File relating to the admission of Patrick Finneran to the Society of Jesus and the taking of vows.

Biographical information on Fr Thomas Aloysius Finlay SJ (1848-1940). Includes obituary of Fr Finlay by George O'Brien, Professor of Economics, University College, published in The Economic Journal, The Quarterly Journal of The Royal Economic Society, No. 197, Vol. 1, p.157-159 (March 1940, 3pp) and obituary, also by Prof. O'Brien published in the Irish Monthly (March 1940, p.142- 144) originally broadcast on Radio Eireann.

File relating to the admission to the Society of Jesus of Peter Cunningham and subsequent correspondence with Irish Fr Provincials, and catalogue records.

Copy of the last will of Michael Horan of Derrygra, County Roscommon, with enclosed letter indicating that the deceased estates was bequeathed to three charities, one of whom is the Jesuits.

Correspondence between Fr Leonard Sheil SJ and Irish Fr Provincial Laurence Kieran SJ concerning the relationship between the Sodality of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the Legion of Mary.

Letter from [ ] Sweeney, writing from [Clonkeen House], Castlerea, County Roscommon to Fr [ ]. Asks the latter to consider taking [her] son to his college, and states that Fr Bellew told [her] that he would get him (the son) a place in Milltown when he reaches fourteen.

Letter from F. J. MacCormack, Ballaghadreen to Dr Charles Russell asking D. Russell to support Mr. Myles H. Jordan for the appointment of Resident Magistrate.

Letter from John Lyster, Bishop of Achonry, The Abbey, Ballaghaderreen, County Roscommon to Irish Fr Provincial James Murphy SJ concerning property belonging to the Society in Tobercurry, County Sligo and an order of nuns who wish to build a school on it. Includes a draft of a reply from Fr Murphy SJ.

Letter to Fr John Conmee SJ from Dr. Henry C. Drury enquiring what year the Conmee family came to live at Kingsland, County Roscommon. The Drury family lived at Kingsland before the Conmee’s and Dr. Drury is helping ‘a friend in London who is working at Drury pedigrees.’

Letters from Cardinal William Conway, Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland, and from Dr James Fergus, Bishop of Achonry and Secretarius of the Irish Hierarchy, to Irish Fr Provincial Brendan Barry SJ in relation to a letter sent to the Irish Bishops seeking their views about how best the Society of Jesus is to serve the Church in Ireland. Dr Fergus expresses the opinion of the Bishops by writing, ‘..the Society could render no better service…than by a continuance and intensification of the activities in which it is at present engaged, having perhaps as a special aim the cultivation of a sense of social responsibility among the laity’ (16 October 1967).

Letters to the Irish Fr Provincial from possible candidates and various parish priests seeking information on and interviews to discuss, the possibility of entrance into the Society of Jesus. Also includes applications to join the Society; letters from those who have been accepted and letters concerning financial support from novices’ families.

A file of letters written by various people to Fr Robert Haly SJ:

• Includes a letter from Fr Murphy SJ referring to the polka. Remarks '…I do not consider it, absolutely speaking, a proximate occasion of sin, as I have the assurance of some reliable young persons of both sexes that they never found any harm in it (nd, 4pp).
• Includes a letter from Patrick Drinan SJ, Sant' Andrea, Rome describing his life as a novice in the Society of Jesus. Describes his fellow novices (21 March 1825, 3pp).
• Includes a letter from Fr Charles Aylmer SJ, Hardwicke Street, Dublin referring to Fr Matthew Gahan SJ. Remarks that he has returned from the Isle of Man. Continues '…(he has) done much good amongst those poor neglected Catholics. But now they are without a priest and of course will fall back again into the old way.' (28 August 1825, 3pp).
• Includes a letter from Prout concerning his ordination to Deaconship ([ ] 1828, 1p).
• Includes a letter from Fr St Leger SJ. Refers to the woods at Clongowes. Remarks that new trees have been planted and hundreds of old trees have been cut down. Refers to Daniel O'Connell 'Mr O'Connell hopes to enter Parliament by a clause in the Act of Union which only requires the oath of abjuration, which was abolished…C. Butler of London has published his opinion that Mr O'Connell's admittance to Parliament cannot be refused according to law…' Includes a note from Fr Peter Kenney SJ at the end of the letter concerning the death of Fr Haly's uncle, Robert in Calcutta on 27 July 1826 (30 September, 3pp).
• Includes a letter from [ ], Clongowes Wood College concerning Christmas celebrations in Clongowes. Refers to the church services and remarks that the Parisian Cope made its first appearance and 'dazzled the natives'. Remarks that the number of scholars in the college is small and many vacancies exist. Refers to Fr Aylmer and Fr St Leger and their plans to erect a new chapel in Dublin. Refers to Fr Moran's departure for Buenos Ayres. Refers to the political situation in Ireland and Daniel O'Connell's determination to go to Parliament (5 January 1829, 4pp).
• Includes a letter from George Oliver, St Nicholas' Priory, Exeter containing queries about members of the Society in Ireland for a publication he is preparing (17 July 1838, 3pp).
• Includes a letter from Fr Charles Aylmer SJ concerning his stay in Rome. Describes dining with Fr General on St Stanislaus Day (23 November 1838, 4pp).
• Includes a letter from Patrick Sheehan SJ, Roman College concerning news from Rome and general Society matters. Reports that Fr General is pleased with all the Provinces under his direction and has expressed a wish to open a Japanese Mission (30 November 1838, 4pp).
• Includes a letter from Bartholomew Esmonde SJ, Al Gesu, Rome enclosing a sketch of his design for the altar at St Francis Xavier's Church, Gardiner Street, Dublin (9 February 1842, 3pp).
• Includes a transcription of the same letter, 9 February 1842, by Fr Francis Finegan SJ [1975].
• Includes a letter from Fr Bartholomew Esmonde, SJ, San Calcedonio, Malta concerning the suspension of Fr Rillo by the Bishop. Remarks that the business has become public due to the intervention of Lord Clifford (25 July 1842, 4pp).
• Includes a letter from John Cunningham SJ, Rome. Refers to the political situation in Ireland and Daniel O'Connell. Refers to Fr Rillo and remarks that he is no longer in Malta. Remarks '…after his justification had been fully established he removed to Palermo. Mr Esmonde is authorised to select whom he pleases to succeed the former.' (25 November 1843, 3pp).
• Includes a letter from Fr Esmonde concerning his missionary work in Malta. Remarks 'I have a curious time of it here, strange folks as if all the odd fish of the Mediterranean had climbed up on this rock.' Refers to a new church opened by the Protestants on the island. Refers to the power of the government a governor of the island who control everything (15 November 1844, 2pp).
• Includes a letter from John Lynch, SJ, Church of St Joseph, Willings Alley, Philadelphia, PA describing his surroundings (1 February 1840, 4pp).
• Includes a letter from John Gaffney concerning the Archbishop's (Dr Cullen) decision to prohibit the dancing of the polka. Discusses the implications of this decision and expresses the opinion that the Society should not pursue a different course of action to the clergy of Dublin and rural areas (20 January 1858, 4pp).
• Includes a letter from Bishop George Browne of Elphin concerning a retreat to be conducted by Fr Robert Haly SJ. Refers to the parishioners eagerness for a mission (19 April 1858, 3pp).
• Includes a letter from the Bishop of Clonfert, John Derry agreeing to consecrate the Society's church in Galway (11 May 186[ ]), 4pp).
• Includes a letter from Irish Fr Provincial Edmund O'Reilly SJ granting Fr Haly privileges with regard to his mission work (26 September 1867, 3pp).
  Includes a letter from Irish Fr Provincial Edmund O'Reilly SJ advising Fr Haly on how to deal with confessors who declare they are members of the Fenians (8 December 1869, 4p

File of mission material relating to Fr Patrick Finneran SJ. Includes passport photographs; announcement of death; death notice; mortuary card; personal record; correspondence between Fr Finneran and Frs Vincent Murphy, Thomas O'Brien and Thomas J. Martin, Mission Office, Dublin.

Nine photographic albums belonging to Fr Frank Browne SJ containing positives (his own). Fr Browne has captioned some of the albums:

1. Crosses of Ireland: 94 photographs.
2. English churches: 197 photographs.
3. “People I have seen in many lands”: Scotland, Australia, Africa, Egypt, Tipperary, Ireland, Australia, Ceylon, South Africa. 95 photographs, captioned.
4. Rock of Cashel, Moyne Abbey, Murrisk Abbey, Buttevant Abbey, Kells, Urlaur, Ardmore. 95 photographs, captioned.
5. Ardfert Cathedral, Athassel Priory, Ballysadare, Boyle Abbey, Cashel, Claregalway Friary, Crevalea Friary, Kilconell Friary. 1925-29, 96 photographs, captioned.
6. Religious sites in Clare: Clare Abbey, Ennis, Killaloe, Killone, Quin St Flannan and St Molua. 15-16 August 1930, 96 photographs, captioned.
7. Prehistoric antiquities around Ireland (ringforts, standing stones, ogham stones, dolmens, Grianán Ailigh). 96 photographs.
8. Cistercian Abbeys of Ireland: Volume 1. Mellifont, Boyle, Jerpoint, Holy Cross, Dunbrody, Graiguenamanagh, Tracton, Hore. 1929-1930, 179 photographs, captioned.
9. Cistercian Abbeys of Ireland: Volume 2. Bective, Assaroe, Inniscourey, Tintern, Knockmoy, Kilcooley, Mount St Joseph Roscrea. 1930-1931, 132 photographs, captioned.

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.

Schedule of costs incurred by the Jesuit Fathers re: Mrs. Donnelly deceased, St Francis Xavier's, Upper Gardiner Street, Dublin to Maxwell Weldon & Co. Solicitors, and Michael Horan will.