Article on 'The History of the Society in Ireland'. Contained in an off-print of the Irish Province News. Brief history of Jesuit activity in Ireland between 1542 and 1960. Includes references to Limerick.

File containing material relating to Br Andrew Williams's admission to the Society and subsequent correspondence with Irish Fr Provincials.

The first Jesuit school in Limerick was founded by Father David Wolfe SJ (1528-c.1578) in 1565. Over the next three hundred years, the Jesuits presence in Limerick ebbed and flowed. By 1640, a Jesuit residence was established at Castle Lane and by 1672, a school was opened near St Mary’s Cathedral. After an interval of eighty-six years from the Suppression of the Society in 1773, the Jesuits returned to Limerick in 1859 after Bishop John Ryan (1784-1864) had invited the Society to establish a school in the city. The school initially opened in 1859 as St Munchin’s College on Hartstonge Street. The pioneer Jesuit community in 1859 were Frs Edward Kelly (1824-1905) (Rector), Thomas Kelly (1829-1898), Peter Foley (1826-1893), Edmund Hogan (1831-1917), Matthew Saurin (1825-1901) and one scholastic, Mr. Matthew Russell (1834-1912). In January 1862, the Jesuits purchased a neighbouring residence, Crescent House. The church building was started in 1864, opened in 1868 and named after the Sacred Heart in 1869. The college had ceased to be a seminary for the diocese in 1867 and was renamed the Sacred Heart College in 1873. Commonly known as the Crescent College, it ceased to be a fee paying school in 1971 and became the Crescent College Comprehensive SJ. In 1973 the Comprehensive moved to a modern greenfield site at Dooradoyle. Later it became a co-educational school and the Crescent Preparatory School was closed in 1976.

The bulk of material in the Crescent College Comprehensive SJ papers relate to: financial matters (1869-1990); community correspondence (1859-1992); performance and examination (1912-1966); pupils (1881-1974); school administration (1870-1971); school sports and theatre (1882-1969); deeds and leases (1809-1998); photographs (1884-1976).

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

'Ground Plan of Sacred Heart Church and College'. Shows church, college and surrounding property, including Doyle's yard.

Letter from Fr John Grene SJ to Fr William Ronan SJ on Crescent property deeds. Sends Fr Ronan deeds relating to a property fronting
onto Richmond Place and later known as 'Number 3' Newenham Street, consisting of what was once known as Russell's House and other premises (not included). Refers to other deeds and documents, such as agreements in relation to the Tontine buildings, a fee farm grant and negative searches.

Letter from Fr Michael Browne SJ to Fr Laurence Potter SJ, Rector of the Crescent College, on Jesuit property in the Crescent. Refers to deeds regarding Jesuit property in the Crescent. Gives details of the proprietorial history of 'Russell's House', which later became known as 'Crescent House'.

Letter from Mary Murtagh, Honorary Secretary, Crescent College Comprehensive, Dooradoyle, County Limerick to Irish Fr Provincial Joseph Dargan SJ sympathising over the death of Fr Hilary Lawton SJ. Includes a copy reply.

Draft list and typewritten list of deeds relating to property in the Crescent, which later came into the possession of the Jesuits and formed part of the buildings of the Sacred Heart Church and College.

Handwritten notes, and one typewritten, regarding the three Tontine buildings (nos. 12, 13 & 14 Richmond Place). Includes information re. the establishment and running of the Tontine Society; descriptions of various deeds executed in relation to the property; information on how the Jesuits came into possession of the buildings. Refers to those connected with the property, including the Earl of Limerick, members of the Maunsell family, the Marquise de Fontanelle.

Status Temporalis (Province Account) book which contains accounts for: St Ignatius’ College, Galway; St Stanislaus’ College, Tullabeg; Clongowes College, Naas; Belvedere College, Dublin; Crescent College (College of the Sacred Heart), Limerick; Mungret College, Limerick; Rathfarnham Castle, Dublin; University Hall; 35 Lower Leeson Street; St Francis Xavier’s, Upper Gardiner Street, Irish Jesuit mission to Australia.

Status Temporalis (Province Account) for: St Ignatius’ College, Galway; St Stanislaus’ College, Tullabeg; Clongowes College, Naas; Belvedere College, Dublin; Crescent College (College of the Sacred Heart), Limerick; Mungret College, Limerick; Rathfarnham Castle, Dublin; University Hall; 35 Lower Leeson Street; St Francis Xavier’s, Gardiner Street.

Status Temporalis (Province Account) for: St Ignatius’ College, Galway; St Stanislaus’ College, Tullabeg; Clongowes College, Naas; Belvedere College, Dublin; Crescent College (College of the Sacred Heart), Limerick; Mungret College, Limerick; Rathfarnham Castle, Dublin; University Hall; 35 Lower Leeson Street; St Francis Xavier’s, Gardiner Street.

Status Temporalis (Province Account) for: St Ignatius’ College, Galway; St Stanislaus’ College, Tullabeg; Clongowes College, Naas; Belvedere College, Dublin; Crescent College (College of the Sacred Heart), Limerick; Mungret College, Limerick; Rathfarnham Castle, Dublin; University Hall; 35 Lower Leeson Street; St Francis Xavier’s, Gardiner Street.

Status Temporalis (Province Account). for: St Ignatius’ College, Galway; St Stanislaus’ College, Tullabeg; Clongowes College, Naas; Belvedere College, Dublin; Crescent College (College of the Sacred Heart), Limerick; Mungret College, Limerick; Rathfarnham Castle, Dublin; University Hall; 35 Lower Leeson Street; St Francis Xavier’s, Gardiner Street.

Status Temporalis (Province Account).for: St Ignatius’ College, Galway; St Stanislaus’ College, Tullabeg; Clongowes College, Naas; Belvedere College, Dublin; Crescent College (College of the Sacred Heart), Limerick; Mungret College, Limerick; Rathfarnham Castle, Dublin; University Hall; 35 Lower Leeson Street; St Francis Xavier’s, Gardiner Street.

Status Temporalis (Province Account).for: St Ignatius’ College, Galway; St Stanislaus’ College, Tullabeg; Clongowes College, Naas; Belvedere College, Dublin; Crescent College (College of the Sacred Heart), Limerick; Mungret College, Limerick; Rathfarnham Castle, Dublin; University Hall; 35 Lower Leeson Street; St Francis Xavier’s, Gardiner Street.

Status Temporalis (Province Account) for: St Ignatius’ College, Galway; St Stanislaus’ College, Tullabeg; Clongowes College, Naas; Belvedere College, Dublin; Crescent College (College of the Sacred Heart), Limerick; Mungret College, Limerick; Rathfarnham Castle, Dublin; University Hall; 35 Lower Leeson Street; St Francis Xavier’s, Gardiner Street.

Status Temporalis (Province Account) for: St Ignatius’ College, Galway; St Stanislaus’ College, Tullabeg; Clongowes College, Naas; Belvedere College, Dublin; Crescent College (College of the Sacred Heart), Limerick; Mungret College, Limerick; Rathfarnham Castle, Dublin; University Hall; 35 Lower Leeson Street; St Francis Xavier’s, Gardiner Street.

Edited by Tony White.