Notes by Fr Charles MacKenna SJ on ‘List of subjects in Retreat to Ours’; ‘Consid[eration]s’.

Catalogue of Boys: Clongowes 1814-1900, Tullabeg 1818-1886

Catalogue available here: https://www.offalyarchives.com/index.php/irish-jesuit-archives

The Jesuits bought Tullabeg in 1818 (dedicated it to St Stanislaus) and opened a preparatory school for boys destined to go to Clongowes Wood College, Kildare. St Stanislaus College gradually developed as an educational rival to its sister school. It merged with Clongowes Wood College in 1886. Tullabeg then became a house of Jesuit formation: novitiate (1888-1930), juniorate (1895-1911), tertianship (1911-1927) and philosophate (1930-1962). In 1962, it was decided that the students of philosophy should be sent abroad for study. Tullabeg subsequently became a retreat house and was closed in May 1991.

The papers of St Stanislaus College include information on a history of the area around Tullabeg, building and property (1912-2004), correspondence with Superiors (1881-1971), finance (1912-1990), documents on Jesuit training (1818-1962), retreat house (1949-1960) and artworks (1940-1991).

Material is in the form of letters, reports, architectural plans, notes, maps and photographs (1902-1990). Programmes for plays include Shrovetide at St. Stanislaus College, Tullamore; ‘The Man with the Iron Mask’, ‘All at Coventry’ and ‘The Smoked Miser’ (1885) and for ‘Caitlín Ní Uallacáin’ and ‘Cox and Box’ and details Jesuits who performed (1925).

Letters from Fr Michael Browne SJ to William Stephenson SJ:

• from St Stanislaus College, Tullamore, County Offaly to Willie Stephenson SJ, Maison St Louis, Jersey apologising for not writing sooner and expressing his hope that the shamrock reached Jersey on time. Writes about news from home (17 March 1905, 4pp);
• from St Stanislaus College, Tullamore, County Offaly to Willie Stephenson SJ concerning William Stephenson's impending departure for Australia (15 August 1905, 3pp);
• from Sacred Heart College, Limerick to Willie Stephenson SJ, Australia. Apologises for not replying sooner. Encourages Willie Stephenson to 'leave yourself in His (God's) hands - where better can you be - and follow blindly the direction that brings you peace of soul.' Writes about news from home (2 January 1909, 4pp);
• from St Stanislaus College, Tullamore, County Offaly to William Stephenson SJ. Refers to Fr McDonnell's publications on Holy Communion, which he sent to Willie Stephenson. Refers to the small number of novices entering and remarks 'I hope you are sending us Novices from Australia this year, I fear our home supply will be small'. Writes about news from home (21 June 1909, 4pp);
• from St Stanislaus College, Tullamore, County Offaly to Willie Stephenson SJ. Refers to the novices from Australia and remarks how well they are doing. Continues 'I wish heartily you could send us more. The work you are engaged in promoting devotion to the Virgin Mother, will, I hope, produce as its special fruit subjects for the Society.' Encourages Willie Stephenson to continue his work. Remarks 'Your Australian experience will be invaluable to you in the harvest time.' (3 July 1910, 3pp);
• from St Stanislaus College, Tullamore, County Offaly to Willie Stephenson SJ, concerning a marble altar erected in the Lady Chapel of Riverview College Chapel. Remarks 'I am delighted that you are able to do so much for the honour of the Great Mother of God.' Writes of news from home, remarks that Tertianship for the Irish and English Provinces will be in Tullamore in 1912 and that preparations are being made (21 April 1911, 4pp);
• card from St Francis Xavier's, Upper Gardiner Street, Dublin to Fr Stephenson SJ thanking Fr Stephenson for his booklet for Altar Servers. Compliments him on the layout (4 February 1921,1 item);
• from Rathfarnham Castle, County Dublin to Fr Stephenson SJ thanking him for his letter and congratulations (2 May 1930, 3pp) and
• from Rathfarnham Castle, County Dublin to Fr Stephenson SJ congratulating him on his booklet of Fr Baxter's Meditations (10 November 1931, 1p).

A file of letters from Lord Rosse (The Castle, Parsonstown) to Dr Charles Russell. Includes a letter congratulating Dr. Russell on his election to President of Maynooth College (22 October 1857, 3pp).

File relating to Fr Thomas F Ryan SJ, including correspondence with Irish Fr Provincials, catalogue entries, and photographs.

Material relating to Fr Thomas Martin SJ which includes some correspondence referring to his time as a chaplain in the Second World War, correspondence with Irish Fr Provincials and curia, personal record, death certificate and application to join the Society.

Case on behalf of Fr Stephen Farrell, S.J. and Fr Joseph Lentaigne, S.J. submitted to the Attorney General (C. Palles) for his opinion concerning a mortgage between John O'Brien and Anna Maria Elizabeth O'Brien (his wife) of the first part, Patrick Oliver Plunkett and Columbus M. O'Flanagan of the second part and Anna Maria Matilda Dennis, Spinster of the third part.

A file relating to the will of Matilda O'Donnell in which she bequeathed the residue of her property to her trustees and executors, Fr. Thomas V. Nolan SJ and Fr Michael Browne SJ, Upper Gardiner Street, Dublin. The file contains extensive background material that appears to have little to do with the Society of Jesus and their bequest. However, as Frs. Nolan and Browne were appointed as trustees and executors of the will it may have been necessary to acquaint themselves fully with Miss Matilda O'Donnell's affairs.

A file relating to the will of John C. Mackey, Nenagh, County Tipperary, father of Fr Ernest Mackey SJ in which he names his son as one of his beneficiaries (one fifth of his property).

Offaly Heritage: Volume 2, 2004.
Tullabeg, Rahan, Tullamore 1818-1991 by Michael Byrne, pp90-111.

Presentation Convent Killina 1817-1992, (1995)
Presentation Convent Killina 1817-2017, (2017)

Offaly Tombstone Inscriptions. 1. Rahan Graveyards. Published by the Offaly Historical Society.

Rahan Memorial Garden by Fr Ray Brady P.P.

File of handwritten sermon, retreat notes, considerations (Catholic University, 1862), Triduum and retreats. Includes long retreats at Cork (1860), Tullabeg (1861 - 1862; 1868 - 1871); Laval (1872 - 1875); Tronchiennes (1875 - 1877); Clongowes Wood College (1877) and meditations, attributed to the following Jesuits: Frs. Peter Kenney (Palmero), Aloysius Sturzo, Daniel Jones, Patrick Hughes, Charles Aylmer, John St. Leger, Robert St. Leger. Michael Kelly, Charles Plowden, John Cunningham, James Mullen, Alexander Kyan (with history of Kyan family), John Shine, Bartholomew Esmonde, Thomas Betagh, Patrick Bracken, P. O'Reilly, Stephen Farrell, Charles McKenna, Edmund O'Reilly, Pubrick.

Letter from [ ] in Belgium to Fr Aloysius Sturzo SJ, St Stanislaus College, Tullabeg, County Offaly. Writes in relation to studies and lay students in Ireland and Belgium, in reply to Fr Sturzo's query. (In Italian).

File of letters to Irish Fr Provincial James Murphy SJ. Includes an index/précis to the letters.

Letter from Irish Fr Provincial Timothy Kenny SJ, asking Fr Alfred Murphy SJ to make a request to Fr Nicholas Walshe SJ to let Fr Charles Lynch SJ have a room at Milltown, as he is unhappy at Tullabeg. Refers to the death of Fr McElroy. Reports the visit of Fr Carbery and Fr Gallwey. Describes the college as being immense, dark and ‘on the whole very fine’.

Letter from Fr James Murphy SJ, writing from St Stanislaus College, Tullamore, County Offaly, to Irish Fr Provincial Patrick Keating SJ. Relates to a sequence of events involving Fr Murphy, Monsignor Gaffney, the Bishop of Meath (Dr. Thomas Nulty) and Fr Anderson. The Bishop tried to assert his right to examine Fr Anderson after the latter had been granted faculties by the Monsignor. The letter describes a conversation between Fr Murphy and the Monsignor on the subject, and Fr Murphy asks for the Provincial's approval to write to the Monsignor, confirming Fr Anderson's fitness in terms of theological knowledge.

Letter from Dr Matthew Gaffney, Bishop of Meath, to Fr James Murphy SJ. Refers to news the latter had sent him; that he had ceased to be rector of Tullabeg, and had been made Provincial. Thanks him for his recognition of his ‘friendly feelings towards the Society’, and declares that Murphy’s ‘fraternal relations’ with his (Gaffney’s) priests was a source of comfort to him.

A file containing remarks by various members of the Irish Province on the proposed booklet to aid Scholastics about to begin their Magisterium.

A file of material relating to Fr Eamon Egan SJ including biographical information and correspondence relating to his death in a boating accident.

A file containing notes and letters concerning Fr James A. Cullen's suitability to join the Society of Jesus.

List of masses said for (with No.) and priests who said mass at St Francis Xavier Community, Upper Gardiner Street. Includes an insert (1898) discussing the location of a novitiate at Mungret and having a noviceship at Tullabeg.

File relating to the admission of Andrew Bannon to the the Society of Jesus and subsequent correspondence with Irish Fr Provincials.

Material relating to Kyran Fitzgerald's admission to the Society; his final illness and some subsequent correspondence with Irish Fr Provincials.

File relating to the admission of Richard Brenan to the Society of Jesus and subsequent professional life including correspondence relating to retreat work and from a sabbatical year at the École S. Louis de Gonzague, 12 rue Franklin, 75016, Paris. Includes a relic of St Francis Xavier, inherited by Fr Richard brenan SJ (1979).

Notes and letters by Fr John Ffrench SJ, including reports on 12 boys at St Stanisalus College, Tullabeg, County Offaly and what he has taught to them (18 October 1834), letters while acting as Substitute English Assistant to Fr General and English Assistant to Fr General, Rome to Fr O'Reilly SJ and Fr Browne SJ (21 December 1865 & 16 February 1867) and note on the wood used for Tullabeg. Includes letters from Fr George Lambert SJ, Fr General Peter Beckx SJ, Curia Generalizia Compagnia di Gesù, Rome, Italy on the death of Fr John Ffrench SJ (1873).

Letter from Fr George Porter SJ, writing from Fiesole, to Irish Fr Provincial James Tuite SJ. Conveys Fr General’s opinion that is more important that Fr Finlay should be installed as a professor of philosophy in the Dublin College than be retained as Prefect of Studies in Tullabeg. Refers to Fr Browne who his going to his Tertianship, and informs Fr Tuite that Fr Keating has been allowed to go to Hadzor, Droitwich [for/after] his retreat. Suggests that Fr Browne be sent there too.

Handwritten treatise, which attempts to ‘lay down a few principles, from which inferences may be afterwards drawn…’ in relation to the running of a successful college.

List of results for the Inter-Collegiate Competition in Religious Instruction for the academic year 1885-86.

Letter from Fr Joseph Hurley SJ, St Stanislaus College, Tullamore, County Offaly to Irish Fr Provincial Thomas Byrne SJ concerning a censored article for R.M. News. Seeks permission to read a paper for the Gaelic League.

Letter from Fr Boursaud, Secretary to the Fr General, to Fr Tuite. Asks the latter to convey the sympathies of the Fr General to Fr Bannon in his illness. Also conveys permission to Fr Tuite to recall Fr Delany and to send him back to Tullabeg. Refers to the Archbishop of Sydney, and to New Zealand.