 November 1915).

Letters from Fr Willie Doyle SJ, 1915-1917

  • IE IJA J/2/83
  • File
  • 1 December 1915 - 6 August 1917
  • Part of Irish Jesuits

Holograph letters by Fr Willie Doyle SJ from his time with the 8th Battalion, Royal Irish Fusiliers, 49th Brigade, 16th Division and the 8th Battalion, Royal Dublin Fusilier’s: at Whitely Camp, Surrey; Bordon Camp, Hampshire; various locations in France. In the main, the letters are addressed to his father, but also his sister Mai. The letters document his time as a military chaplain, firstly at camp in England while preparing for embarkation and secondly, at the front in France. Some of the letters have been transcribed by Professor Alfred O'Rahilly in his book - Father William Doyle SJ. (1922) http://www.archive.org/details/fatherwilliamdoy00orahuoft
With envelopes and four undated parts of letters.

Includes notebooks written by Fr Willie Doyle SJ at the front (31 March 1916 - August 1917) with the following titles: ‘Bully Beef’ (20 - 29 December 1916); ‘Pork and Beans’ (16 January - 5 February 1917); ‘Bits and scraps for an old man’s breakfast’ (July 1917)’; ‘The Battle of Ypres’ (9 July - August 1917). Includes opening entry - ‘My dear Father, When I posted my letter to you this morning it occurred to me that perhaps if I kept a kind of diary for the next couple of weeks it might interest you and others, even if I had nothing of very great interest to relate (31 March 1916).

Letters from Mr T. Cain and from Michael Harteny

  • IE IJA J/2/96
  • File
  • 26 October 1945 - 21 March 1946
  • Part of Irish Jesuits

Letters from Mr T. Cain, Headmaster, Coleridge Street School, Hove, England (26 October 1945) and from Michael Harteny (Sergeant), Kilnagrange, Kilmacthomas, County Waterford (12 November 1945) and on behalf of Christopher Flynn, Delgany, County Wicklow (21 March 1946) to Fr Charles Doyle SJ and Professor Alfred O'Rahilly concerning their recollections of the date of death of Fr Willie Doyle SJ.

Cain, T

Letters from Mr Willie Doyle SJ, 1897-1906

  • IE IJA J/2/81
  • File
  • 6 April 1897 - Easter 1906
  • Part of Irish Jesuits

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).

Letters from Willie Doyle, 1886-1896

  • IE IJA J/2/80
  • File
  • 30 May 1886 - 23 August 1896
  • Part of Irish Jesuits

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).

Material relating to Fr Andrew O'Farrell SJ

Material relating to Fr Andrew O'Farrell SJ, including letter from Fr Willie Doyle SJ introducing Andrew O'Farrell to Fr Provincial (1913), catalogue entry (1930), memorial card and obituary.

Newspaper articles and leaflets on the life of Fr Willie Doyle SJ

File of newspaper articles and leaflets on the life of Fr Willie Doyle SJ collected by his brother Fr Charles Doyle SJ. Includes references in ‘Le Pays Wallon’, ‘The Catholic Gazette’, ‘The Grail’, ‘The Commonweal’, ‘Le Rappel’, ‘The Irish Catholic’; some letters to Fr Charles Doyle SJ interspersed with these articles relating to Fr Willie.

Doyle, Charles, 1870-1949, Jesuit priest

Notes made on Fr Willie Doyle’s early career

Notes made by [Fr Frank Browne SJ] on Fr Doyle's early career (n.d., 8pp), ‘missionary’ career from 1910 to 1915 (n.d., 17pp) and ‘military career’ (n.d., 11pp) and notes, including extracts from the book (n.d., 9pp).

Browne, Francis M, 1880-1960, Jesuit priest, photographer and chaplain

Pamphlet on "Fr. Willie”

Pamphlet “Fr. Willie” Father William Doyle, S.J. His World-wide Appeal and Favours Attributed to His Intercession, ‘Irish Messenger’ Series.

Irish Messenger Office, 1888-

Pen and Ink-Bottle belonging to Fr Willie Doyle SJ

Pen and Ink-Bottle belonging to Fr Willie Doyle SJ - ‘The Red Dwarf No. 2. Stylograph’ and ‘Swan fountfiller for travellers’. With box.

Doyle, Willie, 1873-1917, Servant of God, Jesuit priest and chaplain

Photographic album belonging to Fr John A McAvoy SJ

Photographic album belonging to Fr John A McAvoy SJ, with captions in English and Irish. Includes photographs of

  • Rathfarnham Castle, Dublin 1929;
  • Irish Jesuits on villa (holiday);
  • area around Wicklow;
  • Irish Jesuits contemporary to John A McAvoy;
  • Michael Collins' grave 1922;
  • Clongowes Wood College, 1921;
  • Orangemen in Rathfriland, County Down, 12 July 1920;
  • B Special 'Black and Tans' of Ulster, Rathfriland, 1923;

Photographs and postcards by the Imperial War Museum, London, England

Photographs and postcards sent to Prof. Alfred O’Rahilly by the Imperial War Museum, London, England, for use in his book on Fr Willie Doyle SJ. Includes a note ‘Don’t mix these with the others. Return these to me. These are photos which I bought but decided not to use.’ All photographs are dated and described on back. Photos are mostly of the ruins of Ypres, Guillemont, Loos etc. Sizes: 21 1/2cm x 16 1/2cm; 14cm x 9cm and 27 1/2cm x 9cm.

O'Rahilly, Alfred, 1884-1969, former Jesuit scholastic, President of University College Cork

Photographs of First World War scenes

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).

Photographs of Fr Willie Doyle SJ

File of copies photographs of Fr Willie Doyle SJ including: newspaper photograph announcing death (1917); mounted photograph of Willie and his brother, when both young; copies of portrait photographs of Fr Willie Doyle SJ used in publications, Fr Doyle in military uniform and with his parents and in group photograph with other Jesuits. Includes:

  • Postcard from Fr Willie Doyle SJ to Rosario Nesbitt, 12 May 1912;
  • Photograph of Milltown Park villa group, 1905, outside Carysfort, Kilcoole, County Wicklow.

Chancellor, photographer, [1862]-1923

Postcard sent by Fr Willie Doyle SJ to Sr M. Anthony, Cork

Covering note and postcard sent from the Front by Fr Willie Doyle SJ, to Sister M. Anthony, St Mary’s of the Isle, Cork. Possibly Sr Anthony (Margaret) O’Rahilly (1872-1921).

Doyle, Willie, 1873-1917, Servant of God, Jesuit priest and chaplain

Postcards and photographs of ‘views in France and Belgium’

Postcards and photographs of ‘views in France and Belgium’. Includes photographs of Kemmel Chateau and the Convent at Locre, Belgium and General Hickie and aide-de-camp Captain O’Connell at St Omer, 16 July 1917; carte postale of Sr Antonius, Locre, Belgium, with inscription by Fr Charles Doyle SJ on reverse, indicating the room of Fr Doyle and church of Noeux les Mines, France.

Prayer and memorial cards

Various pictures and sketches of Fr Willie Doyle SJ.

Doyle, Willie, 1873-1917, Servant of God, Jesuit priest and chaplain

'Scruples and their Treatment'

Booklet 'Scruples and their Treatment' (Adapted from the French). Found among the papers of the late Fr Wm. Doyle, S.J. ‘Irish Messenger’ Series, ‘5th Edition – 50th Thousand’ (1932) and ‘9th Edition – 90th Thousand’ (1943).

Doyle, Willie, 1873-1917, Servant of God, Jesuit priest and chaplain

Servant of God Willie Doyle SJ

William Joseph Gabriel Doyle was born (1873) at Melrose, Dalkey Avenue, Dalkey, county Dublin. Known as Willie, Billie or Sloper (a comic book hero of the time), he was the youngest of seven children of Hugh Doyle, registrar of the insolvency court, and Christine Doyle (née Byrne). Growing up, Willie was devout, caring and cheerful. Educated at Ratcliffe College, Leicestershire, in 1891 Willie followed his older brother Charles into the Jesuits. After two years as a novice, he taught at Clongowes Wood College, where he produced The Mikado and founded the school magazine, The Clongownian. His Jesuit formation included periods in Belgium and England, and further teaching at Clongowes and Belvedere Colleges. After ordination at Milltown Park on 28th July 1907, Willie began work as an urban missionary and retreat giver in Ireland. His positive attitude made him a great success, and he travelled all around the British Isles. He was also the author of best-selling pamphlets on retreats and vocations.

Volunteering as a military chaplain in First World War, Fr Doyle was sent to France with the Royal Irish Fusiliers in early 1916. Within days of his arrival at the Front, he showed himself outstanding in the work of a chaplain. Lt Col HR Stirke noted that Fr Doyle was ‘one of the finest fellows that I ever met, utterly fearless, always with a cheery word on his lips and ever ready to go out and attend the wounded and the dying under the heaviest fire’. Present at the battles of the Somme and Messines, Fr Doyle was killed during the third battle of Ypres on 16th August 1917, while going to the aid of a wounded man near Frezenberg. He is commemorated on the Tyne Cot memorial, Belgium. Fr Doyle was awarded the Military Cross, and he was put forward for the Victoria Cross posthumously but did not receive it. Writing to Willie’s father, Hugh, in December 1917, Major General WB Hickie remarks that: ‘I could not say too much about your son. He was loved and reverenced by us all. His gallantry, self sacrifice and devotion to duty were all so well known and recognized. I think that his was the most wonderful character that I have ever known.’

Doyle, Willie, 1873-1917, Servant of God, Jesuit priest and chaplain

Short obituaries of various members of the Society of Jesus by Fr David Gallery SJ

Short obituaries of various members of the Society of Jesus by Fr David Gallery SJ. A covering note by Fr James Rabbitte SJ reads ‘These were prepared for publ(ication). The writer of them Fr Gallery. My opinion is that they are not suitable i.e. as a whole JPR’. Obituaries are provided in the following order:

Name Year of Death
Brady, Fr Philip 1917
Maher, Fr Thomas 1917
Mahon, Br Thomas 1917
Kenny, Fr Timothy 1917
Doyle, Fr William 1917
Hogan, Fr Edmund 1917
Verdon, Fr John 1918
Fottrell, Fr James 1918
Daly, Fr Hubert 1918

Sketches of Fr Willie Doyle SJ

Various pictures and sketches of Fr Willie Doyle SJ.

Doyle, Willie, 1873-1917, Servant of God, Jesuit priest and chaplain

Spiritual diaries belonging to Fr Willie Doyle SJ

  • IE IJA J/2/85
  • File
  • 31 March 1895 - 25 July 1917
  • Part of Irish Jesuits

Diaries in notebook and copybook form, belonging to Fr Willie Doyle SJ which documents his spiritual thoughts, confessions, resolutions and retreats notes, list of mortifications. Some are contemporaneous with his time as a chaplain in WWI, which he alludes to. Inserts comprise loose documents in the form of notes, prayers and letters (July 1908; 5 November 1911 - 16 April 1916) addressed to ‘My dear Child; My dearest Child’.

J2/85 (16) - notebook for conscreation of the Sacred Heart, signed in Fr Doyle's blood.

Stole belonging to Fr Willie Doyle SJ

  • IE IJA J/2/49
  • File
  • February 1916-5 March 1917
  • Part of Irish Jesuits

Stole belonging to Fr Willie Doyle SJ who had it with him at the front from February 1916-March 1917 (his last home leave) with the inscription ‘Forgot not the kindness of thy surety for he hath given his life for thee’ written by Fr Doyle SJ (05 March 1917). With box.

Doyle, Willie, 1873-1917, Servant of God, Jesuit priest and chaplain

Various photographs and telegram announcing Fr Willie Doyle’s death

Photograph of aid post with Fr John Gwynn SJ (c.1914) faded photograph of Fr Willie Doyle SJ; Jesuits at Portnoo (1910); telegram announcing Fr Willie Doyle’s death; letter between Rev. Mother, Sister Benedict of the Convent of Locre, Belgium and Fr William F. Browne C.C. (21-31 August 1917), Fr Frank Browne’s brother.