Diary of William White as in schoolboy in Mungret College, Limerick. Includes his last entry before leaving to join the Society of Jesus on 3 September 1930 – ‘Fr. Hanrahan Went home on 9 oc Bus I was at 10 oc Mass. Say (sic.) Mrs. Par[le] etc. Mother Paul. Left for Emo at 1.45. Good bye’

Circular letter sent to an individual accepting him into the novitiate in St Mary's Emo.

Circular letter sent to a prospective novice's parents seeking an assurance that their son has their 'consent...and blessing.' Enquires about the ability of the parents to contribute to the upkeep of their son in the novitiate.

Novitiate order of time for St Mary's, Emo.

Sketch map of the Clochar. Shows the layout of the gardens and the species of trees and plants. The Clochar (or Clucker) comes from the Irish word for convent. 'There is also a story that this part of the garden was where the maids in the house were allowed to come to gossip and relax – hens clucking!'

Letter from Fr Arthur F Murphy, St Paul's Church, Emo, County Laois to Irish Fr Provincial seeking permission to use the pleasure grounds and part of the residence for the annual parochial fete. Refers to the delay in the Jesuits arriving at Emo by the Roman authorities.

Letter from William Codd, Bishop of Ferns, Summerhill, County Wexford to Irish Fr Provincial John Fahy SJ concerning the Society of Jesus' desire to establish a community house in the Diocese of Ferns. Remarks 'They have about a score of applications from Religious Congregations and Orders for permission to take up property here within the past few years...they made an exhaustive inquiry as to whether the needs of any part of the diocese or of the whole would admit the introduction of a new congregation...they came to the unanimous conclusion that they could see no need at all for this.'

A file relating to permission granted by Fr General Wlodimir Ledóchowski SJ and the Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin, Matthew Cullen, for the establishment of a Jesuit house at Emo, County Laois.

Material relating to Fr John J Neary SJ, including catalogue entry, correspondence regarding his time in Hong Kong and biographical information.

A file relating to the purchase of Emo Park by the Jesuit Fathers from the Land Commission (for £2,000). Includes a plan of Emo.

A file relating to formation, order of time, customs, discipline amongst the Jesuit Juniors at Rathfarnham Castle, Dublin. Includes correspondence between Irish Fr Provincial and Fr Rector.

File relating to Fr Terence Sheridan SJ, including correspondence with Irish Fr Provincials, catalogue entries, photocopies of newspaper cuttings, and photographs.

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.

A file containing notices to be read in the Refectory and annual proclamations of the Irish Jesuit Province.

File of material relating to the admission of Michael J Connolly to the Society of Jesus and his subsequent Jesuit life including his time as rector of the Jesuit house at Tullabeg, County Offaly and as Tertian instructor at Rathfarnham Castle, Dublin, catalogue entries, memorial card and obituary.

A file relating to Fr Eugene A Ward SJ. Includes application to join the Society, correspondence with Irish Fr Provincials, catalogue entries, extensive correspondence relating to Fr Ward's work in America.

Account book of the Irish Jesuit Province. Includes an alphabetical index.

Material relating to Fr Richard J Kennedy SJ including correspondence with Irish Fr Provincials and curia, personal record and application to join the Society.

File relating to Fr Thomas J O'Donnell SJ including memorial card, photographs, catalogue entries, application to join the Society and correspondence relating to his time spent in India and at Vatican Radio.

File relating to Fr Robert Stevenson SJ, including application to join the Society, correspondence with Irish Fr Provincials, catalogue entries and memorial card.

File of materiel relating to Fr Gerard O'Beirne SJ which includes correspondence with Irish Fr Provincials and curia, personal record and application to join the Society.

File relating to Fr Redmond F Roche SJ, including application to join the Society, correspondence with Irish Fr Provincials, catalogue entries, memorial card and (57) photographs of Jesuits, on holiday, plays, and outdoor scenes (some of the same photographs are in the papers of Fr William R Prendergast SJ, IE IJA J/365).

Note bequeathing £100 from Charles J. Blake, Heath House, Maryboro[ugh], County Laois to the Superior, St Francis Xavier's, Upper Gardiner Street, Dublin.

File containing ordination papers, biographical material and some letters relating to Fr Brian J Cullen SJ.

A file relating to Fr William R Prendergast SJ, including application to join the Society, correspondence with Irish Fr Provincials, catalogue entries, memorial card and an album of black and white photographs (Jesuit life, villa, school and family photographs (1916-1950).

Letter from Brother Aubury, De La Salle Retreat, Castletown, Queen's County (County Offaly) to Fr John Ryan SJ Gardiner Street, Dublin concerning a foundation of Christian Brothers in Australia. Remarks that he raised the matter a number of years ago with his superiors who were not supportive of the proposal. Continues '...I fear it would be rash for me to hold out hopes of being able to offer Your Reverence a community of Brothers for your interesting schools for a few years to come.'

Valuation for Emo Park, County Laois.

A file of printed lists of clothing required by each novice for St Mary's, Emo and previous to this, for St Stanislaus College, Tullabeg, County Offaly.

Album, with note on inside ‘Positive pack 1 (2897) Suggest No.2: Menton, France & No.17: Arch of Titus, Rome. Photographs have been removed from the album. Pencil annotations on the album (not in Mr Frank Browne SJ hand) are in written here in italic.

1. Sister Josephine, Ursuline, b. 1870
2. Menton (on reverse) ‘Photo taken by Fr Earley. Stormy on the sands at Humewood P.E. Nov – 1902’. (Humewood is a coastal area, Port Elizabeth, South Africa).
3. Cobh (on reverse) - ‘To dearest Joe With love From Sissie Oct. 31st 1902.
4. Menton
5. Rome
6. Rome
7. Rome
8. Fontana de Trevi (Rome)
9. (Menton, France)
10. Venice
11. San Marcs, Venice
12. Doge’s Palace, Venice
13. Via Appia
14. Via Appia
15. (Tour of Italy, Greece)
16. (Tour of Italy, Greece)
17. Arch of Titus, Rome
18. Rome
19. Rome
20. (Tour of Italy, Greece)
21. Pompeii?
22. Pompeii?
23. Naples
24. Genoa
25. Rome
26. Rome?
27. (altar)
28. Venice
29. Milan
30. (Switzerland)
31. (Switzerland?)
32. (Switzerland?)
33. (Switzerland?)
34. (Switzerland?)
35. (Switzerland?) 35
36. Menton?
37. Cork
38. 1 38 Sheet 2 Cork
39. 2 39 Timahoe
40. 3 40 Switzerland
41. 4 41 Switzerland?
42. 5 42 Switzerland? Bellanzama?
43. 7 43
44. 8 44 Monte Carlo?

Ordnance survey map of Portarlington and district, County Laois, scale: 1 inch to 1 mile.

A file of letters from Fr Patrick Duffy SJ to his sister Sr Mary Gabriel, Carmelite Convent, Firhouse, Tallaght, Dublin concerning his life and work as a priest in Australia and elsewhere. The vast majority of the letters (over 50) are written from Australia describing in detail his work and life in this mission. Includes letters discussing his health, his sister's health, family matters, retreats and missions he gave in Australia and masses and prayers offered for the convent and community at Firhouse. Includes a letter from Fr Duffy, Ursuline Convent, St Joseph's, Sligo to Sr Mary Gabriel. Remarks 'Now that you and I are alone left of all we must, from this on, take on more than ever special interest in each other.' (6 August 1888, 4pp). Includes a letter informing his sister of his departure for Australia. Remarks 'Say God's will be done for it is the will of God. Don't fret about me, for before very long you and I will meet in a happy eternity.' (15 August 1888, 4pp). Includes a letter concerning his sister's health and the loss of sight in one of her eyes. Encourages her not to read if she finds it a strain. Refers to the noviceship in her convent. Remarks 'Put away those gloomy thoughts about the noviceship. There is nothing wrong in your convent. Just let us keep on praying and trusting and leave the future to God.' (22 August 1891, 4pp). Includes a letter concerning his move from North Shore to Hawthorn. Remarks that he has more work to do in Hawthorn and that it is 'more pressing'. Remarks 'As I write the weather is harsh and we have much sickness - the influenza - and many deaths.' (7 October 1891, 4pp). Includes a letter referring to the death of Fr General (Fr Anderledy SJ) at Fiesole. Remarks 'He and I were fellow students in the Roman College of the Society, some 44 years ago! He was about my age. A warning to look out!' Refers to his change of address and remarks that he will be working at Kew, Melbourne. (letter dated 4 December 1891, 4pp, section dated 20 January 1892). Includes a letter written from New Zealand where he was conducting retreats. Remarks 'I am in my element.' Continues 'I like New Zealand very much a fine country and climate - greatly superior to Australia. Every one is kind to me and I get on well. Wellington is a nice clean city with a fine harbour and a brisk trade.' Describes a journey to Reefton to give a retreat to the Mercy nuns. Remarks that he made the journey on top of a stage coach 'Pretty smart going! Through the bush and over the mountains! Five horses to the coach and galloping all the time for nearly 4 days! What say you to that? But young men like me don't mind these things.' (this section dated 8 January 1893) (29 December 1892, 4pp). Includes a letter referring to his duties at St. Francis Xavier's College in Kew. Remarks that he is in charge of the Sodality of the B V Mary 'Tis from the sodalities in our colleges that the noviceship is recruited.' (7 February 1892, 4pp). Includes a letter describing a visit he made to one of the Melbourne hospitals to see an old friend, Edward Grennan, '…Irish and Catholic a native of Mountrath, Queen's county. He had been in the army - a cavalry regiment - Lord Cardigan's Light Brigade - had ridden in the famous charge - 25 October 1854. He is now the remnant of a well looking man - was then a youth of 20. Well we fraternized of course - he and I old Crimean-and fellow-soldiers. We chatted of the war, and of the Charge of the Light Brigade, his brigade in particular. Step by step we got along until I stood with him and his companions 600 strong - in thought and imagination - at the end of the valley - at the other end of which was the Russian Battery of some 10 or 12 pairs of canon.' Describes how the order was given to seize the guns. Continues 'Without a moments hesitation, the 600 are in their saddles and away they go…Oh! My poor fellows, my poor brave fellows! Over 600 they commence their ride to return later on all that was left of them about 200 men! Half an hour did the whole business.' (21 November 1896, 4pp).

Letter from the Earl of Portarlington to Dr Charles Russell thanking him for a photograph and a hymn. Refers to the construction of the church at Maynooth.

Account of the funeral of the Countess of Portarlington, taken from the 'Leinster Express'. Lady Portarlington was buried at Emo Park, Queen’s County (Laois). Includes references to Frs Robert Carbery and William Delaney.

The Countess was buried in the graveyard beside the church, and a memorial to her was also erected in Coolbanagher church by her sister the Duchess of Marlborough.

Emo Court, County Laois was under Jesuit ownership from 1930 until 1969. Now in the hands of the Office of Public Works, the history of Emo dates back to the Earls of Portarlington in the eighteenth century. The first earl, John Dawson, commissioned the building of Emo Court in 1790; it is one of only a few private houses designed by the architect James Gandon. The Portarlington’s sold Emo in 1920 to the Land Commission and the Jesuits purchased the property in 1930, to be used as a novitiate (house of first formation). The Jesuits found Emo in a dilapidated state, with grass growing up through the floorboards. They made significant structural changes in order for it to function as a novitiate rather than as a family home. Many items were removed however they were stored in the basement (fireplace wrapped in blankets). Renowned photographer, Fr Frank Browne SJ, was one of the first Jesuits to take up residence there and he took many photographs of Emo Court.

In 1969, the Jesuits sold Emo to Major Cholmeley Dering Cholmeley-Harrison. He restored the house, sparing no expense, and donated it to the Irish State in 1995. In 2012 the Office of Public Works opened a permanent exhibition on Fr Frank Browne SJ at Emo Court.

The papers of St Mary’s, Emo concern the management of the Emo estate (1900-1995), establishment of the Jesuit community (1928-1930), maintenance, upkeep and expenditure (1931-1970), forestry and the sale of Emo (1969-1970; 1995). There is some material on the Jesuit community (1934-1962) and novitiate (1930-1969) however there is very little in the way of information on individual novices. Material is in the form of handwritten letters, ledgers, architectural plans, maps and photographs.

Rector/Superior of St Mary's, Emo:
Patrick Kenny, Vice-Superior, 31 July 1930;
John Deevy, Vice-Superior, 29 July 1932;
John Deevy, Rector, 7 October 1937;
John Neary, Vice-Rector, 30 July 1944;
Jerome Mahony, Vice-Rector, 30 July 1945;
Thomas Byrne, Rector, 2 June 1947;
Donal O'Sullivan, Rector, 15 August 1947;
Timothy Mulcahy, Rector, 10 October 1959;
Patrick Cusack, Rector, 21 November 1961;
Joseph Dargan, Rector, 26 June 1968;
The noviceship changes to Manresa House, Dollymount, 12 September 1969.

Master of Novices, St Mary's, Emo:
Martin Maher; July 1930;
John Coyne;
John Neary; October 1934
Donal O'Sullivan
Paddy Cusack
Joseph Dargan, 1968-1969