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FROM BALLYVOURNEY TO CREESLOUGH
Fr. David of Ards
In October 1934 a young clerical student from Cork came to Donegal to continue his studies at the Capuchian Friary in Ards, near Creeslough following his first profession in the Order.
Last month Fr. David celebrated his eightieth birthday in the Friary and among the people he came to love in his second home here in Donegal. "With my first glimpse of Donegal I fell in love with it and I never wanted to live anywhere else". He confesses as he talks about his life, his times and his new book "A History of Ards" which documents the history of the estate down the centuries.
Born David Kelleher the family home is in Cullea, Ballyvourney and Fr. David recalls his next door neighbour whom he searches as a man of unique talent and a rare genius who died long before his time. Fr. David recalls growing up in this beautiful traditional Irish settling of solitude culture and Irish music with the Ballyvourney area already renowned for its history. He received his secondary education at Rochestown College and his vocation then brought him to the Franciscan College in Kilkenny which he entered in September 1929 to commence his probation year.
Some three years later he made his first profession at the National University in Cork where he obtained his degree in philosophy under the professor of the James O'Mahoney. Following his final profession he completed an M.A. degree in Cork before coming to Donegal in 1934.
Next October Fr. David will celebrate fiftyfive years in the priesthood - along with Fr. Nicholas he was ordained in the "old Friary" in October 1937 and today his skills, knowledge and many talents continue to occupy a very full life and he is rarely ever in bed before midnight.
Following his ordination Fr. David went to Rome to studies for a Doctorate in Theology which he obtained at the International College for Capuchians. The war clouds were gathering over Europe says Fr. David and there was a very real fear that the clerical students in Rome could be called up for in Military service and life in Mussolini had teamed up with Hitler and the outbreak of war brought a reality to all Italians of its destruction and horror. Rationing of all essentials became a way of life and Fr. David recalls losing a stone in weight.
Having achieved his degree he was unable to leave Rome and indeed was not able to write home until 1943. He then managed to sent a letter via the United States with a friend and was to receive a reply from Cullea via the same indirect route.
While awaiting the war to end he took a course in Holy Scripture and talks in glowing terms about one of his professors - Carol Augustin Bea and then went on to obtain a Diploma in library science at the Vatican. It was here he was granted a private audience with his Holiness the late Pope Pious the 12th - "He was the greatest Pope of all, a deeply religious man who in the aftermath of the war was badly totally wrong because after all he had spent twelve years in Germany. His role in Papal Legate. His time as helping people escape the ravages of the war was immense but largely went unrecognised".
However in June 1943 Fr. David was eventually to take his leave of Rome by a circuituous route through Barcelona and Madrid the Irish Consulate in that City. On a chilly June morning he arrived in Bristol and made his way to Liverpool where he says he saw the real devastation of war with burnt out streets and bomb craters everywhere and back to Ireland on the mailboard and to the peace and tranquility of the Cork countryside after an absence of six eventful years in Italy. He returned to Ards in the 1943 and taught for twentynine years.
In a very full lifetime in the private Guardian for two terms and saw many changes. They had thirty-seven clerical students when the new House opened in the fifties but in 1972 when a decision was made to transfer all further
studies closer to University facilities Fr. David and the Franciscans pioneered a new Retreat House it is busier than ever with groups from the Northern counties and the facilities for their meetings. The Franciscan congregation includes six priests and Brother Edward Dunne. Fr. David is the longest serving priest at Ards and says that all his contemporaries are long since passed away. Fr.
important role on the estate in the period before it was bought by the Franciscans.
"A History of Ards" is a beautifully written historic passages of time in this area of Donegal and he to bring the era very much alive as they add authenticity to a way of life now gone forever.
The last landlord of Ards was Lieut-Col. Sir Pieter Canzius Van Blomstein Stewart-Bam Kt., O.B.E. who founded the British National Union and the Union and Fr. David used a picture of the Landlord to
Through the pages of the book we find connections with Lord Castlereagh and the Act of Union Old the building of the Ballyvourney Chapel in 1784. John Mitchell, Robert Emmet. Landlordism was at its height in Ireland and the Feniens rose to oppose it in 1867. A.J.R. Stewart was Master of Ards at this time. he reigned for more than fifty years. The Wyndham Landlordism abolished Act of 1903 abolished Landlordism forever. A.J.R. had left Ards in 1878 and was never to return.
A fine photo in the book married heires of Ards with her husband Sir Peter
Government by the Capuchians for £4,500. They formally took it over in March 1930 and have first group of seven novices were welcomed in January 1931 to begin their four year Theological course of studies. Their day began at 5.00a.m. with Divine Office, Matens, Litany of the Saints. Then the small hours of Prime and Terce were followed by Breakfast in the Oratory. Breakfast at 7.30 consisted of porridge, bread and coffee. Classes were made at 8.30. Life was indeed very enclosed and Fr. David remarked that in their four years the
The peaceful setting of Ard Mhuire
Benjamin, Fr. Mark Coyle from Letterkenny, Fr. Joachim, Fr. Sylvester and Fr. Fidelus make up the group of the Friary. They have changed greatly since the old days and the old ways. No longer is first mass at 5.00 a.m. Eight o'clock is a more leisurely time but work goes on until well past midnight.
The area around the Friary is a most picturesque setting and a popular place of call by thousands of visitors each year and as Fr. David looks out to the Bay he points to the landscape of tree and shrubbs, all of which he helped to plant as a young Friar many years ago. He is also the library and looks after the gardener with its ten thousand books and manuscripts. His sprightly step and youthful appearance belies the fact that here is a man of more than eighty years. He obviously loves the Friary and the people of the Creeslough and Dunfanancestors played such an
illustrate his noble bearing. Throughout its twentyfour passages the book traces the history of the 2,000 arce Peninsula where in ancient times it was ruled by the O'Boyles. Ironically in July 1642 a Spanish frigate called The Saint Francis arrived in Sheephaven Bay and on board was Eoghan Rua O'Neill and one hundred Irish veterans from the Spanish army. Ireland was, once more in rebellion with the English and Turlogh Og O'Boyle who lived at Faugher House was one of the chiefs who supported Eoghan Rua. The O'Boyle was to fail and the O'Boyle House and lands were confiscated by the Crown. And so began the History of Ards.
The property came into the Wray family who first built a house here in 1708 and an early photograph printed on glass was taken in 1859. The estate had by then become the property of the Stewarts from Kilrea in County Derry for the prince of £13,250 in 1782.
Bam on their arrival at Ards House in July 1910. In 1929 Ards House alon