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).

Documents concerning:

• Catalogue of those apt for governing (Catalogus Aptorum ad Gubernandum);
• Lists of admissions to the Novitiate, First and Final Vows, etc. (Elenchi Triennales Admissorum in noviciatum, Admissorum ad Vota Prima et Ultima).

A file of letters to Irish Fr Provincial Thomas Brown SJ (term 7 May 1883 - 2 February 1888). Includes an index/précis to the letters by Fr James Rabbitte SJ.

Letter from Fr William McCartan, writing from the Parochial House, Dromore, County Down, to Fr Patrick Hughes SJ. Objects to the latter having found fault with his purchase of cattle for Fr Hughes’ community, and claims that he would profit by the purchase.

Copy of letter from Fr Patrick Hughes SJ, writing from St Francis Xavier's, Upper Gardiner Street, Dublin to Fr William McCartan. Thanks the latter for purchasing the two milch cows, but explains that his (Hughes’) superior, the Provincial Fr Brown, did not want the two store heifers that were purchased at the same time, and that he had already made this fact clear to Fr McCartan. Sends the latter a cheque for the cows.

Letter from Fr William McCartan to Fr Patrick Hughes SJ. States that he is not satisfied with the latter's letter, and claims that he had told Fr Brown that he intended to purchase five heifers. Complains that he was never treated in such a manner before.

Letters addressed to Fr Eugene Browne SJ, Milltown Park, Dublin in his capacity as Procurator of the Province. Includes summary of
accounts from Fr Maher SJ, Crescent College, Limerick (3 March 1903 - 12 January 1904); letter and receipts for rates from J. Baird, Rate Collector, Dromore, Down ‘on your property in Urban District of Dromore, Co. Down’ (6 January 1906); letter from Maxwell Weldon & Co., Solicitors requesting signatures for a new lease to Andrew Brennan of the premises in Commons Street (27 July 1908).

Note detailing novice's pensions at Loyola House, Dromore, County Down.

Letter from George McCorry [C.C.] of Ballela, Banbridge, to Irish Fr Provincial Thomas Brown SJ, in Gardiner Street. Appeals to the latter ‘not to put further costs on John Magee’, who is a tenant on the Jesuits’ land.

A file of letters concerning the Dromore property (Loyola House) belonging to the Society of Jesus. At the time the Jesuits were not occupying Dromore, but leasing the land for grazing. The estate was eventually sold in 1918. Includes a note, written on the back of an Income Tax Assessment form, concerning the names vested in the Dromore estate.

List of tenants in arrears [Dromore, County Down]. A note states that proceedings should be taken against them to recover rent and arrears. Adds that Fr [McCartan] ‘says that they are well able to pay’.

In 1883, the Jesuits (Society of Jesus) purchased from Edward and James Quinn, Dromore house and estate in County Down. It had been the former palace of the Church of Ireland bishop of Dromore. The decision to move to Dromore from Milltown Park, Dublin was twofold. Firstly, Jesuits from University College at Temple Street in 1883 had moved to Milltown Park, meaning that the building occupied by the novices was required. As a result, Milltown Park was overcrowded and deemed unsuitable as a novitiate (see FM/DROM/86). Secondly, Monsignor William McCartan, parish priest of Dromore made an offer of Dromore house and estate to the Jesuits. McCartan had been entrusted in the will of the late Miss Anna Magennis to oversee the establishment of a religious order in Dromore and he encouraged the Jesuits to establish a house in Dromore (see FM/DROM/52). From letters written by Fr McCartan to Fr Browne SJ and Fr Ronan SJ, it is clear that that he was most anxious to have the Jesuit Order occupy Dromore and greatly encouraged the Society to establish a house in the north (see FM/DROM/2 and FM/DROM/3). It is interesting to note the opposition Fr McCartan encountered and the struggle to establish a Catholic Order in Dromore. Some of his letters hint at the religious divide between Catholics and Protestants in this matter (see FM/DROM/2).

Despite some further opposition from the Bishop of Dromore, John P. Leahy, the Jesuit Fathers finally settled the business of purchasing the house (which they named Loyola House) and estate and established a Novitiate in 1884. Their occupation of Dromore, however, was not to last long. In 1888 a series of letters written by Fr McCartan to Fr Ronan SJ attest to his extreme disappointment at the decision of the Society to vacate Dromore (see FM/DROM/53). Although the Society appeared pleased with the house and estate and its suitability as a Novitiate a decision was made to leave Dromore. From the evidence contained in the collection it would seem that an American Jesuit, appointed Visitor by Fr General, advised the Irish Province to move the Novitiate from Dromore to Tullabeg. At this time the province was experiencing some financial hardship and some consolidation was necessary (see FM/DROM/83, FM/DROM/86 and FM/DROM/87). However, Dromore was not sold immediately by the Jesuit Fathers and for a number of years the land was farmed or leased for grazing earning the Society a small income. Finally in 1918 a decision was made to sell Dromore house and estate to Mr. Thomas Brown Wallace, a solicitor in Dromore. The sale was completed on 22 January 1918.

In 1887, Fr Gerard Manley Hopkins SJ (1844-1889) wrote two sonnets while staying there. The novitiate house operated for four years and closed in 1888 when the Jesuits novices moved to St Stanislaus College, Tullabeg, King’s County. The papers of Loyola House, Dromore, Down concern its purchase (1883-1889), legal and rental matters (1883 -1917), finances (1885-1917) and accounts (1883-1887), maintenance (1890-1918) and sale (1896-1918). Includes some historical notes on Dromore. Material is in the form of letters, deeds, plans and maps.