The Society of Jesus (Jesuits) is a religious order founded by Ignatius of Loyola and given papal approval in 1540. Jesuits have worked in Ireland since the sixteenth century. The papers of the Isle of Man Mission detail the building of chapels and schools in Douglas and Castletown by Fr. Matthew Gahan SJ (1782-1837) and his work on the island. Born in Dublin, he entered the Society at Hodder, Lancashire, England in 1805 and left for the Isle of Man in 1826. He had previously spent 3 months on the island in 1817 and 1825. When he died there in February 1837, the Jesuit mission to the island ended.
Archival History ↴
Donation
Immediate Source Acquisition ↴
Donation
Content & Structure
Scope & Content: Irish Jesuits ↴
The papers document the history of the mission to the Isle of Man through descriptions of its establishment, financial statements, plans, property details and correspondence.
Appraisal Destruction ↴
Permanent Retention
Accruals ↴
None
Arrangement ↴
Material was catalogued in 2000, 2006 and 2007 and has been divided into sections.
A. Establishment of a Mission in the Isle of Man (1825-1827)
B. Fr. Matthew Gahan, S.J. and the Isle of Man Mission (1812; 1820; 1826-1849)
C. New Chapel, Douglas (1828-1837)
D. Chapel at Castletown (1813; 1828-1830)
E. Fr. Charles Aylmer, S.J. and the Isle of Man Mission (1835-1837)
F. End of Isle of Man Mission (1837-1849)
G. Historical Research (1958-1999)
Conditions of Access & Use
Access Conditions
The Irish Jesuit Archives is available to bona fide researchers only. Access by advance appointment. Further details: www.jesuitarchives.ie
Conditions Governing Reproduction
No material may be reproduced without the written permission of the archivist, and reproductions are subject to the conditions of access. Photocopying is not available. Digital photography is at the discretion of the Archivist.
McRedmond, Louis. "To the Greater Glory: A history of the Irish Jesuits". Dublin: Gill & Macmillan, 1991.
Dempsey, Rev. William. S. "Apostle of the Isle of Man. Portraits from the Past". 1984
Laheen, Fr. Kevin A. SJ "Fr. Myles MacPharlan, P.P., Predecessor to Fr. Matthew Gahan SJ". Unpublished.
Descriptive Control Area
Archivist Note
Damien Burke
Rules/Conventions
ISAD(G): General International Standard Archival Description. 2nd ed. Ottawa: International Council on Archives, 2000.
IGAD: Irish Guidelines for Archival Description. Dublin: Society of Archivists, Ireland, 2009.
National Council on Archives: Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names. Chippenham: National Council on Archives, 1997.
