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MEMORANDUM OF PARLEYS BETWEEN the
MONSIGNOR JAMES JRYAN, PROTONOTARY APOSTOLIC, OF I'HERMITAGE,
NEAR THURLES, COUNTY LIMERICK, of Imperiary Ireland.
AND THE ABBOTS OF THE BELGIAN BENEDICTINE CONGREGATION.
Following on previous overtures made by him, in 1925, to the
Belgian Congregation O.S.B., in view of a Benedictine foundation
which he preconised in Ireland, Mgr J.J. Ryan visited in October 1926
the Abbey of Mont-César, where he made verbally the following pro-
posals to the three Abbots of the Congregation whom he met there,
namely:
Rmus D. Robertus de KERCHOVE, Praesses,
Rmus D. Theodore NEVE, Assistentes.
Rmus Coelestinus GOLENVAUX,
Having explained that a rural demesne, with a superficies of
about 175 hectares, had been detached from a vast landed estate si-
tuated in Ireland, formerly the property of two brothers, of English
and now his personal property, acquired by marchise
nationality, now dead, with a view to transfer it to a Benedictine
Congregation willing to establish and organize there a monastic
foundation of their Order, Mgr. J. Ryan stating further that he had
it in his gift to dispose of the said property for the aforesaid
object, offerred to make it over purely and simply to the Benedic-
tine monastery community of Maredsous solely in consideration of
their undertaking to found thereon a Benedictine monastery to be
eventually provided with an education School and/or a School of
Arts, on the model of those they have founded and conduct success-
fully at Maredsous, and nuttable to local wants.
Cat. no. 2022-02-07-280
Mgr. Ryan spontaneously offerred all assurances as requested.

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Cat. no. 2022-02-07-
about 175 hectares, had been detached from a vast landed estate situated in Ireland, formerly the property of two brothers of English and now his personal property, acquired by purchase nationality, now dead, with a view to transfer it to a Benedictine
Congregation willing to establish and organize there a monastic foundation of their Order, Mgr. J. Ryan stating further that he had it in his gift to dispose of the said property for the aforesaid object, offerred to make it over purely and simply to the Benedictine monastery community of Maredsous solely in consideration of their undertaking to found thereon a Benedictine monastery to be eventually provided with an education School and/or a School of arts, on the model of those they have founded and conduct successfully at Maredsous, and hitable to local wants.
Mgr. Ryan spontaneously offerred all assurances as regards the favourable dispositions towards such a foundation on the part of the State Powers, public Authorities, Clergy, and population generally.
Mgr. J. Ryan gave a verbal description of the demesne as follows:
Situated in County Limerick on the parish of Murroe, at a place called GLENSTAL, a few miles from the city of Limerick. Superficies of about 175 hectares, of which about 80 hectares are well wooded, 30 under cultivation, and the rest in pastures, orchards, gardens (of which the Kitchen-garden alone measures 3 hectares), park, and including four lakes well stocked with fish.
There is a vast mansion containing 39 appartments, a certain number of which are of large dimensions, three being of extra large size a spacious library of architectural design with ground ceiling and

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2.
floor, doors and fittings of oak -
2
built of stone, in a perfect state of repairs, ready for occupation, and provided with central heating and electric light which is generated on the property by means of a petroleum plant, the station house containing a battery of accumulators.
The outhouses comprise large stabling, garage for several motors, and other buildings for different uses, easy of transformation, if need be.
This para-
graph to
be diminished
Mgr. J. Ryan thereupon generously mentioned that he hoped to procure subscriptions from friends of his, especially one for five thousand pounds from an American friend, towards the financial requirements of the new foundation.
Mgr. J. Ryan mentioned in fine that the only condition he wished to stipulate for himself was that the exclusive use of Some two rooms would be reserved to him in the house, as well as the right and royalties to shoot over the grounds, during his lifetime.
In view of such a generous and spontaneous offer, and at the suggestion of Mgr. Ryan, it was immediately accepted that the Rt. Rev. Abbots of Maredsous and St. André should visit Ireland, at a near date,
✓

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✓ bots of Maredsous and St. André should visit Ireland, at a near date, to see the place and judge for themselves whether it was suitable for the object aimed at by Mgr. Ryan, and and verify the circumstances surrounding the proposition from the different points of view of the present and future, reserving therefore to come to a formal decision upon it until they were satisfied on all points.
Accordingly the Rt. Rev. Abbots aforesaid reached Ireland on the 12th of November 1926, but met Mgr. J. Ryan at Limerick on the 17th only as he was engaged until then. They went to Glenstal with him the same day for a short visit of less than three hours during which they were however able to judge that whilst the existing buildings are xxxxxx sufficient to permit a beginning of organisation of monastic life, the place affords all possibilities for the eventual development of a monastery and such works as it be eventually deemed advisable to attach to it.
The next day a second visit of one and a half hour was paid to Glenstal, more especially to look over the grounds, which was hardly sufficient to give the visitors even a very general idea of the importance of the place.

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3.
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As regards the many questions to be gone into before an undertaking might be given by the Community of Maredsous as to the carrying out of such an important work, such as the viability of such a foundation, the study of the general plan, and of a financial plan, and many others, nothing was done or could be done, on account of Mgr. Ryan's pressing engagments. The Rt. Rev. Abbot of Maredsous suggested therefore that perhaps this could be better met by him sending this ther two or three monks, competent for the study of such questions, who, during a sojourn of sufficient length, could gather and supply him with all that information which appeared necessary to be obtained, before a definite decision might be arrived at.
However, was it necessary, explained the Rt. Rev. Abbot, that he could first place before the President of the Congregation and file with the Archives a detail with all conditions attached to Mgr. Ryan's propositions, which being summed up, appears as follows: —
1. Mgr. Ryan states that the property as above described is dejure and de facto in his ownership, and offers to transfer the same purely and simply in its entirety and complete without any reserve in fee simple by way of gift to the Community of Maredsous; that is

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with all the buildings of any kinds whatsoever, plants and implements, plantations thereon and any other and all advantages and rights thereto attached, notably the freehold of the property, in consideration of the undertaking by said Community represented by their Abbot to establish thereon a Benedictine foundation, namely: a monastery to start with and eventually such educative and scientific works as will be recognised practicable.
2. It is mutually recognised that this cession or transfer can only be effected when the Community of Maredsous will have been able to verify by their prospectors the importance of the undertaking Which they are requested to give and of the possibilities of carrying it out successfully.
3. Mgr. Ryan, on his side, offers and promises expressly to execute the transfer by way of gift of the said property to the said Community of Maredsous, without delay, as soon as the said Community will ask for it for the purpose aforesaid, provided they formulate their decision within a period of six months to date from the arrival at Glenstal of monks prospectors of their Congregation, as pro-

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4.
vided for here xxxxbelow; and further Mgr. Ryan offers and promises to take to himself all the costs and expenses of such transfer which as regards the Community of Maredsous shall be absolutely gratuitous, engaging thereby all his assigns and executors, during the said period.
4. The said transfer may be executed under the form of a deed of gift or any other form which Mgr. Ryan may be advised to elect, as long as it is free to the Community of Maredsous and approved by their legal advisers, provided also it is made absolutely, that is freehold, in fee simple, free from any incumbrance and without any reservation, charges or restrictions of any kind whatsoever, so that the new Community there established may at any time, alter, transform or extend the existing buildings, erect new ones, proceed to the general exploitation of the demesne for their subsistance, in such manner and such conditions as they may deem fit, and generally do what may appear to them good and useful.
5. However the Community will hold in reserve, free for the exclusive and personal use of Mgr. Ryan during his lifelifetime, but without instituting a right for third parties, assigns or executors, thesome rooms in the monastery, and grant him the free and personal right to shoot andand water and fish
and water and fish are to be found there

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in the monastery, and grant him the free and personal right to shoot and fish over the grounds, and water and fish over the grounds, any running or flying game, to be found there.
6. In view of the above, the Community of Maredsous will send within thirty days from the date of 2e x exception of the present a mission of prospecting monks to Glenstal, composed at least of two monks to start with, but to be increased if and when need be, to study all conditions, circumstances and plans, to seek and find all useful and necessary information in view of the foundation aimed at and to report to their Community.
Mgr. Ryan has graciously offerred to provide for the temporary furnishing of the rooms necessary for these two monks at Glenstal, namely one bedroom for each of them decently provided with the usual requisites including bed and toilet linen, a common room for work, a dining room and kitchen, and one room to be used as Oratory.

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Letter at W Carrigan thanks earlier le. 27 June 4/30
I should like to know if you did recently see My Ryan and if he still permits in refusing to pay the cost of the transfer of Glenton, as it is is clearly formally stipulated in a clause of the memorandum signed by him and the hold Mbot. It is reasonable that the deeds should be delivered in one hands office such a long time that we are in expensing that we are in expensing and I should can can that not been done fettled in an anciable way. or do you If not
I think I should ask refer the affair to the umpire of His Grace the Kentisburg, to whom My Ryan and himself has delivered handed a copy of the faid memorandum at the very legions of our heard coming from Wondon you kindly ask the Memorandum in my name.
W. th best Attends I am in advance I remain

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J. P. CARRIGAN,
Solicitor.
THURLES,
CO. TIPPERARY.
1st. July 1930
Dear Father Francois,
Last week I saw Monsignor Ryan and told him I felt very much holding up these Deeds which are your property, that you had stated to me that he was liable for the Costs of same, that I merely wished to have an acknowledgement from him of his liability, and that I would forward them to you at once.
He stated that he never x undertook to pay Costs, that he repudiated all liability for same and that he never made a promise to you or anybody else to do so. I replied that I understood that it was part of the agreement of your taking the place that he was to discharge all Costs, but he said such was not the case. I again stated that it was a great hardship on you not to have your title Deeds, but he replied that he had reserved by these Deeds some four rooms in the house, and that I was not to part with them, and further, that he was going to Belgium this week and would discuss the matter with the authorities there.
If I were free, I would send you the documents at once, regardless of who would eventually pay the Costs, and I think you are entitled to have your documents and do what you like with them.
Kind regards.
Yours sincerely,
Rev. D. Gerard Francois,
St. Columba's Priory,
Glenstal,
Co. Limerick.