Original and copies of appreciations of Fr Willie Doyle SJ including letters from General Sir William Bernard Hickie, 16th Division, B.E.F.to Hugh Doyle Esq., Melrose, Dalkey, Dublin (15 December 1917) and to Fr Charles Doyle SJ (14 October 1924); Private M. Murphy, France, (Fr Willie Doyle's orderly) (22 August 1917).

[Copy of] letter from Col. M. O'Grady, Assistant Military Secretary at the War Office in Whitehall, London to Hugh Doyle, father of Fr Willie Doyle SJ. Informs him that Fr Doyle was mentioned in Despatches from General Sir Douglas Haig, which were published in the London Gazette.

Copy of ‘The Irish Monthly’, No. 174, Vol. XV,December 1887 published by M.H Gill & Son, with insert pp716-717 - letter from R M Levey, Violet Hill, Vico Road, Dalkey, Dublin to Dr Francis Cruise refering to Cruise's book on 'Thomas A Kempis' (14 May 1895), reviewed in said issue of ‘The Irish Monthly’. Dr Cruise name wriiten on front of ‘The Irish Monthly’.

Copy of the will of Mary Anne Louisa O'Byrne, Clan Morni, Ulverton Road, Dalkey, County Dublin. Includes codicil to the will.

Family photograph with Fr Willie Doyle SJ at an formal occasion, perhaps the wedding anniversary of his parents, outside the family home in Dalkey, county Dublin.

A file of letters from Dr Charles Russell, St Patrick's College, Maynooth, County Kildare to Denis Florence MacCarthy. Includes letters arranging a meeting with Sir Charles Gavan Duffy (14 June 1865 & 20 June 1865, 2 items).

Letters from Fr Patrick O'Mara SJ, Leighlinbridge, County Carlow to Irish Fr Provincial Thomas V Nolan SJ concerning the taking of a retreat provided he can have a rest beforehand and his commission to join an Irish regiment as a chaplain in World War One.

A file of letters from Mary Banim, Greenfield, Dalkey, County Dublin to Fr Matthew Russell SJ.

Holograph letters and typewritten letters by Mr Willie Doyle SJ while: at Clongowes Wood College to his mother and father, and sister Lena (6 April 1897 - 1898); undertaking philosophy at Enghien, Belgium to his mother and father (2 October 1898 - 3 June 1899); at St. Mary’s Hall, Stonyhurst College, England to his mother and father (14 October 1900 - 31 March 1901); at Clongowes Wood College to his mother and father, and sister Mai (18 December 1901 - 5 August 1903); undertaking theology at Milltown Park (23 December 1904 - Easter 1906).

Holograph letters and one typewritten letter by Willie Doyle: as a schoolboy in Ratcliffe College, Leicestershire, England to his brother Bob and mother (30 May 1886 - 9 April 1887); as a Jesuit novice at St Stanislaus, Tullabeg, County Offaly to his mother and father, and sisters Mai and Lena (8 August 1891 - 9 July 1892); as a scholastic at Milltown Park, Dublin to his father and brother Bob (31 May - Christmas 1893) and to Brother Cahill on finishing his noviceship (8 June 1893) and at Clongowes Wood College, County Kildare to his mother and father, and brothers Bob and Charles (3 September 1894 - 23 August 1896).

Letters to the Irish Fr Provincial and printed pamphlets relating to the War. Includes: circular sent to the Irish Fr Provincial from the Irish Volunteers protesting against the proposal to introduce conscription in Ireland;
– letter from the Irish National Aid and Volunteer Dependants’ Fund seeking contributions towards their ‘Gift Sale’ in order to raise funds [for the administration of the campaign against the introduction of conscription];
– circular and printed matter from the Irish War Savings Committee seeking support for their ‘Thrift campaign’;
– letter from the Lord Lieutenant’s Private Secretary regarding a proposal to establish a fund ‘to be devoted to the purchase of literature suited to be despatched to Irish Regiments at the front’, also includes copy of Irish Fr Provincial’s reply;
– copy letter from Andrew Bonar Law (Treasury Chambers, Whitehall) to the Irish Fr Provincial seeking a subscription to ‘the new War Loan’.
Also includes printed matter on ‘Catholicism and War’; ‘Voluntary Women Patrols’ and an ‘Address From the French Catholic Association for Young People. To the young Catholics – Allies and Neutrals’.

Newman in Dalkey

Photograph of Dalkey Island from "Sorrento".

Photographs of "Sorrento", Dalkey Island in the distance.

File of photographs of First World War scenes (Military convoy, 30 July 1916 and the Menin Road), Rathfarnham Castle and Dalkey. Includes copies of images of St Stanislaus College, Tullabeg, County Offaly and Kemmel Hill and Zonnebeke, Belgium and small handwritten sketch maps of Ypres (11 February 1935).

Postcard from Fr Willie Doyle SJ, Guadaloupe Barracks, Bordon, Hampshire to his father, Hugh Doyle Esq., Dalkey, Dublin in which he gives his new address.

Postcards of Dun Laoghaire and ‘views of Dalkey’ - Main Street, Castle Street, Sorrento Park, Dalkey Island and Church of the Assumption, Dalkey.

William Joseph Gabriel Doyle was born (1873) at Melrose, Dalkey Avenue, Dalkey, county Dublin. Known as Willie, Billie or Sloper (a comic book hero of the time), he was the youngest of seven children of Hugh Doyle, registrar of the insolvency court, and Christine Doyle (née Byrne). Growing up, Willie was devout, caring and cheerful. Educated at Ratcliffe College, Leicestershire, in 1891 Willie followed his older brother Charles into the Jesuits. After two years as a novice, he taught at Clongowes Wood College, where he produced The Mikado and founded the school magazine, The Clongownian. His Jesuit formation included periods in Belgium and England, and further teaching at Clongowes and Belvedere Colleges. After ordination at Milltown Park on 28th July 1907, Willie began work as an urban missionary and retreat giver in Ireland. His positive attitude made him a great success, and he travelled all around the British Isles. He was also the author of best-selling pamphlets on retreats and vocations.

Volunteering as a military chaplain in First World War, Fr Doyle was sent to France with the Royal Irish Fusiliers in early 1916. Within days of his arrival at the Front, he showed himself outstanding in the work of a chaplain. Lt Col HR Stirke noted that Fr Doyle was ‘one of the finest fellows that I ever met, utterly fearless, always with a cheery word on his lips and ever ready to go out and attend the wounded and the dying under the heaviest fire’. Present at the battles of the Somme and Messines, Fr Doyle was killed during the third battle of Ypres on 16th August 1917, while going to the aid of a wounded man near Frezenberg. He is commemorated on the Tyne Cot memorial, Belgium. Fr Doyle was awarded the Military Cross, and he was put forward for the Victoria Cross posthumously but did not receive it. Writing to Willie’s father, Hugh, in December 1917, Major General WB Hickie remarks that: ‘I could not say too much about your son. He was loved and reverenced by us all. His gallantry, self sacrifice and devotion to duty were all so well known and recognized. I think that his was the most wonderful character that I have ever known.’

A file relating to Mrs Louisa McCann (sister of Fr Laurence Kieran SJ) and the will of her late husband Mr Arthur McCann. The file relates to the financial difficulties experienced by Louisa McCann following the death of her husband, due in part, to the failure of the trustees of her marriage settlement to ensure that £20,000 was put in trust for her widowhood. Her brother Robert Kieran acted as her solicitor. However, it would appear from correspondence between Louisa and her brother Robert and Fr Kieran SJ that Louisa and Robert fell out with each other and she eventually asked Fr Kieran SJ to act as mediator and to look after the legalities of the estate. Includes a letter from Louisa McCann, Teltown, Donaghpatrick, Navan, County Meath to Fr Kieran, S.J. Remarks '...Bob's behaviour has certainly been awful and his letters all trumped up nonsense...he knows my unfortunate position and is taking advantage of it...I could not have believed he would have turned on me as he has done...I have you at any rate - otherwise I am really a very desolate creature now - struggling hard to pull along and trying not to be a burden on anyone.' (15 June 1938, 2pp). Includes a copy letter from Fr Kieran SJ, Clongowes Wood College, county Kildare to his brother Robert Kieran concerning the disagreement that has arisen between Louisa and Robert. Remarks 'I have often asked you to control your temper and your nerves - you have not done so; on the contrary, I regret to say you are getting steadily worse; so much so that I have often asked myself in sorrow where it is all going to end. Are you any the better now do you think for having inflicted this pain upon one who is poor, defenceless and alone in the world, and do you really believe that in doing this act you have given good example to your children?' (19 June 1938, 2pp). Includes a copy letter from Louisa McCann to her brother, Robert Kieran. Remarks 'I appreciate that you have had no end of trouble or worry over the McCann estate...but your recent attitude and behaviour towards me has made it impossible for me to approach you any further - I am sending the documents to Lal (Fr L Kieran SJ)...I have every confidence in him and shall be directed by what he advises...' (n.d., 2pp).