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Born: 15 February 1838, County Meath
Entered: 12 November 1859, St John's, Beaumont, England - Angliae Province (ANG) / Milltown Park, Dublin
Ordained: 10 September 1871
Final Vows: 02 February 1884
Died: 05 November 1914, St Ignatius College, Riverview, Sydney

Pat of the Loyola College, Greenwich, Sydney, Australia community at the time of death

2nd year Novitiate at Tullabeg;
by 1869 at Leuven Belgium (BELG) studying
Early Australian Missioner 1872

◆ HIB Menologies SJ :
He had entered Maynooth for the Meath Diocese before Ent.

He made part of his Noviceship at Beaumont and part at Milltown.
1861 He was sent for Regency to Tullabeg
1863-1866 he was sent for more Regency to Clongowes as Prefect and Teacher.
1867-1869 He was sent back to Tullabeg as a Teacher.
1869 He was sent to Louvain for Theology and remained there four years.
1873 He went to Australia in the company of William Hughes and Michael Watson.
1873-1886 He was chiefly involved in Colleges in Melbourne.
1886-1890 He was appointed Rector of Xavier College, Kew.
1890-1893 He was sent as Minister to St Patrick’s, Melbourne.
1893-1903 He was appointed Rector of St Aloysius, Sydney.
He died at Riverview 05 November 1914

Account of his death from a letter of Thomas Fay 15 November 1914 :
“On Thursday 5th, about 10am, while he was swimming in the College Baths he must have got a stroke on his left side or heart failure. He shouted ‘Hughie! Hughie!’ to our Rowing Club servant, who at once went to his help. Father Nulty was throwing his right arm about and moving in circles, but his face was under water. Hughie jumped in and kept his head up, and then got him to the outside piles, where he threw off a lot of sea water. Then Hughie shouted for help, and a man rowed across from the opposite side of Tambourine Bay. Between them and another stranger, they got him to the steps, where a lot more water was thrown off, and he was stretchered out at full length on the boards above, about 10.40am. He had not spoken since he first called Hughie. Father Minister came and administered Extreme Unction. He lay there for about three hours, all attempts at restoring life to no avail. There was no sign of life in him. At 1.30 he was removed to the Infirmary. By 6pm he looked peaceful, as if asleep.
Edward Pigot gave me his diagnosis - cerebral haemorrhage of the right side of the brain, and paralysis of the whole left side.
Father Nulty’s death was a shock to us all. It was so sudden and unexpected. I had been chatting with his at breakfast the same morning, and told him there would be a good tide about an hour and a half later. He had bathed there one or two days previously. Hughie used to keep an eye out. Father Nulty’s speech was not so distinct as before for a few days before his death. Sometimes I couldn’t understand him but didn’t ask him to repeat.”

Note from William Hughes Entry :
1872 He set out for Melbourne in the company of Christopher Nulty and Michael Watson

◆ David Strong SJ “The Australian Dictionary of Jesuit Biography 1848-2015”, 2nd Edition, Halstead Press, Ultimo NSW, Australia, 2017 - ISBN : 9781925043280
Christopher Nulty was a student of philosophy at Maynooth seminary before entering the Society, 12 November 1859, first at Beaumont, England, and then at Milltown Park, Dublin. As a scholastic he taught at St Stanislaus College, Tullabeg and Clongowes, 1861-68, before going to Louvain for theology.
Nulty arrived in Australia, 10 April 1873, and taught at St Patrick's College until 1886, being rector from 1879. He must have pleased superiors because he was then appointed rector of Xavier College, 1886-89, and was a mission consultor. During his time at Xavier College he extended the three cottage classrooms in 1888. The west wing was completed in 1889, and with it the annex which contained the Matron's apartments. He was experienced as an earnest, if not dour man, who was very strict and attacked the “Godless State education” in his speeches. He was reported to have “a beautiful leg break”.
After four years again teaching at St Patrick's College, 1890-93, he was appointed rector of St Aloysius' College, Bourke Street, until 1902. During that time he was also teaching, prefect of studies, admonitor of the mission superior and consultor. He spent eight months during 1902 as superior of Sevenhill, SA, before returning to St Aloysius' College to arrange its transfer to Milsons Point in 1903. Thomas Fay replaced him as rector on 21 June 1903, but he stayed at the college as minister, bursar, admonitor and consultor of the mission until 1908 when he moved to Riverview.
He remained at Riverview teaching and offering advice until 1913 when he moved to Loyola Greenwich, where he was minister again until he died from a stroke while swimming in the Riverview baths.
Nulty was not considered a great man, but had a good, simple nature, whose kindness was appreciated by his students and colleagues. In addition, he was a sound and prudent administrator for 40 years in Australia.

◆ The Xaverian, Xavier College, Melbourne, Australia, 1914

Obituary

Father Christopher Nulty SJ

On Thursday, November 5th, the death of Fr. Nulty, Rector of Xavier from 1886 till 1890, was announced. He had been swimming in the college baths at Riverview, Sydney, and was overcome some distance out. In answer to his calls for help the caretaker of the boatsheds swam in and brought him out, but the Father soon became unconscious, and died in a few minutes. He always liked the water, and had to his credit the lives of two men whom he saved from drowning, his efforts in the case of one of them resulting in an injury to the arm, from which he did not recover for many months.

Fr Nulty was born in County Meath, Ireland, and was 76 at the time of his death, He arrived in Melbourne in April, 1873, a few months after the laying of the foundation stone of the college, his companions on the long voyage out - for he came by sailing ship - being Fr Hughes and Fr Watson, both well known to old Xaverians. His first post was at St Patrick's College, which then was a boarding school, and later, in addition, a theological Seminary for the diocese. At the blessing and opening of Xavier College, Fr Nulty was present, and acted as sub-deacon at the High Mass. At the end of 1879 he was Rector of St Patrick's, Fr Nolan being appointed at the same time to Xavier, and he remained there till the beginning of 1886, when he came to take Fr Nolan's place as Rector.

During Fr Nulty's time of office, the buildings were much extended, the three cottage classrooms, originally intended as an infirmary, being put up in 1888. The west wing was completed in 1889, and with it the annexe which contains the matron's apartments. With these additions, the congestion was relieved, and ample space for classes, playrooms and dormitories obtained the only important additions made since that time being the hall and laboratory. The progress of the school during his rectorate in numbers and in work was very satisfactory, some of the boys of that period being amongst those of whom the school is particularly proud.

In the first year of his office the novitiate for the training of young Jesuits was transferred to the college from Richmond, and remained there until its removal to Sydney in 1800. Amongst the lay masters of Fr Nulty's period were Messrs Hassets, so constant a friend of the school, and interested in it; Rickarby, who died during the present year; T J Byrnes, a very able man, who later was a distinguished Attorney-General and Premier of Queensland; Sydes, later a member of the Society of Jesus, and at present in India; Gerity, a brilliant Old Boy. Fr McInerney and Fr Hughes were in charge of the studies.

Fr Nulty was succeeded as Rector by Fr Brown in 1890, and returned to St Patrick's till 1893, when he relieved Fr Morrogh as Rector of St Aloysius College in Sydney. He remained in charge of that college till it was transferred to North Sydney in 1903, and with this change his long term of office ended. His last years were spent in Riverview College, and at Loyola, the House of Retreats, in Sydney.

Fr Nulty's simple good nature, and real kindness made him much liked by masters and boys, and although he had lived out of Victoria for many years, his name is still remembered here with much regard and affection, May his soul rest in peace..

◆ Our Alma Mater, St Ignatius Riverview, Sydney, Australia, 1914

Father Christopher Nulty SJ

Death came amongst us but once during: the year. As the second half was drawing to a close we lost Father Christopher Nulty. His death was the result of a stroke received while in the baths. The details of the occurrence up to Hughie's arrival in response to a call for assistance are obscure, as there was no one in the baths except Father Nulty himself. Hughie very courageously jumped into the water without undressing, and with the generous help of Mr Morrison, of Tambourine (who rowed across in his boat) the body was brought on land. Dr Hastings and Father Pigot SJ tried artificial respiration for a prolonged period, but in vain. The remains were conveyed overnight to St Mary's, North Sydney. On Friday morning, solemn High Mass was sung by Father F Connell SJ, assisted by: Fathers Graham MSH and W Ryan SJ, in the presence of Very Rev Father Rector, presiding, of the community and boys, and many of the clergy of the archdiocese. The burial place was Gore Hill cemetery. Father Rector read the prayers at the graveside and at the end the Benediction was intoned by the choir, The words of an old and trusted servant of the College, whom the writer found in tears when the funeral was over, form the best tribute that can be paid to Father Nulty's memory: “I loved that man”, he said; “he hadn't a single enemy in the world”. His had been a singularly happy and holy life, full of simplicity and religious observance. Despite his seventy-six years (of which fifty-five were spent in the Society of Jesus) he was still keenly interested in the little things that his failing powers allowed him to do, . His last anxiety was to arrange for the enrolment of two of the boys in the brown scapular, and his last expressed wish was to make the ceremony as solemn as possible.

He has passed from among us, but the memory of his goodness, his kindliness, and of the happiness that went with him everywhere will be long remembered.

Born: 06 March 1913, Annaghmore, Mountbellew, County Galway
Entered: 02 January 1940, St Stanislaus College, Tullabeg, County Offaly
Died: 1985, Annaghmore, Mountbellew, County Galway

Left Society of Jesus: 1940

Brother Novice

Father was John, a farmer, and Mother was Ellie (Stephens).

2 Brothers and 5 Sisters.

Educated at Scoil Naomh Pádraig, Moylough, County Galway up to 6th class. Worked in agriculture and as a plasterer for building contractors up to 1940.

Baptised at St Mary's Church, Mount Bellew Bridge, County Galway, 16/03/1913
Confirmed at St Mary's Church, Mount Bellew Bridge, County Galway, 1925

Born: 22 October 1909, Dún Bríde, Nashville Park, Howth, County Dublin
Entered: 01 September 1928, St Stanislaus College, Tullabeg, County Offaly
Ordained: 13 May 1942, Milltown Park, Dublin
Final Vows: 02 February 1945, Mungret College SJ, Limerick
Died: 08 January 1955, St Vincent’s Hospital, Dublin

Part of Coláiste Iognáid community, Galway at time of his death.

Father is a Commissioner for National Education.

Fourth of six boys.

Early education at a Convent school and then at St Pat’s BNS, Drumcondra for nine years.He then went to O’Connell’s School for four years.

◆ Irish Province News

Irish Province News 30th Year No 2 1955

Obituary :

Father Pádraic Ó Brolcháin

Fr. Pádraic Ó Brolcháin was born in Dublin on October 22nd, 1909. Educated at O'Connell Schools, he joined the Society of Jesus at Tullabeg on September 1st, 1928, and did his two years of noviceship under Fr. Martin Maher. There followed the usual University studies spent at Rathfarnham Castle and then philosophical studies in Tullabeg. From 1936 to 1938 Mr. Ó Brolcháin taught in Clongowes Wood College, and his third year of “Colleges” was spent at the Crescent. He was pleased in after years to have had the experience of teaching in both boarding and day schools as a scholastic. Many of the experiences of those Clongowes and Crescent days are to be found in an unpublished novel which he wrote later on, as a break during Theology which he studied at Milltown from 1939 to 1943. Ordained in 1942, he did his tertianship at Rathfarnham Castle and from there was appointed Vice-Superior of the Apostolic School at Mungret where he remained until his transfer to Galway in 1948. He was attached to the teaching staff there until his death which took place at St. Vincent's Private Nursing Home, Dublin, on the morning of January 8th last.
It is difficult to summarise a man's life under a single heading, but perhaps it was his courage that distinguished Fr. Ó Brolcháin. A man's organising ability, and Fr. Ó Brolcháin had plenty of it, will avail little if he has not the courage to overcome difficulties and for Fr. Pádraic, difficulties were obstacles to be overcome not yielded to - Plays, dancing, swimming, Tóstal and Connradh na Gaeilge activities - all having a connection with his manifold Gaelic activities for boys, presented each its own crop of difficulties, but it was typical of the man that he overcame them all in his own quiet, diplomatic way. That these spheres of activity all demanded self-sacrificing devotedness was apparent, but Fr. O Brolcháin would be the last to talk about the cost to himself.
To some who may have thought that he organised to an excessive degree, it may come as a surprise that on his own admission, he was not methodical by nature . . . he had taught himself to be so. It was not only in his extra curricular activities that he was systematic; his class-preparation was also meticulous.
Like so many busy men, Fr. Pádraic was most prodigal in giving his time to others and his “tar isteach” was always an invitation to take as much tinę as you wanted. He was always interested in new ideas, always willing to listen and, if he did not agree with you, he would tell you so and leave you none the less satisfied, for you felt you had had a sympathetic listener. In conversation one came to learn also of the Catholicity of his interests and of his literary tastes. His delight indeed, when he took a night off, was to read.
It was easy also to speak to him of things spiritual, for here was a well-ordered mind which had thought the Constitutions and Exercises over for itself. His great belief was in the necessity and supremacy of the interior law of charity and love. It was this interior law which made him such an obliging member of the community, ever ready to help out in any need.
His last year of life saw Fr. Pádraic no less active but he had not been feeling too well, and at the end of August underwent a severe operation whose chances of permanent success he knew to be slight. The month of November he spent in Galway where he was the same affable, approachable person welcomed back now by both boys and community. He could speak of his own sickness with such detachment that one imagined that a third party was being discussed. He left us at the beginning of December to go on pilgrimage to Lourdes and Loyola, but he was not destined to recover. On the morning of January 8th he gave his soul back to God.

◆ James B Stephenson SJ Menologies 1973

Father Pardaig Ó Brolcháin SJ 1909-1955
Fr Padraig Ó Brolcháin was born in Dublin in 1909. His father was an intimate friend and collaborator of Arthur Griffith, and was by him put in charge of the educational policy on the foundation of the Irish Free State. Padraig was educated at O'Connells Schools and entered the Society in 1928.

He was a dedicated soul, dedicated to God, to the Society and to all things Irish. He was a man of tremendous enthusiasm, of great organising ability and of great courage and pertinacity in carrying out his ideas.He had a keen zest in the outdoor life, and the duty of it all was that he died so young, before all his plans and ideas reached full fruition.

He was an effective and zealous spiritual father to the boys in Mungret for some years after his tertianship, but bis best work was done in Galway, where his zeal and keenness on physical fitness found permanent expression is his swimming club for boys.

He touched everything, even writing, being a fairly steady contributor to the Timire and Madonna, and leaving behind him an unpublished novel on school-life in one of our Colleges.

Being informed that he had cancer, he accepted his fate with the same cheerfulness which he had gone through life. His last act was to go to Lourdes to seek a cure, if it were God’s will, but He called him home instead on January 8th 1955 at the early age of 46.

Ár dheis laimh Dé go faibh a anam!

◆ The Crescent : Limerick Jesuit Centenary Record 1859-1959

Bonum Certamen ... A Biographical Index of Former Members of the Limerick Jesuit Community

Father Pádraig Ó Brolcháin (1909-1955)

Was born in Dublin and educated in O'Connell's Schools. He spent one year of his regency at the Crescent, 1938-39. After the completion of his studies - he was ordained in 1942 at Milltown Park - Father O'Brolchain was appointed vice-superior of the Apostolic School, Mungret College. In 1948 he was transferred to Galway. His appointment to Galway was a source of deep pleasure for him, for it brought him to the heart of a Gaelic speaking area. Throughout his too short career in the Society, his enthusiasm for the Irish language, which he spoke from his tenderest years, was almost infectious. Yet, his enthusiasm was never aggressive. Urbanity was of the essence of the man. In Galway, his work for the language was self-sacrificing and cheerful. But as in the earlier days at Clongowes, the Crescent or Mungret, so in the later years at St. Ignatius', he was not merely their teacher, but guide, philosopher and friend for the boys with whom he came in contact.

Born: 21 September 1703, Lisbon, Portugal
Entered: 13 September 1720, Bordeaux, France - Aquitaniae Province (AQUIT)
Ordained: 1730, Bordeaux, France
Final Vows: 1737
Died: 15 September 1739, Irish College, Poitiers, France - Aquitaniae Province (AQUIT)

1733-1737 At Irish College Poitiers teaching Humanities and Rhetoric
of Irish parentage

◆ Fr Francis Finegan SJ :
Early education in Philosophy was at Irish College Poitiers
1722-1728 After First Vows he spent six years Regency and Périgueux and La Rochelle.
1728-1732 He then was set for Theology at Bordeaux and was Ordained 1730
1732-1733 He was sent teaching at Agen for a year
1733 Sent to Irish College Poitiers as Procurator, where he worked until he died 15 September 1739. He was regarded by his contemporaries as a man of deeply religious virtue
Ignatius Kelly and his successor, Thomas Hennessy both tried to have Matthew assigned to the Irish Mission. This is but one of many instances where Irish Jesuits regarded Jesuits born abroad of Irish parents as belonging potentially to their Mission in Ireland.

Born: 23 June 1909, Harcourt Street, Belfast, County Antrim
Entered: 26 September 1927, St Stanislaus College, Tullabeg, County Offaly

Left Society of Jesus: 18 June 1931 (from Rathfarnham Castle)

Father was Assistant Collector for Customs & Excise in Dublin, and the family was at Waterloo Road, Ballsbridge.

Youngest of four boys with three sisters.

Early education was at a National School in Belfast (1916-1921). He then went for two years to North Monatery, Cork, and then moving to Dublin went to Synge Street.

1927-1929: St Stanislaus College, Tullabeg, Novitiate
1929-1931: Rathfarnham Castle, Juniorate

Born: 27 May 1905, Harcourt Street, Belfast, County Antrim
Entered: 31 August 1923, St Stanislaus College, Tullabeg, County Offaly
Ordained: 31 July 1938, Milltown Park, Dublin
Final Vows: 02 February 1941, St Ignatius, Leeson Street, Dublin
Died: 26 December 1989, Our Lady’s Hospice, Dublin

Part of the Sacred Heart community, Limerick at the time of death

Older brother of Caoimghín Ó Catháin - Ent 26/09/1927; LEFT 18/06/1931

Father was Assistant Collector for Customs & Excise in Dublin, and the family was at Waterloo Road, Ballsbridge.

Second eldest of four boys with three sisters.

Early education was for six years at the Christian Brothers in Belfast, and then at St Malachy’s College, Belfast for three years.

In 1922 he went to UCC to study medicine for one year.

by 1930 at Berchmanskolleg, Pullach, Germany (GER S) studying

◆ Interfuse
Interfuse No 82 : September 1995

Obituary

Fr Seán Ó Catháin (1905-1989)

27th May 1905: Born in Belfast
31st Aug. 1923: Entered the Society of Jesus
1923 - 1925: Tullabeg, novitiate
1925 - 1929: Rathfarnham, juniorate: MA (UCD) in Celtic studies
1929 - 1931; Pullach bei München, Germany: philosophy
1931 - 1934: Galway, regency
1934 - 1939 Milltown Park
1934 - 1935: private study,
1935 - 1939 theology
1938: Ordained a priest
1939 - 1940: Rathfarnham, tertianship.
1940 - 1946: Leeson Street:
1940 - 1941 private study,
1941 - 1946 University Hall, vice principal, private study culminating in a PhD.
1946 - 1948: Clongowes, teaching
1948 - 1978; Leeson Street:
1949 - 1966 Lecturer at UCD's department of Education;
1966-1973 Professor of Education;
1950 - 1959 Inspector of studies in colleges of the Province.
1973 - 1978 writing.
1967 - 1973: Superior.
1978 - 1989: Limerick (Sacred Heart Residence): church work, librarian. In 1982 (also in October 1989) he suffered a stroke which impaired the memory function of his brain. After spending some time in St. John's Hospital, Limerick, he was removed to Our Lady's hospice, Harold's Cross, Dublin
26th Dec. 1989: Died

The following additional details concerning Seán's academic career have been gleaned from the Report of the President, UCD, 1972-3 (section on retirements) and 1989-'90 (obituary section). Seán gained four diplomas, all with first-class honours (the middle two in Irish), from one or other of three Irish university colleges: pre-medical (UCC, 1923), BA (UCD, 1928), MA (UCD, 1929), HDip in Ed (UCG, 1932). For his PhD in Ed (UCD, 1941) his thesis was on 'The diffusion of Renaissance ideals of education in the schools of the Jesuit Order'. 'During these years (seemingly 1932-48) he acted as an Assistant Extern Examiner (through Irish) in Education for the National University of Ireland.

Seán Ó Catháin was the second son of Seán and Kathleen nee Dinneen. Seán senior was a native of Kilbeheny, near Mitchelstown, while Kathleen from Rathmore, Co. Kerry. It was in London at the turn of the century that Seán, who had succeeded in the examinations for the civil service, found himself posted for work at the department of customs and excise. Kathleen Dinneen had qualified as a primary teacher and found employment also in London. They were both the children of Irish speaking parents.

Sometime about 1904 Seán Ó Catháin was transferred to Belfast. Some day a curious enquirer may discover whether his transfer was by way of promotion or downright exile to dour Belfast, where there were fewer Gaelic Leaguers!

Here our own Seán was born, and baptised at the parish church of the Sacred Heart, Oldpark Road. In due course he was confirmed at St. Patrick's parish church, Donegall Street. After primary school he was sent to St. Malachy's college and had all but completed his secondary schooling when his father was once more transferred to a very different location of the customs and excise. This time it was to Cork, not far from his native place. It is almost certain that the transfer was scheduled for the late spring of 1921 - a very significant date. Britain was busily partitioning Ireland in the administrative sector in preparation for political partition and the opening of a new Six-county parliament on 22nd June 1921. In fact, the separation of the administrative files of government had been going quietly on even before the general election and victory of Sinn Féin in December 1918! All this underhand work was unknown or unsuspected, apparently, by the young republican politicians, the heirs of 1916!

Seán junior resumed his secondary schooling at the North Monastery CBS in June 1922. He entered the medical school at UCC, but in the event he was not destined to become a medical doctor.

In 1923 Seán senior was transferred to Dublin, In August Seán junior entered the novitiate at Tullabeg, and in due course made his first religious profession. In after years he often spoke of his privilege to have spent his first year as a novice under the direction of the saintly Fr. Michael Browne. He went to Rathfarnham Castle where he was to spend four years. At UCD he won scholarships; at home he was a live-wire in the Irish Society, and every Christmas distinguished himself as an actor in the Irish plays. He crowned his career at Rathfarnham with a first-class-honours MS in Celtic studies.

He was next appointed to the philosophate at Pullach, where he graduated DPh of the Gregorian university. Bilingual from infancy, it is not to be wondered at that he acquired an enviable mastery of the German language. Later he added Italian and French to his linguistic accomplishments.

Back in Ireland he was appointed to Galway for his regency, and it was during this period that Fr. Timothy Corcoran, professor of education at UCD, began to take an interest in Seán as a future successor in his own chair at Earlsfort terrace. These were happy years in a youthful, full and flourishing province, with only an occasional rumour of trouble trickling into Ireland from Hitler's Germany. But peace in Europe was already openly threatened when Seán was ordained priest in 1938. By the summer of 1940 he had completed his fourth year of theology and made his tertianship.

He was now appointed to Leeson Street for private study. Here under the watchful eye of Fr. Corcoran he began his studies in education that would lead to another doctorate. By an odd turn of events his prospects of eventually succeeding to the Chair of Education diminished considerably before the year was over. Fr. Corcoran's health had not been robust of late but he battled on - not only conducting his own lectures but also supplying for his assistant, Mr. W J Williams, who had recently suffered a stroke. It was anticipated that Williams, who was within a very few years of retirement, would resign, but when Fr. Corcoran himself was obliged on medical grounds to resign in September 1942, Williams declared he was going forward for Fr. Corcoran's chair. Meantime the Provincial and consultors (at the urging of members of the Hierarchy) put forward the name of Fr. Fergal McGrath as candidate. (No complaint was ever heard from Fr. Seán.) However, as soon as Fr. McGrath learned of Williams' intention, he immediately withdrew his name - and Williams secured the professorship. He had to retire in 1948. Since 1942 Fr. Seán was stationed as vice-warden at Hatch Street, where he continued work on his doctoral thesis. At the end of this study he spent the years 1946-48 as a master at Clongowes, and 1950-59 - with his characteristic thoroughness - Seán carried out the duties of inspector of our province's schools.

In 1948, when the chair of education was once more vacant, Fr. Seán allowed his name to go forward, and found overwhelming support in the electoral body. However, for the next eighteen years he enjoyed the title (and salary) of lecturer only and not professor. It was an open secret that the late Professor Michael Tierney had used all his considerable influence to downgrade the chair of education. Tierney's hostility dated from the time (1920's and 1930's) when his political views attracted strong opposition in The Catholic Bulletin, on the editorial board of which Fr. Timothy Corcoran's word was law.

In 1966 came belated acknowledgement of Fr. Seán's ability and worth when he was accorded the rank of professor. However, I always felt that the seven years during which he held the professorship were wearying if not even distasteful to a man of his sensitivity. It is enough to recall here that in 1968 student unrest in France spilled out all over Europe and across the Atlantic, and in the universities civilised behaviour, good manners and respect for any authority were the first casualties.

During his later years as professor, when he was also superior at Leeson Street, Seán's health was not robust. He suffered much from sleeplessness, yet during the thirteen years I lived with him he never missed an appointment and was exemplary for punctuality. A product of the old school, that is, brought up in the province to value the necessity of co-operation whether in teaching, church work, parochial missions etc, he lived in no ivory tower of academia. He was interested in everybody and everything connected with the Irish province, and that meant all our fathers, scholastics and brothers, and the works they were engaged in. He had an authentic apostolic bent, as could be deduced from his active interest in the work of two societies, one named after St. Vincent de Paul and the other called St. Joseph's Young Priests. He was an excellent community man, incapable of pulling a long face at table or recreation: he simply radiated a sense of fun. It was a delight to hear him enter the lists with Fr. Frank Shaw, My own impression was that if they had chosen the law for their profession, both would have gained celebrity as advocates.

As superior, Seán tended to be over-scrupulous, but against this he was particularly caring for the sick and generously sympathetic in times of bereavement. Like Fr's Fergal McGrath († 1988) and Redmond Roche († 1983) he acquired an almost legendary reputation for attendance at funerals. 1973 seemed to be the end of his active life; early that autumn he resigned from the chair of education and two months earlier had been replaced as superior of Leeson Street. The next five years he spent in quiet study and in a ministry within his capacity.

An unexpected challenge awaited him in 1978. The Provincial was faced with diminishing manpower, and one of our churches, the Crescent, rather urgently needed an operarius. The difficult proposal was made to Seán, a Dubliner of long standing, and now in his seventies. Generously, as was the custom of this province, he answered the call of duty and courageously entered on a new and unaccustomed way of life. In Limerick, while his fragile health remained, he gave of his best; but the last years must have been frustrating for a man of his once boundless nervous energy. In 1989 he seemed to rally somewhat, and twice at least attended funerals in Gardiner Street, but his years were telling against him. At length he had to go into St. John's hospital, Limerick, whence he was taken back to Dublin to spend the short time that remained to him at Our Lady's hospice, Harold's Cross. There, on St. Stephen's Day, God called him home.

Tá an tAthair Seán imithe uainn ar shlí na firinne, agus tá uaigneas orainn dá dheasca sin go bhfeicimid arís sna Flaithis é; ach idir an dá linn guímis go bhfaigh a anam dilis suaimhneas síoraí, go raibh sé faoi bhrat Mhuire i radharc na Trionóide.

Proinsias Ó Fionnagáin

Born: 21 April 1921, Caledonian Place, Limerick City, County Limerick
Entered: 07 September 1939, St Mary's, Emo, County Laois
Ordained: 31 July 1953, Milltown Park, Dublin
Final Vows: 05 November 1977, St Ignatius, Leeson Street, Dublin
Died: 23 October 2007, St Vincent’s Hospital, Dublin

Part of the Milltown Park, Dublin community at the time of death.

Father was a dentist.

Eldest of five boys (one deceased) with six sisters (two deceased).

Educated at at Convent school in Limerick and then at the Christian Brothers Primary school. he then went to Ring for a year and returned to the Christian Brothers school. He then went to Crescent College SJ (1933-1939)

Editor of An Timire, 1949-71.

Born: 02 May 1930, Oulton Road, Clontarf, Dublin City County Dublin
Entered: 07 September 1948, St Mary’s, Emo, County Laois
Ordained: 31 July 1962, Milltown Park, Dublin
FInal Vows: 02 February 1965, Coláiste Iognáid, Galway
Died: 10 January 2021, Cherryfield Lodge, Dublin

Part of the Coláiste Iognáid community at the time of death

Son of Éamonn Ó Dubhsláine and Eibhlín Nic Mhaicín. Father was a Secondary School teacher.

Older of two boys with six sisters.

Early education was at the Model School, Marlborough Street, Dublin, for five years, he then went to Belvedere College SJ for seven years.

Born: 2nd May 1930, Dublin City
Raised: Clontarf, Dublin
Early Education at Scoil Cholmcille, Marlborough Street, Dublin; Belvedere College SJ
7th September 1948 Entered Society at St Mary’s, Emo, County Laois
8th September 1950 First Vows at St Mary’s, Emo, County Laois
1950-1953 Rathfarnham - Studying Arts at UCD
1953-1956 Tullabeg - Studying Philosophy
1956-1959 Crescent College SJ - Regency : Teacher
1959-1963 Milltown Park - Studying Theology
31st July 1962 Ordained at Milltown Park Chapel, Dublin
1963-1964 Rathfarnham - Tertianship
1964-2021 Coláiste Iognáid, Galway - Teacher; Studying H Dip in Education at UCG; Gamesmaster
2nd February 1965 Final Vows at Coláiste Iognáid SJ, Galway
1974 Vice Principal at Garmscoil Éinne, Cill Ronáin, Arainn, Co na Gaillimhe (Aran Vocational School)
1988 Lives at Trí Coinnle, Cill Mhuirbhígh, Inis Mór, Árainn, Co na Gaillimhe
1995 Seirbhís Eaglasta agus Gaeltachta, Oileáin Árann
1997 Church Service and Work in Connemara Gaeltacht; Director
1999 Berkeley, CA, USA - Sabbatical at JSTB (till Dec 2000)
2001 Áras Ronán; Inis Mór, Árainn, Co Na Gaillimhe : Gaeltacht Apostolate; Writer; Co-operating with FÁS; Editor of “An Timire”; Intercom
2010 Gaeltacht Apostolate, Inis Mór, Arainn; Writer
2016 Gaeltacht Apostolate; Writer at Cherryfield Lodge
2017 Prays for the Church and Society at Cherryfield Lodge

Obituary
Connla Ó Dúlaine 2 May 1930 – 10 January 2021

In reading this sketch of the life of a remarkable man, the reader may like to keep in mind a question: If he hadn’t joined the Jesuits, what might he have done?!

An Mac Leinn
Connla was born on 2 May 1930 in Dublin and raised in Clontarf. His early education was at Scoil Cholmcille, Marlborough Street, Dublin, then Belvedere College SJ from 1941-48. On the 7th September 1948 he entered the Society at St Mary’s, Emo, County Laois and took first vows two years later.
From 1950-1953 he lived in Rathfarnham Castle, studying Arts at UCD. From 1953-1956 he studied Philosophy in Tullabeg. His regency, 1956-1959, was spent at Crescent College, Limerick, after which he went to Milltown Park for four years of Theology. On 31st July 1962 he was ordained in Milltown Park Chapel, Dublin and from 1963-1964 was at Rathfarnham, making Tertianship.
From 1964 till his death he was attached to the Jesuit Community at Coláiste Iognáid, Galway. He was firstly a teacher and Games-master, and received his H Dip in Education at UCG in 1966. He taught Religion, French and Irish. He could speak German and Spanish and make his way through Greek and Latin. On 2nd February 1965 he made his final Vows at Coláiste Iognáid SJ, Galway.

An Muinteoir
I first made Connla’s acquaintance when I was a regent in Colaiste Iognaid 1962-65, and a friendship was established which survived, not without stresses, till his death at the age of 91.
A vivid memory: for reasons known only to his Superior and to God, he was Games Master: I was his Assistant, and when the School Sports were looming he assigned me the task of seeing to the practical details of the day, while he would prepare an artistic brochure, listing events and entrants. On the day I had an early lunch and was busy on the field with a small army of volunteers, but with a few minutes to go before the first event, there was no sign of Connla. I went off to search him out and found him in his room, absorbed in the works of Pearse and searching for a suitable quotation to adorn the Sports Brochure. We started late!
He had the capacity to become absorbed in the particular, sometimes at the expense of the general. This generated a certain level of frustration in the practically-minded. ‘Where’s Connla?’ was a recurring question. Driving with him was not an experience for the faint of heart: I recall coming back from a match with him: he was giving tongue on some matter of great importance, with his foot on the accelerator to match his passion. In the distance I could see the lights of a level crossing and begged him to slow down but he didn’t hear me: we came to a shuddering halt a few yards short of the barrier, and once the train had passed he was off again on a rhetorical flight. Another incident is recounted: driving on Inis Mor late at night with a companion, he suddenly turned off the headlights and proceeded in the dark. He explained that there was a car just coming down the hill from Dun Eochaill, and since Connla’s dip lights didn’t work he had turned off his headlights so as not to blind the other driver. Divine providence took over and all ended well.
A past pupil of his in the 1960s tells below of Connla bringing a group of students to see a film directed by Fellini, a man unafraid to use unusual techniques to bring audiences out of the closed circuits of their minds. Just before the film began, Connla stood up to explain to the audience what Fellini was trying to do, while his students melted away in embarrassment! Another story tells how he bought a piano in Prospect Hill in Galway, loaded it onto a horse and cart and drove slowly through the town, accompanied by a few students. As it came through the city Connla sat at the piano and played, to the delight of onlookers.

An tOileanach
In 1974 when Colaiste Iognaid ceased to be as an A-school, where all teaching had been through Irish, he asked to retire, and obtained the post of Vice Principal at Gairmscoil Éinne, Cill Ronáin, Arainn, Co na Gaillimhe (Aran Vocational School). From 1988 he lived at Trí Coinnle, Cill Mhuirbhígh, Inis Mór. From 1995 he undertook Seirbhís Eaglasta (Church Services) on the island and in the Gaeltacht: this work was deeply appreciated by the Archdiocese of Tuam. He was appointed Director of FAS (Foilseacháin Ábhair Spioradálta), Director of Oiliúint Bhaile (Home Schooling) and editor of An Timire, to which he was a regular contributor from 1954 onwards, with more than 60 articles to his name in all. His command of his native tongue was excellent, and his writing bright and imaginative.
Connla brought a world vision to all his work and lived an energetic life, very much associated with Galway, the Connemara Gaeltacht, the Aran Islands and the apostolate of the Irish language. He had wide-ranging interests, loved books and good conversation. He was blessed to the end with a fine memory, and his eyes would sparkle as he regaled listeners with stories from the past – mainly positive memories, it must be noted. He was larger than life, and he liked fun and laughter.
He cared deeply about other people, especially about those who were not well off. Shortly after he got the new house in Kilmurvey, a member of his community went from Galway to help him paint some rooms and put putty on the window frames. Connla couldn’t decide on colours, so his helper was idle and asked him one evening if he had a television. He said he had had one, but there was a lady nearby who was lonely and unwell, so he had given her his TV. When a drama group from Cois-Fharraige came to the island to stage a play, Connla put them all up in his house, about 20 of them: they slept on the floor or wherever they could find a space. Feile na nGael!
From 1999 till December 2000 he enjoyed a Sabbatical at JSTB, Berkeley, CA, USA, after which he returned to live in Áras Ronán, Inis Mór, Árainn. Having retired from teaching, he continued his Gaeltacht Apostolate, was a writer for Intercom, collaborated with FÁS and continued as Editor of An Timire. They were happy years. He became one of the island’s most colourful characters and his love of all things Irish found full expression. His hospitality was legendary, but the unwary visitor could be shocked by the state of the interior, especially the kitchen and the mysteries lurking within the fridge.

Fear Fise is Cultuir
His room in Cherryfield was an archaeologist’s dream: a profusion of books, papers, snacks, letters, bric-a-brac. He couldn’t refuse a new book. Two months before he died, I asked him would he like to have a copy of O Mianain’s Focloir Bearla-Gaeilge which had just been published. I got an enthusiastic Yes, and brought it to the door of a Cherryfield where Covid restrictions were in place. It arrived safely in his room, but he hadn’t the energy to take it out of its packaging and now I have it myself--a precious memento of Connla’s high mental acumen and deep love of the Irish language.
As a Gaelgeoir he suffered the lifelong frustration of finding that many of those around him did not share his passion and enthusiasm for Irish. In his earlier years this could lead to edgy exchanges, but later his endurance grew into mellowness, and I always found him willing to shift into English as my need required.
He spoke his mind, was strong and forthright in his interchanges, but—to my memory-- in ways that were tinged with humour. He didn’t store up resentment. At Mass one morning in Cherryfield when the celebrant’s volume was low, he called out from the back of the Chapel, ‘Can’t hear you!’ ‘There’s something wrong with the mic’ said the celebrant. ‘Something wrong with you!’ retorted Connla, to general merriment. Thoreau’s remark comes to mind: ‘If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music which he hears, however measured or far away’. There were surely people who were bruised by his robust style, but he didn’t intend to hurt, and was sometimes puzzled at reactions to his exuberant initiatives.
Connla lived a very full and varied life. Full of energy, he had a world vision, and was never limited by local circumstances. He was a man of inspiration and spontaneity, unafraid to lead or to do whatever he thought of at each moment.
Bhi an-shuim ag Connla sa litriocht, sa cheol, i dteangacha eagsula, i scannain – go hairithe on Fhrainc agus on Iodail: bhi suim aige i ngach rud! Thug se daltai ar fud na tire ina ghluaistean bheag, agus thug se iad go Paras sa bhFrainc. Bhi se i gconai ag iarraidh fis nua a chur os comhair daoine, agus ni raibh teorann ar bith lena smaointe fein. Mhair se blianta fada leis fein, in a aonair, ach choinnigh se i gconai a shuim iontach i gcursai an tsaoil. Sagart ab ea e, agus fuinneamh agus saol Iosa a bhi i gconai i gceist aige.
Poet Mary Oliver has the line: ‘I don't want to end up simply having visited this world.’ Connla didn’t just ‘visit’ the world; he inhabited it fully and helped to co-create it. With Mary Oliver he would have added: ‘When it's over, I want to say: all my life I was a bride married to amazement… taking the world into my arms.’ A large part of his vision was the belief that the fullness and joy of life could be lived and expressed through the medium of the Irish language and Irish culture. When he moved to Inis Mor, where he spent more than 40 years, he still tried to bring a world-wide vision to his students, and succeeded very well.
Connla was open to all cultures: he loved opera from the Met, film, art. A past pupil tells that when teaching Irish in Second Year he brought in a tape recorder and the class listened and analysed the poetry of Ezra Pound reading his own poems in English. Connla loved culture in all its forms and felt very strongly that all culture and modern life could be appreciated and explored through the medium of Irish and Gaelic culture. He lived for the future and was not embedded in the past.

Leirmheas iar-scolaire
Féach cuid a scríobh Bernie Ó Conaill, iar-phríomhoide i gColáiste Iognáid is iar-scoláire de chuid Chonnla:
Fear mór a bhi i gConnla Ó Duláine SJ riamh, fear mór ar gach uile bhealach, mórchríoch le glór álainn, tuiscint leathan aige ar chultúr is ar ealáion an domhain, agus ar shaíocht, ar stair is ar chultúr na hÉireann ar fad. Cairde aige i ngach cuid den tír.

Ba Gael láidir dúthrachtach é le léargas caitliceach ar an saol, a d’fhág oscailte é don domhain agus cultúr nua a bhí ag oscailt sa tír ag an am. Mhúin Connla go dúthrachtach ó thaobh cúrsaí agus curacalam sa rang ach bhí tionchar neamhgnách speisialta aige taobh amuigh den seomra ranga.

Bhí léargas agus fís ag Connla faoi chúrsaí cultúrtha. Roinn sé an suim a bhí aige sa cheol, sna scannáin agus cúrsaí polaitíochta go fiail lena chuid ranganna. Ba mhaith a chuaigh Bob Dylan i bhfeidhm ar mo rang féin nuair a chuir Connla faoi dhraíocht muid le ‘Sad Eyed Lady of the Lowlands’. Ní féidir liom an t-amhrán céanna a chlos inniu gan cuimhneamh ar Chonnla ag tabhairt an draíocht isteach agus leadrán an lá scoile a bhaint dínn.

Ba fhear speisialta é Connla agus a bhealach féin aige le deighleáil leis an saol. Chuaigh sé ag dráma sa Taibhdhearc oíche amháin agus ní shásódh tada ina dhiadh sin é ach triail a bhaint as an mbialann Síneach nua sa mbaile mór. D’ith sé béile blasta agus bhí go maith go ndeachaigh sé chun íoc as an mbeatha. Chuardaigh sé a phócaí ,wallet, chuile áit beo ach ní raibh scriút aige. Thug bean an tí faoi deara mí-chompord an tsagairt. ‘Are you alright, Father?’ a d’fhiafraigh sí . ‘ I wonder would you mind taking these stamps in payment for that lovely meal?’ a d’fhreagair Connla uirthi.
B’shoin Connla!

Ní raibh fhios ag a chuid scoláirí cá dtreoródh sé iad, bíodh sé le Truffaut, Dylan nó le ceol an Riadaigh. Bhí sé Gaelach go smior ach oscailte don saol nua a bhí ag teacht chun cinn sa tír.
Thug sé slua beag againn chuig an scannan Satyricon ag Fellini lá sna laethanta saoire. Bhí an gnáth slua codlatach tagtha isteach sa Town Hall tráthnóna Luan; corrdhuine ag caitheamh agus an pictiúrlann beag leath lán. Gan choinne ar bith sheas an t-Íosánach suas agus thug sé cur síos ar shaothar Fellini. D’fheicfeá cloigne a chuid scoláirí ag imeacht síos sna suíocháin le teann náire.

Ní dhearna Connla dhá leath dhá dhícheall riamh. Bhí sé dílis mar shagart, mar Íosánach, mar chara agus mar mhúinteoir. D’oscail sé súile a chuid scoláirí agus speáin sé an domhan mór dóibh. Chloisfeá an racht mór gáirí aige i bhfad uait.
B’shoin Connla.

Cherryfield
In 2016 he retired to Cherryfield Lodge, Dublin, to pray for the Society and the Church, but he kept contact with his sisters, the wider family and a host of friends. Very much at peace with himself, he relaxed after supper on Sunday evening, January 10, 2021, and very peacefully went to God, after 58 years of priestly service. He was buried in Glasnevin Cemetery, Dublin on 13 January. Due to Covid-19 restrictions, only a tiny number of his wide range of friends could attend his funeral.
The years in Cherryfield were hard for a free spirit such as his. He loved to be unfettered and unrestricted, but he bore his confinement bravely, and his coffee table after Mass in Cherryfield was always well-attended and conversation never dull. To relieve the monotony of his days we at Leeson St used invite him to celebrate feast-days with us. He blossomed in fresh company, told his stories to a new audience, and on the journey home always expressed an immense gratitude for being remembered.
The Archbishop of Tuam, Dr Michael Neary, conveyed his deepest sympathy on Connla’s death. He wrote: ‘Many years ago I visited Connla in hospital, and given how seriously ill he was, I never expected that he would be discharged. But happily he was, and went on to provide sterling service to his beloved people of Inis Mor. We regarded him as one of our own and a true and loyal friend.’
He is survived by his four sisters who stayed close to him over the years and brought him much-appreciated comfort in the final stage of his long life.
A frequent visitor to Cherryfield wrote the following tribute:
‘Connla is a person I will never forget. There is so much to say about him even after a short acquaintance. To me he epitomised everything that is wonderful about a long life and particularly a long Jesuit life well lived. He was kind, funny, erudite, hospitable and full of life. He was generous with his time and I and others learned so much just sitting at his feet. I wish I had met him earlier in both of our lives: to have known him at all was a gift beyond price.’

Ta laoch ar lar. Connla is sadly missed in Cherryfield, but he believed deeply in eternal life, and now that he is at table with the God of Surprises I imagine that the conversation is hilarious. Blessed are those who mourn, we are told, for they shall laugh. Connla brought many a smile to those around him in this life, and now his merriment rings out among those who like himself are gathered to enjoy the great festival.
Ar Dheis Dé go raibh a anam uasal!
Brian Grogan SJ

Born: 01 August 1915, Iona Road, Glasnevin, Dublin City, County Dublinn
Entered: 07 September 1933, St Mary's, Emo, County Laois
Ordained: 28 July 1948, Milltown Park, Dublin
Final Vows: 02 February 1951, Rathfarnham Castle, Dublin
Died: 21 July 2001, St Vincent’s Hospital, Dublin

Part of the Milltown Park, Dublin community at the time of death.

Father is a manager of a business firm in Dublin.

One older brother and one younger sister.

Early education was at a Convent school and a National school and then at 13 he went to Belvedere College SJ (1928-1933)

by 1944 at St Mary’s College, Aberystwyth, Wales (ANG) studying
Editor of An Timire, 1971-1997.

◆ Royal Irish Academy : Dictionary of Irish Biography, Cambridge University Press online :
Ó Laoghaire, Diarmuid
by Brian Mac Cuarta

Ó Laoghaire, Diarmuid (1915–2001), writer and lecturer on Celtic spirituality, and Irish-language enthusiast, was born 1 August 1915 in Dublin, one of three children of Michael O'Leary from Doneraile, Co. Cork, and Mary O'Leary (née Flood), from Co. Meath; his father was manager of McBirney's department store on Aston Quay, Dublin. Brought up in Glasnevin and educated at Holy Faith convent school and Belvedere College (where he acquired a lifelong interest in cricket), he joined the Jesuits on leaving school in 1933.

Under the influence of his Irish teacher at Belvedere, the layman Tadhg Ó Murchadha, Diarmuid's interest in the language developed. He took Celtic studies at UCD, gaining an MA (1939) for a thesis on ‘Eochair-sgiath an Aifrinn’, a text on the mass by the seventeenth-century priest Geoffrey Keating (qv). He was awarded the NUI travelling studentship in Celtic studies. Because of the war, the British Museum manuscripts had been moved to Aberystwyth, Wales; at the suggestion of Robin Flower (qv), it was there that Ó Laoghaire pursued further research. Ordained in 1948, in the 1950s he was responsible for the Jesuit students in Rathfarnham Castle, while engaged in research, writing, and work with the Irish-language community. Prefect of studies at Belvedere (1960–62), he taught Irish at Gonzaga (1962–77), and thereafter was a member of the Jesuit community, Milltown Park. He was awarded an NUI Ph.D. from UCD in 1967 for a thesis on the lives of the saints, in Irish, in the medieval period. This research led to scholarly publications in Celtica, xxi (1990), 487–522, and a critical edition of ‘The Liber Flavus Fergusiorum infancy narrative’ (M. McNamara et al., Apocrypha Hiberniae (Turnhout, 2001), 142–245).

As well as speaking immaculate Irish, and fluent in French and Breton, he was well known throughout Wales, for he talked regularly on Welsh radio, and appeared on Welsh television. He translated a collection of short stories from the best modern Welsh authors into Irish (Glór ár nGaolta: Rogha scéalta na linne seo ón mBreatnais (1992)). For his abilities in Welsh he was made a member of the Gorsedd of bards in the Eisteddfod, the Welsh cultural festival; he preached in Welsh on occasions. His wide knowledge both of the spiritual texts and of the history and contemporary situation of the Celtic languages made him a respected authority on the Christian heritage of the Celtic world. On this topic he lectured in Milltown Institute of Philosophy and Theology, Dublin, and elsewhere. His Milltown Institute colleagues honoured him with a Festschrift (Mac Conmara agus Ní Thiarnaigh (eag.), Cothú an Dúchais (1997)), which included contributions from scholars in Wales, France, and Ireland. His academic, linguistic, and cultural interests were deeply integrated into his personal faith and his sense of mission as member of an apostolic order.

He was dedicated to exploring and fostering the link between Christian faith and Gaelic culture. Along with his more strictly scholarly interests, he devoted much time and energy to supporting and enriching the faith of the Irish-speaking community. This project was greatly energised by the change from Latin to the vernacular in the liturgy of the catholic church after the second Vatican council (1962–5). He rendered long and faithful service to a wide variety of groups, including Cumann na Sagart, Conradh na Gaeilge, An tOireachtas, Pobal an Aifrinn, An Chuallacht, Scoil Ghaelach Bhrí Chualann, and especially An Réalt, the Irish-language section of the Legion of Mary. In recognition of his services to Irish-language groups he was awarded Gradam an Phiarsaigh (the Pearse award) in 1992.

As editor of FÁS (Foilseacháin Ábhair Spioradálta, publisher of religious material in Irish), and through translations and other writings, Ó Laoghaire was one of those who ensured that a relatively varied spiritual and liturgical literature is available in Irish. Long a contributor, he was editor of An Timire (1972–97), the Irish-language devotional magazine founded by the Jesuits in 1911. A major contribution to the study of popular spirituality was his collection of prayers from the Gaelic oral tradition of Ireland and Scotland, Ár bPaidreacha Dúchais (1975), a book which has run into four editions. He died 21 July 2001 in Dublin. A catalogued bibliography of his books and pamphlets is in Milltown Park Library, Dublin.

R. Ó Glaisne, ‘Diarmuid Ó Laoghaire’, M. Mac Conmara agus E. Ní Thiarnaigh (eag.), Cothú an Dúchais (1997), 11–51

◆ Irish Province News

Irish Province News 51st Year No 4 1976

Gonzaga
Many will have seen on the front page of the Universe (August 13th) the large photo of Fr D Ó Laoghaire swathed in the green robes of a Welsh Bard: he had recently been honoured by initiation into the Gorsedd of Bards during the National Eisteddfod of Wales at Cardigan, which he was also at tending as official delegate of the Oireachtas. An article by Nodlaig McCarthy in The Irish Times (August 24th) describes the event and expresses surprise that while “the fact that the honour was given in the 800th anniversary year to an Irish Catholic (sic) Jesuit aroused considerable media interest on the other side ... the only picture to appear in an Irish daily paper after the event was one of the Welsh rugby player, Gareth Edwards, who was also honoured on this occasion”. Fr Ó Laoghaire set off on August 28th to attend the Oireachtas Festival at Cois Fharraige, Connemara.

◆ Interfuse

Interfuse No 112 : Special Edition 2002

Obituary

Fr Diarmuid Ó Laoghaire (1915-2001)

1st Aug. 1915: Born in Dublin
Early education in Holy Faith, Glasnevin, and Belvedere College.
7th Sept. 1933: Entered the Society at Emo
8th Sept. 1935: First Vows at Emo
1935 - 1939: Rathfarnham - Arts (Celtic Studies) at UCD
1939 - 1942: Tullabeg - Studying Philosophy
1942 - 1945: Alberystwyth - Doctorate in Celtic Studies (Ph.D. UCD 1967)
1945 - 1949: Milltown Park - Studying Theology
28th July 1948: Ordained at Milltown Park
1949 - 1950: Tertianship at Rathfarnham
1950 - 1960: Rathfarnham Castle - Minister of Juniors.
2nd Feb. 1951: Final Vows at Milltown Park
1960 - 1962: Belvedere College - Prefect of Studies.
1962 - 1977: Gonzaga College - Teacher; Writer; studying Celtic Literature and Spirituality
1977 - 2001: Milltown Park - Visiting Lecturer at Institute; Editor An Timire; Studying Celtic Literature and Spirituality
1997 - 2001: Cherryfield Lodge - Studying Celtic Literature & Spirituality; Praying for Church and the Society
21st July 2001: Died in St. Vincent's Private Hospital, Dublin.

In 1997, Fr. Diarmuid's mobility was decreasing, and, as he needed assistance to walk, he took up residence in Cherryfield, where, even though wheelchair-bound, he was able to continue his many works dealing with Celtic literature and Spirituality. For as long as possible, he went to Milltown weekly for lunch. He passed away peacefully as he approached his 86th birthday.

Stephen Redmond writes....
I first got to know Diarmuid when I went to Milltown for Theology in 1947, in our “pilgrimage” to seven altars of repose on Holy Thursday in the pre-liturgical reform tradition, and as a guest at his first (or second?) Mass in the Holy Faith Convent in Finglas, and at the reception in his uncle's rambling “period house” nearby.

Many years later, we met again in Gonzaga, where he gently and devotedly represented an cultúr Gaelach (something far more than grammar and a few texts) to the boys. And, to their bafflement and delight, he revealed himself as a star batsman in “the English game”. I suspect that he counted the runs as Gaeilge.

Behind the gentleness and civility there was a passion for an Gaeleachas; he saw it as, in large measure, a vehicle, an expression of the faith. I think that, while he may have had reservations about the post-Vatican 2 liturgy, he was happy that it allowed him to celebrate Mass in the language of Ó Rathaille, Ó Clery, Keating, Ó Donnell, and Ó Brolcháin. He lived just long enough to see some resurgence of Gaeleachas in the religious celebrations for the millennium.

In 1966, Nelson's Pillar was very professionally and 'neatly' blown up. It was thought that Breton nationalists were involved. The Gonzaga community enjoyably indulged the rumour that Diarmuid knew them, or knew of them, from his pan-Celtic interests. Was it possible that our quiet scholar had such revolutionary contacts? For a while we looked at him as, I imagine, English Jesuits looked at Henry Garnet at the time of the Gunpowder Plot.

In 1968, I provided a mild sensation myself, by getting a song with an Irish lyric (Gleann na Smól) as far as the final of the National Song Contest. I like to think that Diarmuid was pleased that such a song came from a confrere of his. Did I show the text to him? My memory stickers. I do recall bringing him subsequent efforts produced with much page-flipping of Dinneen's Dictionary, since my Irish was not that good. He would shake his head sadly over this word or that ("Sorry, obsolete since the 17th century!"), or unpedantically concede me poetic licence.

He had a great sense of humour, at times directed against himself. For instance, the story about his visit to the doctor prior to his joining the Society, when the doctor asked him euphemistically had he passed water recently, and he replied that he had just passed over the canal. No great lover of British influence in Ireland, he must have enjoyed the irony of being a one-night guest of his Britannic Majesty's police in an Oxford air-raid shelter during the war, when he couldn't get into Campion Hall.

His most influential publication was his remarkable anthology, Ár bPaidreacha Dúchais. His introduction to this is a striking testimony to his Gaeleachas-articulated faith; one might call it a spiritual testament. When I asked his permission regarding publication by Veritas of my translations of fifty Dúchas prayers (Prayers of Two Peoples), he was graciousness itself. My last conversation with him was on the phone in connection with my hope that Veritas would publish sixty more of the prayers in translation. If they do, the book will be dedicated i gcuimhne dil chara agus sár-saoi an Ghaelachais.

Let me conclude by quoting one of his past pupils, Simon White, in a letter of condolence to Paul Andrews:

“My grasp of Irish was not good. I was aware of his efforts to help me....I never remember him being cross with me and he always displayed kindness....I count myself very privileged to have been able to share, as an altar boy, many early morning Masses alone with him. This was very special. He was one of nature's purest gentlemen. He had such a kind smiling way about him. Finding you were on the roster to serve his Mass guaranteed you a happy week.

He spoke Irish to all the other boys who could banter with him, and they enjoyed it...I was eternally grateful that he always spoke to me in English and made me feel at ease. His humour was, like himself, gentle and as sharp as steel....basically he was a lovely, lovely, man...I have never been able to satisfactorily unravel the meaning of the expression, Go neirí an bóthar leat. But I think it is a fond farewell one can wish him with confidence - that the road leads somewhere very special”.

-oOo-

Brian Mac Cuarta wrote in An Timire.... : Translation by Brian Grogan

Diarmuid O Laoghaire SJ died on July 21. He was a writer and lecturer on Irish spirituality, and active in the world of Irish for almost seventy years. Born in Dublin, he received his primary education in the Holy Faith School in Glasnevin and then in Scoil Phadraig, Drumcondra. He admits that he had no interest in or respect for Irish before his sixth year in Belvedere. He had an abiding memory of a moment in fifth class in Scoil Phadraig, when his teacher, Mr O Sithigh, son of the renowned footballer John Joe Sheehy, tired of young Diarmuid’s indifference, said jokingly, “O'Leary, you'll be the Professor of Irish in Trinity College some day if you're not careful!”

Everything changed when he met with a Belvedere teacher named Tadhg Ó Murchadha, who awoke in his heart a love for Irish language and culture which lasted till the day he died. Influenced by his teacher he founded a Cumann Gaelach in Belvedere. He entered the Jesuits in 1933 and was awarded an MA in Celtic Studies in UCD in 1939. His thesis emerged from a text on the Mass by Séathrún Céitinn (c1580-c1644), and won him an NUI Travelling Scholarship. Because of the Second World War the British Museum’s Celtic manuscripts were moved to the University of Wales in Aberystwyth, and on the advice of Robin Flower Diarmuid went there to study the lives of medieval saints written in Irish. He won his PhD in UCD in 1967. Many were his scholarly writings, and Celtic scholars from far and near knew and appreciated him.

He always said that Fr Donnchadh Ó Floinn influenced his thought deeply. Fr Donnchadh gave priority to faith over language but acknowledged the depth of faith in the minds of Irish speakers. This insight encouraged Diarmuid and gave focus to his life and work.

Diarmuid was one of a very few who were proficient in Irish, Welsh and Breton. He regularly attended the Welsh Eisteddfodd (Assembly), and was honored with the award of Draoi (Druid). He was interviewed often on Welsh TV. He lectured on Irish spirituality in Milltown Institute in Dublin and was Editor of An Timire from 1977-1998, and of FÁS - Foilseacháin Ábhar Spioradálta: in this post he edited many spiritual books. He gathered many popular prayers into Ar bPaidreacha Dúchais, which went into four editions. The devotion of our ancestors to the Mass is revealed in his pamphlet Our Mass Our Life.

Diarmuid was a member of the group who helped to advance Irish liturgy after the Second Vatican Council (1965). He played an active part in the life of Irish speakers as a member of organizations which included Cumann na Sagart, Conradh na Gaeilge, An Réalt, Cuallacht Mhuire, Pobal an Aifrinn. He regularly served on the Oireachtas, on the Irish-speaking pilgrimage to Knock, and on other Gaelic events. In his latter years he used go on vacation to Gort a'Choirce, in Donegal.

In1997 when he could no longer walk without help, he had to go to Cherryfield Lodge, where he continued to work until his sight failed him. It was heart-breaking for a man so at home in books to be able to read no longer, but he bore this loss gracefully and patiently. In his final year he tried to write a small prayer: It was illegible, but illustrates how he was thinking: ‘The prayer of a good Christian on their death-bed’.

-oOo-

Brian also wrote for the Irish Times of August 8th, 2001....

Writer and lecturer on Celtic spirituality and Irish language enthusiast, Father Diarmuid Ó Laoghaire died on July 21s aged 85. Born in Dublin on August 15, 1915, he was one of three children of Michael O'Leary, from Doneraile, Co. Cork, and his wife Mary (née Flood), from Co. Meath; his father was manager of McBimney's department store in Dublin, Brought up in Glasnevin, he was educated at Holy Faith Convent School and Belvedere Coilege, where he played cricket and acquired a life-long interest in the game.

Under the influence of his Irish teacher at Belvedere, Tadhg Ó Murchadha, his interest in the language developed. He took Celtic Studies at UCD, gaining an MA in 1939 for his thesis on a religious text by the 17th century author, Geoffery Keating, research which has been incorporated into the standard biography of Keating. He was awarded the NUI Travelling Studentship in Celtic Studies and subsequently pursued further research at Aberystwyth, where the British Library manuscripts had been moved because of the war.

He joined the Jesuits in 1933 and was ordained in 1948. During the 1950s he was responsible for the Jesuit students in Rathfarnham Castle, while still engaged in research, writing, and work with the Irish-language community. He was prefect of studies at Belvedere from 1960-62, and taught Irish at Gonzaga from 1962-77. Thereafter he was a member of the Jesuit community, Milltown Park. He was awarded a PhD from UCD in 1967 for a thesis in Irish on the lives of the saints in the medieval period, a topic which exposed him to the Irish contribution to Christianity in Europe at that time.

As well as speaking Irish, he was fluent in French and Breton, and was well known throughout Wales, where he talked regularly on radio, and appeared on television. He also preached in Welsh on occasions. He translated a collection of short stories from some of the best modern Welsh authors into Irish. For his contributions in Welsh he was made a member of Gorsedd, or bard, in the Eisteddfod, an honour which is bestowed on merit. As a lecturer both in Milltown Institute of Philosophy and Theology, Dublin, and in many other settings, he shared his gifts with others. His Milltown Institute colleagues honoured him with a Festschrift, Cothú an Dúchais (1997), which included contributions from scholars in Wales, France and Ireland.

A gentle, gracious and convivial man, Father Ó Laoghaire preferred to speak in Irish, but changed without demur to English as the company required. He could be droll, enjoying a story told against himself, together with his friend and confrère Father Séamus MacAmhlaoibh he used travel the country to Irish-language gatherings. He was dedicated to exploring and fostering the link between religious faith and Gaelic culture. Along with his more strictly scholarly interests, he devoted much time and energy to supporting and enriching the faith of the Irish-speaking community. This project was greatly energised by the change from Latin to the vernacular in the liturgy of the Catholic Church after the Second Vatican Council (1962-65).

He gave long service to a wide variety of groups, including Cumann na Sagart, Conradh na Gaeilge, An tOireachtas , Pobal an Aifrinn, An Chuallacht, Scoil Ghaelach Bhrí Chualann, and especially An Réalt, the Irish-language section of the Legion of Mary. In recognition of his services to Irish language groups he was awarded Gradam an Phiarsaigh in 1992. As editor of Foilseacháin Ábhair Spioradálta and through translations and other writings, he was one of those who ensured that a relatively varied spiritual and liturgical literature of Catholic provenance is available in Irish.

Long time a contributor to An Timire (the Irish-language devotional magazine founded by the Jesuits in 1911), he was also editor from 1972-1997. His collection of prayers from the Gaelic oral tradition of Ireland and Scotland, Ár bPaidreacha Dúchais (1975), was a major contribution to the study of popular spirituality. The book has run into four editions. His last scholarly publication, a critical edition of an apocryphal life of Mary from an Irish 15th century text, will be published in Belgium in the Corpus Christianorum series.

Born: 29 June 1709, Dublin City, County Dublin
Entered: 25 May 1729, Madrid, Spain - Toletanae Province (TOLE)
Ordained: 1737, Toledo, Spain
Final Vows: 02 February 1749
Died: 28 October 1756, Murcia, Spain - Toletanae Province (TOLE)

Alias Ignatius Norton

Taught Rhetoric, Minis and Moral Theology. Was Prefect of Studies

◆ Fr Edmund Hogan SJ “Catalogica Chronologica” :
Son of Teig (son of William) O’Neachtan and his wife Catherina Birmingham, not Cruice as O’Reilly wrongly states in his “Irish Writers”. A man named Birmingham is called in Irish “MacFeorais” and a lady “Ni Cheoris:. Mrs O’Neachtan is called “mother of the reverend learned Father Peter O’Neachtan, of the holy Ordere of Jesus - do Naom Ord Iosa”
Note from John O’Neachton Entry :
A John O’Neachton wrote verses “on the death of Catherine Cruice, wife of Teig O’Neachton, and mother of Peter SJ. They began : “Catriona ni Ceoris an oigbean bus aille - Catherinea Cruice, the young woman (who) was beautiful” (O’Reilly “Irish Writers”)

◆ Fr Francis Finegan SJ :
Son of Tadgh or Thady (poet) and Catherine née Nic Fheorais (Birmingham). Baptised by Canon Valentine Rivers (an alumnus of the Dublin Jesuit School)
Early education was at the Jesuit School in Dublin under Milo O’Byrne and then Philosophy at Canon John Harold’s Academy. In May 1728 with a letter of recommendation to the Rector, he headed for Santiago (the events of his journey are recorded in a poem by his father), and after a few months there entered the Irish College at Salamanca for a year before Ent 27 May 1729 Madrid
After First Vows he was sent for studies to Alcalà and for Theology to Toledo where he was Ordained 1737
1737-1743 Sent to teach Rhetoric to the Jesuit Scholastics at Villarejo
1743-1745 Sent to Alcalà to teach Philosophy
1745-1755 Sent to Murcia for a Chair of Moral theology.
1755 He was sent back to Alcalà to teach Moral Theology, but his health failed him afterwards and he had to resign. He moved to Murcia and died there 28 October 1756
In the Society Ó Neachtain was known by the anglicised version “Norton”. As an Irish speaker, The Mission Superior Thomas Hennessy had made representations to have him sent to the Irish Mission. His Superiors in TOLE had such a high regard for his gifts that they refused to release him.
His Obit pays tribute to a man of high intellectual gifts, which inspired so many of his Spanish students, though he was also much sought after by lay people as a Spiritual Guide.

◆ James B Stephenson SJ Menologies 1973
Father Peadar Ó Neachtáin 1709-1756
Peadar Ó Neachtáin was born in St Catherine’s Parish Dublin on June 29th 1709. He was the son of Seán Ó Neachtáin, the Irish poet.

Peadar received his early education from the Jesuits in their day-school in Dublin presided over by Fr Robert Eustace. He entered the Society abroad at the age of 19.

Éigse Vol 1 contains a long poem of his father’s written on his son’s journey across the seas. Fr Peadar is mentioned by O’Reilly, author if the Irish Dictionary, in a list of 400 Irish writers.

◆ George Oliver Towards Illustrating the Biography of the Scotch, English and Irish Members SJ
NORTON, or O’NEAGHTON, PETER, son of Teigh O’Naghton, by his wife Catharine Cruise. This Jesuit is mentioned by O Reilly, author of the “Irish Dictionary”, in an account of four hundred Irish Writers.

Hawkins House, Dublin

Born: 16 October 1916, Parnell Street, Dublin City, County Dublin
Entered: 07 September 1934, St Mary's, Emo, County Laois
Ordained: 31 July 1949, Milltown Park, Dublin
Final Vows: 15 August 1953, Sacred Heart College SJ (Crescent), Limerick
Died: 04 March 2008, Cherryfield Lodge, Dublin

Part of the Milltown Park, Dublin at the time of death

Father, Philip, was a butcher in Parnell Street and he died in 1919. Mother was Mary (McGee). Family resided at Belvedere Avenue, North Circular Road Dublin. Mother resided after father’s death at Parnell Street, Dublin, supported by the butcher’s shop which was managed by the eldest brother.

Youngest of six boys.
Educated at a private school and then at O’Connells school (1925-1933). In 1933 he went to Mungret College SJ
Dermot Peakin - by 1985 Diarmuid Ó Peicín;

by 1967 at Handsworth, Birmingham (ANG) working
by 1968 at Erdington, Birmingham (ANG) working
by 1970 at Walthamstow, London (ANG) working
by 1971 at London, England (ANG) working
by 1975 at Dockhead, London (ANG) working
by 1976 at Redcross, London (ANG) working
by 1977 at London W2 (ANG) working
by 1978 at Rotherhithe London (ANG) working

Born: 31 May 1919, Palmyra Park, Galway City, County Galway
Entered: 07 September 1936, St Mary's, Emo, County Laois
Ordained: 31 July 1949, Milltown Park, Dublin
Final Vows: 05 November 1977, Canisius College, Chikuni, Zambia
Died: 02 December 1992, Heathrow Airport, London, England in transit to Jesuit Residence, Kitwe, Zambia. - Zambia-Malawi Province (ZAM)

Transcribed : HIB to ZAM 03/12/1969

Father was a National school teacher and he died in 1925, as was his mother, and the family moved to live at Maree, Oranmore, County Galway

Second of fve boys with two sisters.

Earle education was at a National school and then at Coláiste Iognáid.

by 1952 at Chikuni, Chisekesi, N Rhodesia (POL Mi) working - fourth wave of Zambian Missioners

◆ Companions in Mission1880- Zambia-Malawi (ZAM) Obituaries :
In a letter written in January 1953 by Fr Colm (as he was known and not by his other names) to his Provincial, he wrote ‘Since July, new schools have been finished at Pemba, Haamapande, Siggubu, Ntambo, Lumbo, and Ntanga; new teachers' houses at Pemba, Ntambo, Sikabenga, Njola, Civuna, Fumbo, Ntanga and Nyanga’. He was Manager of
Schools since 1952 having learned ciTonga after he arrived in 1951. So much in so short a time!

Colm was born in Galway in the west of Ireland on 31 May of 1919. He was fluent at the Irish language which influenced the other languages in which he was proficient. After juniorate, philosophy, regency in Clongowes Wood College and theology, he was ordained priest in Milltown Park, Dublin in 1949. After tertianship, he came to Zambia in August 1951.

Education was his field of work for the forty years he lived and worked in Zambia. As Manager of Schools, he built both new schools and teachers' houses as exampled above. He became education secretary in Chikuni, Civuna and Monze up to 1960 and was responsible for building the church at Monze town. In the early days, he traveled by bicycle, motor bike and landrover setting up, visiting and inspecting schools.

Someone compared Fr Colm to that Irish 6th century Saint Columba (after whom Colm took his name). ‘He (Columba) was able, ardent and sometimes harsh but mellowed with age. The description is also apt for Colm. He was extremely able. As an educationist and administrator he was highly capable and was driven by a generous zeal for the Lord's work. Like other outstanding people there was also a negative side to his very positive character, at times he would appear moody or even harsh. But this was only a passing phase; like his patron Columba, he mellowed with age’.

His work in education continued in Lusaka from 1960 to 1976. He worked in the Catholic Secretariat as Education Secretary General 1960 to 1964 and combined this with the job of Secretary General 1964 to 1976. He was convinced of the value of education and the apostolate of education was his first preference. Charles Lwanga Teacher Training College was launched by him and he was responsible for the establishing and developing of lay missionary teachers (LMA T) so sorely needed in the early days of independence. He came to be widely known as a good organiser and administrator, a chairman who could be relied upon to give satisfaction, get work done and produce results.

In 1970 he was nominated by the President of Zambia to be chairman of a high level commission to review salaries, salary structures and conditions of service for the Public Service, including police and defence forces on a nationwide basis. However, he had not left his building skills behind in Monze for he planned and executed the Catholic Secretariat Building – Unity House on Freedom Way, as well as the residence at St. Ignatius Church in Lusaka.

His work became widely known and he was invited to cooperate in the setting up of a Bishops' Secretariat in Lesotho which occupied him from 1977 to 1978. He retired to Kitwe to be engaged mainly in pastoral work.

He was very loyal to his friends and devoted to others, ready to put himself out to help them. In the midst of all his education work, he was first and foremost a priest, very conscientious to his call to grow in the love and service of the Lord and bringing others to Him, helping others to seek and find God in their lives by his preaching, Mass, sacraments, retreats and counselling.

As the years went by, his health became quite a serious problem especially heart and circulation difficulties. He was in Ireland for treatment but his mind was made up to return to Zambia since he had become a Zambian citizen in 1966. At Heathrow airport on his way back, he collapsed and died on the 2 December 1992.

◆ Fr Francis Finegan : Admissions 1859-1948 - MICHAEL O'Riordan

Born: 05 January 1923, Kilteevan, County Roscommon
Entered: 07 September 1953, St Mary's, Emo, County Laois

Left Society of Jesus: 22 January 1954

Father was Donal, a Teacher, farmer and Senator. Mother was Mary (McCloskey), Family lived at Tarmon, Castlerea, County Roscommon.

1 Brother and 2 Sisters

Educated at Summerhill College, Caltragh, Sligo and Coláiste Éinde, Threadneedle Road, Salthill, Galway. He then went to St Pat’s College, Drumcondra and acquired a Singing and Bi-lingual Cert.. After that he went to UCG and got a BA and HDip

He then worked at Tarmon NS, Castlerea, County Roscommon, then at St John the Apostle NS, Knocknacarra, Galway, then at St Colmcilles Catholic National School, Moone, County Kildare and then at Ballyvaughan National School, Ballyvaughan, County Clare.

Baptised at Saint Laebhan's Church, Kilkeevan, Castlerea, County Roscommon, 07/01/1923
Conformed at Saint Laebhan's Church, Kilkeevan, Castlerea, County Roscommon, by Dr Doorly of Elphin, 04/05/1931

Born: 02 July 1914, Tritonville Road, Sandymount, Dublin
Entered: 07 September 1932, St Mary's, Emo, County Laois

Left Society of Jesus: 17 February 1933

Father was an architect with Dublin Corporation.

Middle child with two sisters.

Early education was at a Holy Faith Convent school and then at Belvedere College SJ for eight years. He also spent two years at a doing motor and mechanical engineering. Technical School

Born: 18 October 1905, Dublin City, County Dublin
Entered: 01 September 1924, St Stanislaus College, Tullabeg, County Offaly

Left Society of Jesus: 23 May 1925

Born: 13 January 1837, Ballinagrath, Ballyhea, Charleville, County Cork
Entered: 29 Pctpber 1861, Milltown Park, Dublin

Left Society of Jesus: 25 June 1865

Education at Kanturk and Thurles seminary

1861-1863: Milltown Park, Dublin, Novitiate
1863-1865: Manresa, Roehampton, London, England (ANG),

Born: Kilcommon, Nenagh, County Tipperary
Entered: 14 March 1896, St Stanislaus College, Tullabeg, County Offaly
Ordained: pre entry

Left Society of Jesus: 1896

◆ Fr Francis Finegan : Admissions 1859-1948 - LEFT during 1st Probation. Unsuited, at least for this province

Born: 22 October 1909, Australia
Entered: 25 March 1930, Loyola Greenwich, Australia (HIB)

Left Society of Jesus: 1932

Transcribed: HIB to ASL, 05/04/1931

Born: 31 October 1909,
Entered: 12 November 1928, St Stanislaus College, Tullabeg, County Offaly

Left Society of Jesus: 1931

Born: 04 January 1877, North Strand, Dublin City, County Dublin
Entered: 13 November 1902, St Stanislaus College, Tullabeg, County Offaly

Left Society of Jesus: 13 May 1904

Father was a general merchant and died in 1882. Mother, supported by private means, lived at Portland Street, Dublin

One of six boys and two sisters.

Early education at St Laurence O’Toole’s Convent school, at 10 he went to O’Connell’s Schools for three years, then the Model School in Marlborough Street for 6 months, and then Skerry's Academy for 3 months.

At age fourteen he went into business and remained there for 7 years.

He then went to St Joseph’s Academy, Bagenalstown and matriculated form there in 1901, prior to which he had a private tutor for a year and a half.

Born: 14 February 1870, Australia
Entered: 29 October 1898, Loyola Greenwich, Australia (HIB)

Left Society of Jesus: 1903

1898-1900: Loyola Greenwich, Australia (HIB), Novitiate
1900-1901: St Ignatius College SJ Riverview, Sydney NSW, Australia, Woring and assising with “Messenger”
1901-1903: Loyola Greenwich, Australia (HIB), Infirmarian and Cook

Born: 06 July 1820, Kilkenny City, County Kilkenny
Entered: 23 September 1846, Toulouse, France - Lugdunensis Province (LUGD)
Ordained: 1857

Left Society of Jesus: 31 October 1866

Seems to have left the Society 31/109/1866. Then he reappears in the Roman (ROM), Catalogue with the same date of birth and a new Entry Date 30/09/1868 working in Brasil. I can find no sign of him in Catalogi for 1868-1869. He disaapears in 1872.

1846-1848: Toulouse. France (LUGD), Novitiate
1848-1849: ?
1850-1854: St Stanislaus College SJ, Tullabeg, Regency
1854-1855: Clongowes Wood College SJ, Regency
1856-1857: Maastricht College, Limburg, Netherlands (NER), Theology
1857-1858: St Ignatius, North Frederick Street, Dublin, Theology
1858-1859: Belvedere College SJ, Dublin, Minister, Teaching
1859-1860: St Beuno’s, St Asaph, Flintshire, Wales (ANG), Teaching Theology
1860-1861: St Stanislaus College SJ, Tullabeg, Teaching
1861-1862: Drongen, Belgium (BELG), Tertianship
1862-1863: St Stanislaus College SJ, Tullabeg, Spiritual Father, Teaching
1863-1864: Clongowes Wood College SJ, Procurator
1864-1866: St Stanislaus College SJ, Tullabeg, Curate

1866-1869: ?? Left and reentered ?? 30/09/1868

1869-1871: St Francis Xavier College, Pernambuco, Brasil
1871-1872: Ituano College, Sao Paulo, Brasil, Teaching

Born: 20 April 1885, Heytesbury Street, Dublin City, County Dublin
Entered: 07 April 1901, St Stanislaus College, Tullabeg, County Offaly

Left Society of Jesus: August 1903

Father was an Inspector in the DMP. Family lived at Leinster Road, Rathmines

3rd Eldest of four sons and three sisters.

Educated at Synge Street, then St Mary’s College CSp, Rathmines

Born: 1609, County Kilkenny (Ossory)
Entered: 09 December 1628, Back Lane, Dublin
Ordained: 1637,
Died: July 1649, Galway City, County Galway

Left Society of Jesus: 02 August 1640

Did he die in July 1649 or was he Dismissed as suggested by Finegan 02/08/1649??

◆ Francis Finegan SJ Biographical Dictionary 1598-1773

He was born in Ossory in 1609, and entered the Society at the shortlived Dublin Novitiate on December 9, 1628. Before his admission, he had studied Humanities under secular Masters.

After his first religious profession he was sent to Douai for his course of Philosophy, and then spent an extra years studying Humanities at Tournai. he made his Theological studies in the Sicilian Province, at the College of Palermo, where he was ordained priest in 1637. After his Tertianship at Spoleto, he returned to Ireland in June 1638.

No account of his early years on the Mission has survived. His relations with his Anglo-Irish Superiors of their Consultors, and correspondence with Rome, suggested that he was vacillating in his vocation to the Society. Similar reports had been sent to Rome with regard to Father O’Carolan, but he had denied them. Verdier, however, during his Visitation, met O’Carroll, and reported of him:- that he was teaching Philosophy in Galway, and was now twenty-two years in the Society, but not yet professed; he was a man of not very robust health, but of a happy disposition;

Why his profession has been put off is not very clear to me. he is a good man and of excellent ability. His Superior, Father Moore, urges insistently, that he should be advanced to profession. He comes of a noble family of Old Irish stock. His feelings were on the side of the Nuncio, but he did not desire to express his mind against the opinion of the Superior of the Mission (Malone)”.

By the time Verdier’s report reached Rome, the General was dead, and Malone, on August 2, expelled Father O’Carroll from the Society, alleging that he had refused to renew his simple Vows. The Vicar-General at Rome, who had apparently not seen Verdier’s report on O’Carroll, endorsed Malone’s action. Neither the Vicar-General nor the new General seem ever to have see Verdier’s Report of the Irish Mission. Otherwise it is impossible to explainwhy Malone was actually nominated for a second period of office.

No details of Father O’Carroll’s later life have come down to us.

◆ George Oliver Towards Illustrating the Biography of the Scotch, English and Irish Members SJ
CARROLL, CHARLES. “Ex familia nobili antiquorum Hibernorum”, as Pere Verdier expresses it in his Report of the 24th of June, 1649. He was then in Galway, aged 40, Soc. 22. When he died I cannot discover.

◆ Henry Foley - Records of the English province of The Society of Jesus Vol VII
CARROLL, CHARLES, Father (Irish), born 1609; entered the Society 1627. Père Verdier, the Visitor, mentions him in his report June 24, 1649, as then in Galway and of a noble and ancient Irish family, (Oliver, Irish Section, from Stonyhurst MISS.)

◆ In Chronological Catalogue Sheet as Ent c1629
same as Charles Carroll Ent 07/12/1628??

◆ Old/15 (1) has “Charles Carroll” corrected to “O’Carroll” on one (13) Ent 07/12/1628 corrected to 09/12/1628 RIP 1648-9
◆ Old/15 (1) has “Charles O’Carroll” Ent c 1679

◆ Old/16 has : “P Charles O’Carroll”; DOB 1606 or 1609; Ent 1627 or 1629; RIP Jul 1649 Ireland

◆ CATSJ A-H has DOB Munster; Ent 09/12/1628 Tournai;
Not in 1636 CAT
1649 Fr Verdier mentions him as being in Galway and of a noble family

◆ Fr Edmund Hogan SJ “Catalogica Chronologica” :
DOB Ossory 1606/1609; Ent 1627/1629.

Passed his Ad Grad and died c 1649 Ireland.

On the Irish Mission from 1638; Taught Philosophy; Is described as a worthy and witty man; of an ancient noble family (cf CAT Defuncti in Morris’ “Excerpta”)

◆ Interfuse No 80 : Spring 1995
“THE PROVINCE OF CONNACHT” BEFORE CROMWELL

Stephen Redmond

This year the Province and especially the Galway companions celebrate three and a half centuries teaching in that famous city. But the Jesuit presence goes back even further. Here is some account of “the Province of Connacht” from very early in the seventeenth century to 1649, It is taken from transcripts of originals made by the great John MacErlean (d. 1950) who contributed so immensely to the record of our history.........

The most graphic and evocative picture of Galway Jesuits in pre Cromwell days is given by Fr Mercure Verdier of the Province of Aquitaine. On the authority of Fr. General Carafa he made an exhaustive visit of the Mission because of the impact on Irish Jesuits of the conflict between the papal nuncio Rinuccini and the Supreme Council of the Catholic Confederation.

At Galway there are nine priests........

P. Charles Carroll..... of pretty affable temperament. I could not see why his final vows should be deferred; P. Malone says that he wavered in his vocation. He is a good man of excellent capacity. P. Moore strongly urges his profession. He is of a noble Old Irish family. He favoured the Nuncio but did not wish to express his mind against the view of the superior of the mission.

Born: 22 March 1923,
Entered: 07 September 1940, St Andrew-on-Hudson, Poughkeepsie, NY, USA - Marylandiae-Neo Eboracensis Privince (MARNEB)
Ordained: 21 June 1953,
Final Vows: 03 February 1958
Died: 18 September 2013,

Left Society of Jesus: by 1974

1965-1966: Milltown Park, Dublin (HIB), Teaching Liturgy

◆ https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/name/matthew-o-connell-obituary?pid=179112053
Dr. Matthew J. O'Connell

FUNERAL HOME
Turner Funeral Home Spring Hill Chapel | Florida Hills Memorial Gardens
14360 Spring Hill Drive, Spring Hill, Florida

Matthew O'Connell Obituary
Published by Turner Funeral Home Spring Hill Chapel | Florida Hills Memorial Gardens on Sep. 18, 2013.
Dr. Matthew J. O'Connell, 90, passed away on Wednesday, September 18, after a lengthy illness. Dr. O'Connell was born on March 22, 1923 in Jersey City, NJ. He was ordained a Jesuit Priest who studied and taught at Fordham University. He was proficient in writing and translating numerous documents from Vatican Council II which was held in the mid sixties. When Dr. O'Connell left the priesthood he continued his scholarly writing after he married Margaret Mary "Peg" Hunkele in 1970. The Liturgical Press in Minnesota published many of his works written and translated in numerous languages : Latin, French, German, English, etc. Dr. O'Connell had a genuine love for people shown by his kindness, patience and compassion. His deep spirituality left its mark on those who had the privilege of knowing him. He was a just man who loved tenderly and walked humbly with His God. Funeral Services will be held at St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church on Tuesday, 9/24 at 11AM. Visitation will be held at Turner Funeral Home on Spring Hill Drive on Monday, 9/23, from 2-4 & 6-8PM. Burial will follow at Florida Hills Memorial Gardens.

Born: 04 April 1834,
Entered: 21 October 1853, Beaumont Lodge, Berkshire, England - Angliae Province (ANG)

Left Society of Jesus: 1857

1853-1855: Beaumont Lodge, Berkshire, England (ANG), Novitiate
1855-1857: St Stanislaus College SJ, Tullabeg, County Offaly, Regency

Born: County Galway
Entered: St Stanislaus College, Tullabeg, County Offaly

Left Society of Jesus: 1921

◆ Fr Francis Finegan : Admissions 1859-1948 - Brother Novice; LEFT after two days

Born: 11 July 1885, Ballylongford, County Kerry
Entered: 07 September 1903, St Stanislaus College, Tullabeg, County Offaly

Left Society of Jesus: April 1905

Parents were National School teachers.

Second eldest of four brothers, of whom the eldest is deceased. Five sisters of whom two are deceased.

Educated at local NS and then went to Clongowes Wood College

◆ Fr Francis Finegan : Admissions 1859-1948 - Went to St Paul Minnesota USA to be a secular priest

Born: 17 November 1884, Cecil Street, Limerick City, County Limerick
Entered: 07 September 1902, St Stanislaus College, Tullabeg, County Offaly

Left Society of Jesus: 1904

Father was a doctor and died in 1890. Family lived at Richmond Terrace Limerick City, County Limerick

Eldest of two boys.

Educated at St Munchin’s, Limerick and then went to the Redemptorists Juniorate in Broadford. Then he went to Crescent College SJ

Born: 01 June 1678,
Entered: 17 June 1702, Peruvianae Province (PER)

Left Society of Jesus: 18 August 1705

◆ Old/17 has “O’Connor” Dimissi 18/08/1705 Coad Temp (PERU)

◆ MacErlean Cat Miss HIB SJ 1670-1770
1672 PERU Cat
Novitate
“Guilliermus Ocanor”
Born 01/06/1678
Entered 17/06/1702

Dismissed 18/08/1705

Born: 15 July 1826,
Entered: 03 September 1849, St Acheul, Amiens, France - Franciae Province (FRA)

Left Society of Jesus: 1856

1849-1851: St Acheul, Amiens, France (FRA)
1851-1852: Brugelette College, Brugelette, France (FRA, Philosophy
1852-1855: Clongowes Wood College SJ, Regency
1855-1856: St Beuno’s, St Asaph, Flintshire, Wales (ANG), Theology

Born: 04 September 1874, Bruree, County Limerick
Entered: 07 September 1891, St Stanislaus College, Tullabeg, County Offaly

Left Society of Jesus: 1903

Educated at Carlow College, St Stanislaus Collefge SJ, Tullabeg, and Clongowes Wood College SJ

1891-1893: St Stanislaus College, Tullabeg, County Offaly, Novitiate
1893-1894: Milltown Park, Dublin, Rhetoric
1894-1895: Maison Saint-Augustin, Enghien Belgium (CAMP), Philosophy
1895-1897: St Mary’s Hall, Stonyhurst College SJ, Lancashiure, England (ANG), Philosophy
1897-1902: Clongowes Wood College SJ, Regency, Editor “Clongownian”
1902-1903: Mungret College SJ, Limerick, Regency

◆ The Clongownian, 1931

“The Snows of Yesteryear”

V The Prophets

Perhaps the Editor was right when he suggested to me that we of the early nineteen hundreds are still too young to have any clear memories. Yet some of my recollections of old masters are fresh enough. I wish I could talk of Fr Nicholas Walsh, but he was here past my time and his own, and in any case was little known to the boys. But I recall Mr “Darby” O'Donoghue, the tall, gentlemanly scholastic, whom we all admired and liked...........

Born: 14 July 1871, County Waterford
Entered: 30 December 1893, St Stanislaus College, Tullabeg, County Offaly

Left Society of Jesus: January 1894

◆ Fr Francis Finegan : Admissions 1859-1948 - Was in Maynooth 4.5 years. LEFT within three weeks

Born: Cork
Entered: 25 March 1647, Kilkenny City, County Kilkenny
Ordained: 1655, Bordeaux, France
Died: post 1659

Left Society of Jesus: 20 March 1660

◆ George Oliver Towards Illustrating the Biography of the Scotch, English and Irish Members SJ
DUGAN, DANIEL, began hia Noviceship at Kilkenny, which he fnished at Galway, His master of Notices, F, John Young, sent him to the Province of Aquitaine to complete his studies. I meet him at Rochelle in June, 1659, when all traces escape me.

◆ In Chronological Catalogue Sheet as “O’Dougan” Ent 25/03/1647
◆ In Chronological Catalogue Sheet as Ent 1648

◆ Old/15 (1) has “O’Dougan” on one and “O’Doughan” on another Ent 25/03/1647 RIP after 1659
◆ Old/15 (1) has “Dugan” Ent 1648

◆ Old/16 has : “C Daniel Dugan”; DOB Cork; Ent 1648 Kilkenny; Coad temp; RIP post 1659

◆ Old/17 has “Dougan” Dimissi 08/10/1689 (AQUIT)

◆ CATSJ A-H has “Fr Daniel Dugan or O’Dugan or O’Dougan” Irish Dioc of Cork; Ent 25/03/1647 Kilkenny;
1650-1653 Studied Theology at Bordeaux AQUIT
1653-1654 Studied Theology at Poitiers
1654-1655 Teaching Grammar at Fontenoy AQUIT
1655-1657 teaching Grammar at La Rochelle
1657-1658 At Angoulême College destined to teach Philosophy at Dieppe
1658-1660 Teaching Philosophy at Dieppe

1660 Dimissus

◆ Fr Edmund Hogan SJ “Catalogica Chronologica” :
Dugan

DOB Cork; Ent 1648 Kilkenny; RIP post 1659

1650 In AQUIT
1659 At La Rochelle, when Father Tyrry asked to have him sent to him in Cork.

◆ Fr Francis Finegan Notes
O’Duigin (in France called O’Dougan)

DOB 1624/28 Kilkenny; Ent 25/03/1647 Kilkenny; Ord 1656 Bordeaux; LEFT 20/03/1660

Had studied Philosophy before Ent 25/03/1647 Kilkenny, probably with the Jesuits there

1649-1655 After First Vows he was sent to Bordeaux for Theology and was Ordained there 1655
1655-1657 Sent to teach Philosophy at La Rochelle
1657 He was sent to a Chair in Philosophy at Angoulême and at around the same time he volunteered for the Chinese Mission. He was told that he would need approval from the AQUIT Provincial
1659 The General was informed that O’Duigin was needed for the Irish Mission. At this time he was in some difficulties with his Superiors, and he travelled to Dieppe and crossed over to England. For his refusal to return to AQUIT, he was Dismissed 20/03/1660

◆ Henry Foley - Records of the English province of The Society of Jesus Vol VII
DUGAN. DANIEL Father (Irish). commenced his noviceship at Kilkenny and finished it at Galway His Master of Novices was Father John Young. He completed his studies at Aquitaine, and was at La Rochelle in June, 1659. (Oliver, from Stonyhurst MSS.)

Born: 1597, Castlehaven, County Cork
Entered: 15 October 1614, Spain - Castellanae Province (CAST)
Ordained: 1623/4, Royal College Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain
Died: 1634

Left Society of Jesus: 02 February 1626

◆ In Chronological Catalogue Sheet as “O’Driscol” Ent 1614

◆ Old/15 (1) “O’Driscol”, RIP after 1625

◆ Old/16 has : “P Conor O’Driscol”; DOB 1597 Cork; Ent 1614 Spain; RIP post 1626

◆ Old/17 has “Driscol” Dimissi 02/02/1626 (CAST)

◆ CATSJ I-Y has “Cornelius O’Driscol”; DOB 1595 Castlehaven; Ent 1614; RIP 1634
First Vows 18/02/1616
1622-1625 At Salamanca studying Theology. Good student, talented enough to teach Arts and Theology
1625 At Arevalo College CAST

◆ Fr Edmund Hogan SJ “Catalogica Chronologica” :
O’Driscol

DOB 1597 Cork; Ent 1614 Spain; RIP post 1626

He was a Priest in Spain in 1617 and 1626 (CATS 1617 and 1626)

In pen
At College of Salamanca 1625; Made First Vows 1614; Had studied three years Philosophy and 4 Theology

◆ Calendar of MacErlean Transcipts Addenda Irishmen who entered Rome and Spain 1561-1772 (Finegan)
Cornelius Driscol 17 of Ireland
Son of Thady Driscol and Margaret Carti
15 October 1614 Entered CAST

◆ Francis Finegan Notes
Cornelius or Conor

DOB 1598 Castlehaven; Ent 01/12/1614 CAST; Ord 1623/24 Salamanca; LEFT 02/02/1626

Son of Thady (a colonel in the Spanish Army) and Margaret née Carty

After First Vows he was sent for studies to Pamplona and Royal College Salamanca where he was Ordained 1623/24
His Superiors had remarked his ability in Theology and sent him for post-graduate studies also at Salamanca. He did not get the chance of settling down to his scholastic career, however, as his parents, then living in Coruña, claimed his financial help in their poverty. The General and the Spanish Superiors tried so to arrange matters so that Thady O’Driscoll might be helped in his penury while his son could remain a Jesuit, whilst at the same time the Superior of the Irish Mission was trying to recruit him. But eventually yielding to the pressure of the O’Driscolls and their son, the General dismissed him in 02/02/1626

Born: 10 December 1819, Dublin City, County Dublin
Entered: 14 December 1851, St Andrea, Rome, Italy - Romanae Province (ROM)
Ordained: pre entry

Left Society of Jesus: 10 June 1858

“Farrell” in CAT to 1856

1851-1853: St Andrea, Rome, Italy (ROM), Novitiate
1853-1854: St Stanislaus College, Tullabeg, County Offaly, Teaching
1854-1857: St Francis Xavier, Gardiner Street, Dublin, Curate
1857-1858: St Stanislaus College, Tullabeg, County Offaly, Teaching

Born: 03 December 1877, Carrickfergus, County Antrim
Entered: 14 April 1898, St Stanislaus College, Tullabeg, County Offaly

Left Society of Jesus: 15 April 1900

Born: 10 August 1867, East Burghold, Suffolk, England
Entered: 07 September 1888, St Stanislaus College, Tullabeg, County Offaly

Left Society of Jesus: 1892

Mother Helen (White) died when Edmond was 3 months. Father married again (for a third time). First marriage produced 3 sons and one daughter and four sons by third.

Early education at Hodder, Stonyhurst and St Edmund’s, Hertfordshire and Downside Abbey

1888-1890: St Stanislaus College, Tullabeg, County Offaly, Novitiate
1890-1891: St Stanislaus College, Tullabeg, County Offaly, Rhetoric
1891-1892: Maison Saint Louis, St Helier, Channel Islands (FRA), Philosophy

◆ Fr Francis Finegan : Admissions 1859-1948 - LEFT from 1st year Philosophy. Studied for secular priesthood

Born: 02 July 1916, Prior Park House, Clonmel, County Tipperary
Entered: 07 September 1934, St Mary's, Emo, County Laois

Left Society of Jesus: 12 November 1936 for health reasons

Father was in the motor trade and coach manufacturing business. Mother died in June 1927, and father remarried some years later.

Eldest of the first family of two boys. Second family is three girls and two boys.

Early education was at the Christian Brothers school Clonmel he then went to Mount Melleray for two years.

1934-1936: St Mary's, Emo, County Laois, Novitiate
1936-1937: Rathfarnham Castle, Dublin, Juniorate

◆ Fr Francis Finegan : Admissions 1859-1948 - Mount Mellaray student; Went to Rathfarnham without Vows, and LEFT from there due to ill health

Born: 19 August 1899, Alphonsus Terrace, Limerick City, County Limerick
Entered: 31 August 1915, St Stanislaus College, Tullabeg, County Offaly

Left Society of Jesus: 25 August 1917

Father was employed by Messers Cannock & Co and both parents were still living.

Eldest of two boys with five sisters (2 deceased).

Educated at Model School, Limerick, then at Leamy’s National School, Hartsonge Street, and then he went to Crescent College SJ.

Born: 07 December 1919,
Entered: 21 May 1939, St Mary's, Emo, County Laois

Left Society of Jesus: 26 August 1939

Born: 03 January 1902, Australia
Entered: 21 February 1920, Loyola, Greenwich, Australia (HIB)

Left Society of Jesus: 1922

Born: 21 April 1878, Dublin City, County Dublin
Entered: 14 August 1895, St Stanislaus College, Tullabeg, County Offaly

Left Society of Jesus: November 1895

Born: 02 February 1903, Corville, Roscrea, County Tipperary
Entered: 01 September 1919, St Stanislaus College, Tullabeg, County Offaly

Left Society of Jesus: 1920 for health reasons

Educated at Mungret College SJ

Born: 23 March 1893, Corville, Roscrea, County Tipperary
Entered: 30 October 1911. St Stanislaus Macon GA, USA - Neo-Aurelianensis Province (NOR)

Left Society of Jesus: 1924

Educated at Mungret College SJ

1911-1913: St Stanislaus Macon GA, USA (NOR), Novitiate
1913-1915: St Stanislaus Macon GA, USA (NOR), Rhetoric
1915-1918: Mount St Michael’s, Hillyard WA, USA (CAL), Philosophy
1918-1921: Spring Hill College SJ, Mobile AL, USA, Regeny, Editor of “Springhillian”
1921-1922: College of the Immaculate Conception SJ, Baronne Street, New Orleans LA, USA, Regency
1922-1923: L’Immaculée Conception, Rue Rachel, Montreal, Canada (CAN), Theology
1923-1924: Colegio de San Ignacio, Sarría, Barcelona, Spain (ARA), Theology

Born: 27 January 1870, Nile Street, Cork City, County Cork
Entered: 12 November 1890, St Stanislaus College, Tullabeg, County Offaly
Died: 11 November 1904, Claremont Hotel, Howth Road, Howth, County Dublin

Left Society of Jesus: 1891 for health reasons

◆ Fr Francis Finegan : Admissions 1859-1948 - Journalist before entry. LEFT for health reasons

◆ https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/O'Mahony-169

John Francis O'Mahony
Born 27 Jan 1870 in 25 Nile Street, Cork, County Cork, Irelandmap
Son of John Francis O'Mahony and Mary Ellen (Sheehan) O'Mahony
Brother of Daniel John O'Mahony, Mary O'Mahony, Hannah O'Mahony, Ellen O'Mahony, Norah O'Mahony and Christina Mary O'Mahony
Husband of Honora (Tynan) O'Mahony — married 29 Apr 1895 in Rathfarnham, County Dublin, Irelandmap
DESCENDANTS descendants
Father of Gerard John Cullen O'Mahony, John Finbar Michael O'Mahony and Donal John Patrick O'Mahony
Died 11 Nov 1904 at age 34 in Claremont Hotel, Howth, County Dublin, Ireland

John was the son of John O'Mahony a spirits dealer or vintner, and Mary Sheehan[1].

He was considered to be an up and coming barrister when he died in 1904[2] aged just 34.

It's alleged that he was the basis for the character J. J. Molloy in James Joyce's Ullyses[3].

His sister in law Katharine Tynan published a book called "A Little Book For John O’Mahony’s Friends" after his death[4].

Born: 01 January 1822, Cloonan, Islandeady, County Mayo
Entered: 24 August 1862, Milltown Park, Dublin
Ordained: pre entry

Left Society of Jesus: 1866

Educated at St Jarlath’s Tuam and Maynooth

Ord pre entry;

1862-1864: Milltown Park, Dublin, Novitiate
1864-1865: Milltown Park, Dublin, Sub Ministe, Assistant Procurator, Confessor
1865-1866: St Wilfred’s Preston (ANG), Curate at St John’s Church, Powell Street, Wigan, Lancashire England

Born: 1906, Bruff, County Limerick
Entered: 31 August 1922, St Stanislaus College, Tullabeg, County Offaly

Left Society of Jesus: 15 November 1923

Born: 30 October 1870, Australia
Entered: 04 February 1895, Loyola Greenwich, Australia (HIB)

Left Society of Jesus: 1912

1895-1897: Loyola Greenwich, Australia (HIB), Novitiate
1897-1902: St Ignatius College SJ Riverview, Sydney NSW, Australia, Regency
1902-1904: Rue des Récollets, Leuven Belgium (BELG), Philosophy
1904-1906: San Luigi, Napoli-Posilipo, Italy (NAP), Theology
1906-1907: Milltown Park, Dublin, Awaiting assignment
1907-1911: Coláiste Iognáid, Galway, Teaching
1911-1912: On Australian Mission

Born: 05 December 1880, Dublin City, County Dublin
Entered: 23 May 1896, St Stanislaus College, Tullabeg, County Offaly

Left Society of Jesus: 17 May 1897

◆ Fr Francis Finegan : Admissions 1859-1948 - Brother Novice; LEFT. Too young.

Born: 27 April 1856, India
Entered: 01 February 1874, Calcutta Mission, Hazaribagh Station, Jharkand, India - Belgicae Province (BELG)

Left Society of Jesus: 1881

Early Irish Mission to to Australia 1880 - 3rd Scholastics with James Power, and Daniel Sheahan

1874-1876: Calcutta Mission, Hazaribagh Station, Jharkand, India (BELG), Novitiate
1876-1878: St Joseph’s College, Nagapattinam, Tamil Nadu, India (TOLO), Regency
1878-1879; St Francis Xavier College SJ, Kolkata, West Bengal, India, Regency
1879-1880: Calcutta Mission, Asansol Stration, West Bengal, India, Private Study
1880-1881; St Ignatius College SJ Riverview, Sydney NSW, Australia, Regency

Born: 27 April 1856, India
Entered: 01 February 1874, Calcutta Mission, Hazaribagh Station, Jharkand, India - Belgicae Province (BELG)

Left Society of Jesus: 1881

Early Irish Mission to to Australia 1880 - 3rd Scholastics with James Power, and Daniel Sheahan

1874-1876: Calcutta Mission, Hazaribagh Station, Jharkand, India (BELG), Novitiate
1876-1878: St Joseph’s College, Nagapattinam, Tamil Nadu, India (TOLO), Regency
1878-1879; St Francis Xavier College SJ, Kolkata, West Bengal, India, Regency
1879-1880: Calcutta Mission, Asansol Stration, West Bengal, India, Private Study
1880-1881; St Ignatius College SJ Riverview, Sydney NSW, Australia, Regency

Born: 29 April 1863, Tipperary Town, County Tipperary
Entered: 07 September 1881, Milltown Park, Dublin

Left Society of Jesus: 1891

Educated at Christian Brothers Tipperary Town and St Stanislaus College SJ, Tullabeg

Brother educated at Tullabeg and two sisters Mercy nuns

1881-1883: Milltown Park, Dublin, Novitiate
1883-1886: Milltown Park, Dublin, Rhetoric, then Philosophy
1886-1889: Clongowes Wood College SJ, Regency
1889-1891: Belvedere College SJ, Dublin, Regency

Born: 09 May 1877, Barronstown, County Tipperary
Entered: 23 September 1903, St Stanislaus College, Tullabeg, County Offaly

Left Society of Jesus: June 1904

◆ Fr Francis Finegan : Admissions 1859-1948 - Mungret student

Born: 25 April 1689, County Waterford
Entered: 21 September 1725, - Peruvianae Province (PER)

Left Society of Jesus: 24 November 1745

◆ MacErlean Cat Miss HIB SJ 1670-1770
1728 PER Cat
“Marcus Phelan”
Born 25/04/1689 Waterford
Entered 21/09/1725

1730 PER Cat
“Marcus Phelan”
Born 25/04/1689 Waterford
Entered 21/09/1725
Grounds work

1732 PER Cat
“Marcus Phelan”
Born 25/04/1689 Waterford
Entered 21/09/1725
Assistant to Procurator

1735 PER Cat
“Marcus Phelan”
Born 25/04/1689 Waterford
Entered 21/09/1725
Assistant to Procurator

1741 PER Cat
“Marcus Phelan”
Born 25/04/1689 Waterford
Entered 21/09/1725
Final Vows 02/02/1739
Janitor

Marcus Ophelan dismissed 24/11/1745

Cousin of Maurice O’Phelan RIP 1772

Born: 27 January 1822,
Entered: 21 September 1839, Drongen, Belgium - Belgicae Province (BELG)

Left Society of Jesus: 1842

1839-1841: Drongen, Belgium (BELG), Novitiate
1841-1842: Collége Notre-Dame de la Paix, Namur, Belgium, Philosophy

Born: 17 February 1880, Westport, County Mayo
Entered: 07 September 1897, St Stanislaus College, Tullabeg, County Offaly

Left Society of Jesus: 1899

◆ Fr Francis Finegan : Admissions 1859-1948 - Belvedere student

Born: 23 July 1863, County Cavan
Entered: 04 November 1885, Loyola House, Dromore, County Down

Left Society of Jesus: 1888

Born: 05 December 1878,
Entered: 14 August 1896, St Stanislaus College, Tullabeg, County Offaly

Left Society of Jesus: 1898

Born: 15 April 1875, Granard, County Longford
Entered: 07 September 1891, St Stanislaus College, Tullabeg, County Offaly - Hiberniae for Neo-Aurelianensis Province (HIB for NOR)

Left Society of Jesus: 1893

Early education at Granard, County Longoford

Born: 04 October 1911, Dublin City, County Dublin
Entered: 02 September 1929, St Stanislaus College, Tullabeg, County Offaly

Left Society of Jesus: 04 December 1929

◆ Fr Francis Finegan : Admissions 1859-1948 - Belvedere student

Born: 26 May 1901, Baltinglass, County Wicklow
Entered: 31 August 1923, St Stanislaus College, Tullabeg, County Offaly

Left Society of Jesus: 26 January 1925

◆ Fr Francis Finegan : Admissions 1859-1948 - At Osterley, England before entry

Born: 28 February 1911, Shamrock Place, College Road, Cork City, County Cork
Entered: 16 November 1931, St Mary's, Emo, County Laois

Left Society of Jesus: 24 April 1933 for health reasons

Father was a cycle and motor-cycle agent.

Eldest of five boys with four sisters.

Early education was at a Convent school in Cork, and then he went to CBC Cork, and then to North Monastery. He won a Cork City scholarship and went to UCC to study Science and four years later got a BSc.

Born: 05 December 1905, Drumsna, County Leitrim
Entered: 14 November 1923, St Stanislaus College, Tullabeg, County Offaly
Ordained: 24 June 1937, Milltown Park, Dublin
Final Vows: 02 February 1943, Clongowes Wood College SJ
Died: 13 May 1986, Clongowes Wood College, Naas, County Kildare

by 1929 at San Ignacio, Sarrià, Barcelona, Spain (ARA) studying
by 1939 at St Beuno’s Wales (ANG) making Tertianship

◆ Irish Province News
Irish Province News 61st Year No 3 1986
Obituary
Fr Gerard O’Beirne (1905-1923-1986)
5th December 1905: born. 14th November 1923: entered SJ. 1923-25 Tullabeg, noviciatę. 1925-28 Rathfarnham, juniorate (BA; 2nd-class honours in Greek and Latin). 1928-31 philosophy: 1928-30 Sarriá (Spain), 1930-31 Heythrop. 1931-34 Clongowes, regency, 1934-38 Milltown, theology (24th June 1937: ordained priest). 1938-39 St Beuno's, tertianship.
1939-52 Clongowes, assistant prefect of studies and teaching. 1952-60 Crescent: 1952-55 teaching, assistant prefect of studies; 1955-60 prefect of studies.
1960-69 Emo, giving missions and retreats.
1969-86 Clongowes, ministering in public church (1980-86, prefect of it); teaching (mainly Latin) until 1984. 13th May 1986: died.

All through his 63 years in the Society, Fr Gerry O'Beirne spoke with affection of his boyhood days on the banks of the upper Shannon, his family, his school-days at St Mel's College, Longford (the diocesan college of Ardagh and Clonmacnois), and his fellow-novices at Tullabeg. Fr Michael Browne, his novicemaster, was forever in his mind the ideal Jesuit: his words of wisdom and his advice left a deep impression on Gerry.
As a student he enjoyed his years at University College, Dublin, because with his retentive memory Latin and Greek came easy to him. His memory served him well throughout life: names sprang to his lips with ease. Friends, once acknowledged, he never forgot, not even when studying in Barcelona or later at Heythrop and St Beuno's. All the good things stood out in his memory, especially the tertianship year, when he experienced real Jesuit community life and the companionship which appealed so much to him.
For the rest of his life, apart from his nine years on the mission staff, he was a teacher. These mission years incidentally he found somewhat hard, I think because he came on that scene a little late in life. Teaching, on the other hand, suited him well. His eight years spent in the Crescent were happy, and he was the first to give credit to the many members of the community who helped him without his asking for help. He appreciated their spontaneous solidarity and support.
In 1969 he returned to Clongowes after an absence of seventeen years, and devoted what were to be the last seven- teen years of his life to teaching and especially to ministering in the public church. As regards the classroom, with his prodigious memory he could remember every boy who at any time sat at his feet. Many of his pupils remained friends of his for life. No one ever doubted him to be an extremely hard worker; the boys also realised this. During the summer rest periods he went on supply to various parishes in France. These supplies brought him pleasure and relaxation.
To his fellow-Jesuits Gerry was quite a character. His life was enshrined in anecdotes. How often we heard him preface his remarks with a phrase like 'Oh, he was a great friend of mine'. That simple phrase somehow revealed his humanity, his warmth and his loyalty. That same humanity served him well in dealing with people, especially diocesan clergy. Towards the end of his life, he found very hard his inability to walk as in the days of yore, and to come to terms with the eighth decade of his life; but above all he missed community talk, which meant a great deal to him.
For those who lived with him for long periods his devotion to morning meditation was striking. His spiritual life was simple and faithful. In a peculiar way he was a little afraid of death, and yet, as one of the Clongowes community said on the day of his funeral, the gospel phrase, “Well done, good and faithful servant”, suited Gerry to perfection. His last hours, full of peace, and his model death were a marvellous blessing for him and those who witnessed them. May the good Lord take care of him.

The second world war started on 1st September 1939, and on the same day I arrived in Clongowes, where I spent a week before school opened. That is when I met Fr Gerry O'Beirne. There was nothing much to do, and he often brought me out shooting with a :22. We set up tins on a convenient wall and shot them off it. The rifle wasn't very accurate; but it was typical of him to take the stranger under his wing. The next summer I met him in Kilkee with the Clongowes community on villa. The war years were quite limiting in many respects, but we cycled all over the county, pausing occasionally for meals packed by my mother and supplemented by tins of salmon, packets of biscuits and tins of peaches. We never brought a tin-opener, so the tins were opened by a mixture of rage and ingenuity.
We had him for Greek in I Grammar and I was terrified of him, probably because I never did any work and had every reason to be frightened. He strode around the classroom, up and down between the desks, providing an appalling hazard for anyone who was trying to read a novel. Before class he could be seen through the window walking and reading a textbook; on the stroke of the bell he would burst into the classroom with his gown and wings flying; the prayer was said; the books were opened; he cleared his throat and the performance began. He wasn't acting: he was being himself. On more than one occasion he burst into flames when the pipe which he thought he had extinguished smouldered into life in the pocket of his gown.
Outside the classroom he was interested in every school activity. He loved talking to the boys of Rhetoric and Poetry, and he was always surrounded by a group of disciples who listened to him with a mixture of awe and amusement as he expounded his political theories to audiences that were far more receptive - and tolerant – than his brethren. We knew what he thought of Churchill and Roosevelt, and I suppose we baited him occasionally, albeit very very carefully. The Higher Line debating society was one of his charges, and the motions were debated well in
advance; woe betide anyone who proposed a line of argument that was not in accordance with the party line; it was his party and so there was freedom of speech ... to agree.
When he had to take walks with the on playdays, he left a trail of stragglers scattered all over Kildare while he led a band of intellectuals, whose muscles were unaccustomed to such exercise, towards ever-receding horizons. When he reached what he was a reasonable goal, he would ask anyone who had kept up with him, “Has anyone any money?” No boys were allowed into shops, so he did the purchasing for the group, and distributed his load of sweets and biscuits and lemonade with a complete disregard for proportion in which the contributors had subscribed. He was against communism except in practice.
He was immensely strong and loved violent exercise. He organised a campaign of planting potatoes beside the Higher Line pavilion to provide food for the poor. Once again the less athletically-inclined disciples found themselves wielding spades and mattocks. Almost any ruse was used to slow down the rate of work and give sore muscles a rest. On one occasion he was challenged by the House shot-putter,who was also a Leinster champion, to a trial of strength. He would surely have won the encounter had not his challenger used a seven-pound shot while Gerry hurled the twelve-pounder truly impossible distances.
He planted thousands of saplings around the grounds, and constantly complained that he was denied the ration of chicken-wire that would have protected the young trees from the hares which abounded. As a result, every one of his 'striplings was eaten alive . . . the fate worse than death.
Schoolboys are fascinated by a man who is out of the ordinary, and in the Clongowes of the day, amid the proverbial caution and conformism of the other Jesuits, he was refreshing and outspoken. One of my clearest memories of those days was the way in which his confessional was besieged by the more criminally-inclined elements of boys that small world.
I lived with him in the Society and we became very close friends. Indeed, he inspired incredible loyalty among his real friends; it was all right for them to joke about him and quote his sayings: but let no one else do so or dare to mock him. When he was prefect of studies in the Crescent, there were hilarious meetings in his room when a gang of us tried to catch up with his paperwork for the Department, while he presided in state, puffing his pipe and discoursing on the the iniquities of whichever politician or gombeen-man, religious or secular, was being particularly iniquitous at the moment. Wherever he was, there was controversy, discussion, argument, denunciation, and life. He was a wonderful man.
I can see him now, standing at the vesting-press every morning for half an hour before Mass: he told me once, “It is the only way that I can be sure I make a meditation'. I remember also an occasion after a particularly pious “domestic exhortation” on prayer, when he muttered to me on his way out of the chapel: “I don't know what all the fuss is about; I say the Our Father’.” He was a wonderful man.
His sayings were innumerable and inimitable. Beware of imitations: they lack the genuine flavour ...
That man is digging his own epitaph ….
“I'll teach him to keep a civil tongue in his cheek , .. We'll certainly spill the beans for those fellows...”
He was immensely kind; he was totally dedicated to whatever work he was given; he was extraordinarily successful as a teacher, as a prefect of studies, as a missioner. He was unswervingly loyal to his friends. He was a most devoted priest. He was a wonderful man.

◆ The Clongownian, 1986
Obituary

Father Gerard O’Beirne SJ
Of Father O'Beirne's sixty-one years as a Jesuit, thirty-three were spent teaching in Clongowes. His love for Latin and Greek was deep and genuine. His prodigious memory helped him to remember every boy he ever taught in class: many of these he remained friendly with for life. Clongowes was his home and certainly his wish was to rest one day beside his old friends - Frs Cyril Power, Charles O'Conor, Tom O'Donnell, Jim Casey and Br Willie Glanville.

Those who were at school in the forties will recall vividly his work on the farm, his contribution to the war effort. Those who walked with him on Play Days during that same period will recall his lively conversation on all subjects; for his tastes were catholic indeed. While those who played golf with him, saw another side to his character, a side both human and loyal.

The trees beneath the Red House and the trees to the south-east of the cricket pavilion are a testimony to his vision as a young man. Having been blessed with brains to burn, Fr O'Beirne had a soft spot in his heart for boys with talent. Many saw him as direct, forceful, with strong views. Yet the boys took his remarks in their stride because they knew that he was an excellent teacher and an extremely hard worker, and had their interests at heart.

It would be true to say that Fr Gerry O'Beirne was considered a character. His life was enshrined in anecdotes. After all he was very human and had a heart of gold. His spiritual life was simple, straight forward and faithful. This aspect of his life was known mainly to his Jesuit Community. During the ten years spent on the Jesuit mission staff, giving retreats and missions up and down Ireland, he was helped by a strong voice with clear diction, sound judgment, and a very sympathetic approach to people and their problems. Towards the end of his life he devoted his time to the People's Church at Clongowes and, as one might expect, preached with vigour, never mincing his words and spoke with utter conviction on matters that he felt deeply about.

Being robust and energetic all his life, the last few years with deteriorating health were a great strain for him. Even the tiny white car had to remain idly parked for long periods outside the main hall door. He died so quietly, peacefully and so resigned that he earned his spiritual journey to the Lord. Many depart from a school like Clongowes and in time are forgotten. Fr O'Beirne's name, I feel certain, will be mentioned for along time to come, especially by his family whom he loved and also by many past Clongownians.

May the Lord bring him safely home.

KH SJ

62 Great Britain Street, Dublin