Born: 1618, Kilkenny City, County Kilkenny
Entered: 07 May 1646, St Andrea, Rome, Italy (ROM)
Ordained: ??
Died post 1670

Left Society of Jesus: 1658

◆ George Oliver Towards Illustrating the Biography of the Scotch, English and Irish Members SJ
BOURGOYNE, WILLIAM All that I discover of this Father is that he was born in 1618; that in 1640 he was teaching Grammar at Waterford, and that he deserved the character of “vir prudentiae vere Religiosae”.

◆ CATSJ A-H has Irish; DOB 1618 Ossory; Ent St Andrea Rome 07/05/1646 or Aug; RIP after 1653 (poss 18/01/1653)
Ordained before entry ?? having studied at Alcala; 1st Vows at Kilkenny 26/07/1648 - was accused of turpitude at Kilkenny!;
Read 4 years of Theology
1649 was in Waterford - Teacher, Confessor, Preacher and Missionary
Names mentioned in ANG Cat 1651 as one who might be Superior of Irish Seminary in Spain, being then in 4th year Theology at Alcala

◆ Fr Edmund Hogan SJ “Catalogica Chronologica” :
DOB 1618 Ossory; Ent 1646 Rome; RIP post 1650

1649 At Waterford; A very religious man; He had studied at Alcalá (cf Foley’s Collectanea)

In pen beside entry
Ent Rome, 25/07/1643; RIP c 1674 at Leghorn (ARSI)

◆ Calendar of MacErlean Transcipts Addenda Irishmen who entered Rome and Spain 1561-1772 (Finegan)
Father William Bergin 33 all theology
07 May 1646 Entered St Andrea Rome

◆ Francis Finegan SJ Biographical Dictionary 1598-1773
Son of William Bergin and Honora O’Connor, was born in Kilkenny and entered the Society at Rome, May 7, 1646 when he was already a priest. He had been educated at the Irish College in Rome.

He returned to Iereland after his Noviceship and was teaching in Waterford at the time of Father Verdier;s Visitation of the Mission, 1649.

Under the Cromwellian regime he was banished to Spain, 1652, but left the Society in the Province of Andalusia, 1658.

Afterwards, according to Father Stephen Rice, Father Bergin:-

 “came to Leghorn in Italy, where for many years he lived, known for his praiseworthy life and spending himself for the conversion of English heretics who came there to trade. He died there a few years ago”.

Father Roice wrote this in 1678.

◆ Henry Foley - Records of the English province of The Society of Jesus Vol VII
BERGIN, WILLIAM, Father (Irish), a native of Ossory, born ....; entered the Society 1646 in Rome, and was sent a novice to the Irish Mission, where he took bis vows as a scholastic in 1648. Made two years philosophy and four of scholastic theology. Knew Italian, Irish, English, and Latin Taught humanities for onc year; soon afterwards was a preacher, missioner, and confessor. (Irish Catalogue for 1650 in Archives, Rome.)

◆ Henry Foley - Records of the English province of The Society of Jesus Vol VII
BOURGOYNE, WILLIAM, Father (Irish), was born 1618. In 1649 he was teaching grammar at Waterford. A truly prudent and religious man. (Oliver, Irish Section, from Stonyhurst MSS.)

Born: Ireland
Entered: 20 June 1738, St Andrea, Rome, Italy - Romanae Province (ROM)
Ordained:, Rome - pre Entry
Died: 17 January 1741, Teramo, Italy - Romanae Province (ROM)

◆ Fr Francis Finegan SJ :
Edmund studied at the Irish College in Rome and was Ordained before Ent 20 June 1738 Rome
After First Vows he was sent to Leghorn (Livorno) and then Teramo to teach, and he died at Teramo 17 January 1741

Born: 20 May 1707, Maynooth, County Kildare
Entered: 07 March 1726, Genoa, Italy - Venetae Province (VEM)
Ordained: c 1735, Turin, Italy
Died: 30 March 1777, Maynooth, County Kildare

05 December 1725-18 December 1726 At Irish College in Rome and left for Novitiate

◆ Fr Edmund Hogan SJ “Catalogica Chronologica” :
Fifth son of Richard Kelly of Maynooth

1741 Came to Ireland
1752 A Curate in Dublin
1755-1777 PP of Maynooth and by the Pope’s permission is buried at Laragh Brian (Laraghbryan). This position had been forced on him by James FitzGerald, Earl and later Marquis of Kildare and Duke of Leinster, with the Catholic Archbishop of Dublin, who applied to Rome on the subject. He built a new house and chapel at Maynooth, with the approbation of the same nobleman. Reputedly an exemplary PP.

A Jesuit until the Suppression, and made a Retreat every year with his brethren up to his death (Father Bracken)
Reputed to be a man of learning and edification. (cf Foley’s Collectanea)
Had been twelve years as Socius to a Master of Novices in Italy

◆ Fr Francis Finegan SJ :
Son of Richard and Jane née Murphy
Early classical education at Dublin Jesuit School.
1728-1731 After First Vows sent to Milan for three years Philosophy
1731-1735 Sent to Turin for Theology where he was Ordained c 1735
1735-1740 Sent to Ajaccio, Corsica teaching, and then to Leghorn (Livorno)
1740-1741 Tertianship at Genoa
1741 Sent to Ireland and stationed at Maynooth, where he became eventually PP. At the suppression of the Society he was one of the signatories accepting that brief (07/02/1774), and then he was incardinated in Dublin diocese and died at Maynooth 30 March 1777. He was buried in Laraghbrien churchyard His sister later presented his Mass Vestments to Clongowes.

◆ James B Stephenson SJ Menologies 1973

Father Clement Kelly 1708-1777
Clement Kelly was the fifth of the six sons of Richard Kelly of Maynooth, and he was born there on November 20th 1708.
Having entered the Society at Milan in 1725, he returned to the Irish Mission in 1741. He worked as an assistant priest in St Michan’s in Dublin, until 1752. In that year he was appointed by the Archbishop of Dublin, Dr Linegar, as Parish Priest of Maynooth, on the strong recommendation of the Duke of Leinster. This appointment Fr Kelly resisted strongly, but was at last prevailed upon to accept it.
He was Parish Priest at Maynooth until his death in 1777, when he was buried at the family vault in Laragh Bryan. During his period of office he erected the Church and presbytery at Maynooth.

◆ George Oliver Towards Illustrating the Biography of the Scotch, English and Irish Members SJ
KELLY, CLEMENT, the fifth of six sons of Mr. Richard Kelly of Maynooth, was born on the 20th of November, 1708 : consecrated himself to God in the Society, within the Province of Milan, on the 13th of January, 1725, and came to the Irish Mission in 1741 . In the Catalogue of 1752 he is reported to be an assistant to a Parish Priest in the Diocese of Dublin; and in the Catalogue of 1755, he is described to be the actual Parish Priest of the place. The truth is, when the Incumbent of Maynooth died, F. Kelly’s younger brother solicited the influence of James, Earl of Kildare (afterwards created Marquess of Kildare, and Duke of Leinster) with Dr. John Linegar, Archbishop of Dublin, who with the consent of Rome, duly appointed this unpretending Jesuit to hold that Parish. This good Religious was much displeased with his brother’s interference, so contrary to all regulated custom, and declined the proffered charge; but was ultimately prevailed on to accept the preferment, and he continued to hold it until his pious death in 1777. His remains were deposited in the family burial ground at Laragh Bryan. With the approbation of the aforesaid nobleman, F. Kelly erected a new house and Chapel at Maynooth. By all accounts he was not distinguished as a Preacher; but he had the reputation of superior learning, and was exemplary in the faithful performance of every pastoral duty.

◆ Fr Joseph McDonnell SJ Past and Present Notes :
16th February 1811 At the advance ages of 73, Father Betagh, PP of the St Michael Rosemary Lane Parish Dublin, Vicar General of the Dublin Archdiocese died. His death was looked upon as almost a national calamity. Shops and businesses were closed on the day of his funeral. His name and qualities were on the lips of everyone. He was an ex-Jesuit, the link between the Old and New Society in Ireland.

Among his many works was the foundation of two schools for boys : one a Classical school in Sall’s Court, the other a Night School in Skinner’s Row. One pupil received particular care - Peter Kenney - as he believed there might be great things to come from him in the future. “I have not long to be with you, but never fear, I’m rearing up a cock that will crow louder and sweeter for yopu than I ever did” he told his parishioners. Peter Kenney was to be “founder” of the restored Society in Ireland.

There were seventeen Jesuits in Ireland at the Suppression : John Ward, Clement Kelly, Edward Keating, John St Leger, Nicholas Barron, John Austin, Peter Berrill, James Moroney, Michael Cawood, Michael Fitzgerald, John Fullam, Paul Power, John Barron, Joseph O’Halloran, James Mulcaile, Richard O’Callaghan and Thomas Betagh. These men believed in the future restoration, and they husbanded their resources and succeeded in handing down to their successors a considerable sum of money, which had been saved by them.

A letter from the Acting General Father Thaddeus Brezozowski, dated St Petersburg 14/06/1806 was addressed to the only two survivors, Betagh and O’Callaghan. He thanked them for their work and their union with those in Russia, and suggested that the restoration was close at hand.

A letter from Nicholas Sewell, dated Stonyhurst 07/07/1809 to Betagh gives details of Irishmen being sent to Sicily for studies : Bartholomew Esmonde, Paul Ferley, Charles Aylmer, Robert St Leger, Edmund Cogan and James Butler. Peter Kenney and Matthew Gahan had preceded them. These were the foundation stones of the Restored Society.

Returning to Ireland, Kenney, Gahan and John Ryan took residence at No3 George’s Hill. Two years later, with the monies saved for them, Kenney bought Clongowes as a College for boys and a House of Studies for Jesuits. From a diary fragment of Aylmer, we learn that Kenney was Superior of the Irish Mission and Prefect of Studies, Aylmer was Minister, Claude Jautard, a survivor of the old Society in France was Spiritual Father, Butler was Professor of Moral and Dogmatic Theology, Ferley was professor of Logic and Metaphysics, Esmonde was Superior of Scholastics and they were joined by St Leger and William Dinan. Gahan was described as a Missioner at Francis St Dublin and Confessor to the Poor Clares and irish Sisters of Charity at Harold’s Cross and Summerhill. Ryan was a Missioner in St Paul’s, Arran Quay, Dublin. Among the Scholastics, Brothers and Masters were : Brothers Fraser, Levins, Connor, Bracken, Sherlock, Moran, Mullen and McGlade.

Trouble was not long coming. Protestants were upset that the Jesuits were in Ireland and sent a petition was sent to Parliament, suggesting that the Vow of Obedience to the Pope meant they could not have an Oath of Allegiance to the King. In addition, the expulsion of Jesuits from all of Europe had been a good thing. Kenney’s influence and diplomatic skills resulted in gaining support from Protestants in the locality of Clongowes, and a counter petition was presented by the Duke of Leinster on behalf of the Jesuits. This moment passed, but anto Jesuit feelings were mounting, such as in the Orange faction, and they managed to get an enquiry into the Jesuits and Peter Kenney and they appeared before the Irish Chief Secretary and Provy Council. Peter Kenney’s persuasive and oratorical skills won the day and the enquiry group said they were satisfied and impressed.

Over the years the Mission grew into a Province with Joseph Lentaigne as first Provincial in 1860. In 1885 the first outward undertaking was the setting up of an Irish Mission to Australia by Lentaigne and William Kelly, and this Mission grew exponentially from very humble beginnings.

Later the performance of the Jesuits in managing UCD with little or no money, and then outperforming what were known as the “Queen’s Colleges” forced the issue of injustice against Catholics in Ireland in the matter of University education. It is William Delaney who headed up the effort and create the National University of Ireland under endowment from the Government.from the Government.

Born: 20 September 1663, Dublin City, County Dublin
Entered: 20 June 1691, St Andrea, Rome, Italy - Romanae Province (ROM)
Ordained:, Irish College Rome, Italy - pre Entry
Final Vows: 15 August 1701
Died: 01 March 1739, Leghorn (Livorno), Italy - Romanae Province (ROM)

1693 At Fabriano College (ROM)
1696-1700 At Citta di Castello College, Spain CAST
1705 At Citta di Castello College, Spain CAST
1711-1739 at Leghorn (Livorno) aptitude for teaching and for Superior
1720 Rector at Leghorn
Luttrell, Francis Hard, Eustace, Teeling and Thaly are mentioned in ARCH Irish College Rome XXI part 2

◆ Fr Francis Finegan SJ :
Had previously studied Irish College Rome and was Ordained there before Ent 20 June 1691 Rome
1691-1697 Teaching Humanities at Fabriano
1697-1708 Chair of Moral Theology at Citta di Castello
1708-1716 Chair of Moral Theology at Leghorn (Livorno)
1716-1720 and 1730-1732 Rector at Leghorn (Livorno) - 2nd period was as Vice-Rector - During his time there he worked zealously amongst the English-speaking sailors and traders who visited the port while he made many converts amongst their Protestant countrymen.
He received many invitations to join the Irish Mission but his Superiors decided that his success at Leghorn was the best reason for his remaining at his post and so he died there 01 March 1739
According to his obit the entire city mourned his passing.

Born: 09 April 1747, Cornmarket, Dublin, County Dublin
Entered: 11 December 1764, San Andrea, Rome, Italy - Romanae Province (ROM)
Ordained: c 1778
Died c 1808, Leghorn (Livorno), Italy

Left Society of Jesus: 1773 Suppression of Society

In Chronological Catalogue Sheet as Ent c 1762
In Chronological Catalogue Sheet as Ent 11/12/1764

◆ Old/15 (1) has Ent 1762
Old/15 (1) has 2 names later “James Connell” Ent 11/12/1764 RIP after 1772

◆ Old/16 has : “James O’Connell”; Ent c 1762; RIP prob 1808

◆ Old/17 has “Conell” Ent 11/12/1764 St Andrea

◆ CATSJ A-H has “Conell”; An Irishman; Ent 11 /12/1764 St Andrea;
1772 was in Rome 16/11/1772 (Irish College Rome Archives)
and

◆ CATSJ I-Y has has “O’Connell”; DOB 09/04/1747 Dublin; Ent 10/12/1764;
Studied 2 years Rehtoric and 2 Philosophy
1770 In Roman College
1773 In Roman College teaching Grammar. 1st year as Master. Was a Catechist in the Church and “Prieses Sodalert Primo”

◆ Fr Edmund Hogan SJ “Catalogica Chronologica” :
Three Entries

O’Connell or Connell

DOB 09/04/1747; Ent c 1762 or 10/12/1764 Rome;

In Italy from c 1765. In a list of Professors at the Roman College he appears to be Professor there 1771-1773, wth the name given as O’Conell. Taught Grammar and was a Catechist. (ROM CAT 1772)

Father Thorpe, who knew him well says “Father Connell of the Roman College possesses excellent talents. He was Master of Humanities. He is now (1785) Secretary to Rinnuccini (later Cardinal), who duing several years has treated him with singular courtesy. He has serious thoughts of offering himself to the English Mission among his brethern”. This he did not do, being in Rome at the time of Father Thorpe’s death. (Oliver, Stonyhurst MSS)

1792 In Rome
1803 At Leghorn with his confrère Peter Plunket (cf Foley’s Collectanea)

In 1806 Father Strickland writes that Father O’Connell is perhaps dead.

◆ MacErlean Cat Miss HIB SJ 1670-1770
1767 ROM Cat
Novitiate Rome
“Jacobus Oconnell”
Born 09/04/1747 Dublin
Entered 10/12/1764
Novice

1770 ROM Cat
Collegiuium Romanum
“Jacobus Oconnell”
Born 09/04/1747 Dublin
Entered 10/12/1764
Studied Rhetoric 2, Philosophy 3

◆ Calendar of MacErlean Transcipts Addenda Irishmen who entered Rome and Spain 1561-1772 (Finegan)
James Conell
11 December 1764 Entered St Andrea Rome

◆ George Oliver Towards Illustrating the Biography of the Scotch, English and Irish Members SJ
CONNELL, JAMES. From his own letter of the 22nd of May, 1792, I collect that this Irish Father “had for the last 27 years been in Italy”. F. Thorpe, who knew him well at Rome, and was fully competent to judge, says “F. Council, of the Roman Province, possesses excellent talents. He was Master of Humanities in the Roman College; and is now (1785) Chaplain and Secretary to the Prelate Rinuccini (afterwards Cardinal), who, during several years, has treated him with singular courtesy : he has serious thoughts of offering himself to the English Mission amongst our Brethren”. These thoughts however were abandoned : he was at Rome at the death of his friend, F. Thorpe, on the 12th of April, 1792. Eleven years later I find him at Leghorn.

◆ Henry Foley - Records of the English province of The Society of Jesus Vol VII
CONNELL, JAMES, Father (Irish), was of the Roman Province. He appears there as early as 1765. Father John Thorpe, the English agent at the Gesù, says (1785): "Father Connell, of the Roman Province, possesses excellent talents. He was teacher of humanities in the Roman College, and is now chaplain and secretary to the Prelate Rinnucini (afterwards Cardinal), who during several years has treated himn with singular courtesy. He has serious thoughts of offering himself to the English Mission among his brethren." This he did not do, being still in Rome, April 12, 1792, the date of Father Thorpe's death, and in 1803 he appears at Leghorn. (Oliver, from Stonyhurst Papers.)

◆ Henry Foley - Records of the English province of The Society of Jesus Vol VII - Appendix
CONNELL, JAMES, O', Father (Collectanea, p. 157), was born April 9, 1747 ; entered the Society in Rome, December 1o, 1764 ; in 1772 he was teaching the third class of grammar. He was also Catechist and Prefect of the Sodality in the Roman College. (Catalogue of Roman Province, 1772.)

◆ Francis Finegan SJ Biographical Dictionary 1598-1773
He was son of William Connell, At the Sign of the White Cross, Cornmarket, was born April 9, 1747, and he entered the Society at Rome, December 10, 1764.

On the completion of his Noviceship, he studied Philosophy at the Roman College, 1768-1771, and for the next two years, until the Suppression of the Society, taught Humanities at the same College.

He was secularised at the Suppression, but continued his studies for the priesthood, and was eventually ordained Priest.

In 1785 he was Chaplain and Secretary to the future Cardinal Rinuccini, and remained in Rome until the following decade. he was living at Leghorn in 1803, with Father Peter Plunket, also an ex-Jesuit.

There is no record of the date or place of his death, but he was presumed to be dead in 1808.

An interesting letter of his of January 25, 1766 is in the archives at George’s Hill Convent, Dublin. In it the young O’Connell recommends to his father the devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and recount the miraculous cure of a fellow-Novice at Sant Andrea.

He spelt his father’s surname “Connell”, although his own surname in the Roman Catalogi is given as Oconnell.

◆ Interfuse No 34 : September 1984
PORTRAIT FROM THE PAST : RICHARD O’CALLAGHAN

Roland Burke Savage

A finely-researched article on Father Richard Callaghan (1728 1807), a man described as one of the langely forgotten links between the original & the restored Society of Jesus in Ireland

In an earlier undated letter Concannon expressed amazement at the obstinacy of the old ex-Jesuit Callaghan. Dr Carpenter was too indulgent. Callaghan will now be pleased that the Society survives in the persons of the Abbé O'Connell and the Abbé Plunkett, both ex-Jesuits.

The next move is a letter from Propaganda to Archbishop Troy, dated 23 January 1808, stating that a letter is being sent to Stone about all the ex-Jesuit funds: the Arcbbishop is to forward to Rome all documents relevant to the same. Under the date 5 May 1808. We have a draft reply in which Plowden (the English Master of novices) makes two points succinotly: (1) three former Irish Jesuits are still alive: Fr. Betagh (Dublin), Peter Plunkett (Leghorn) and James Connell (Rome); (2) does the Archbishop wish “to invoke the spiritual power to invalidate the will of a British subject?” This last point is a reference to the statute of Praenunire. There is no evidence in the Dublin diocesan archives of a letter based on Plowden's draft. There is a letter from Concannon, dated 8 October 1808, upbraiding Troy for giving up the Callaghan affair and urging him to take the matter up again with Di Pietro.

Born: 29 June 1740, Dublin City, County Dublin
Entered: 17 September 1759, St Andrea, Rome, Italy - Romanae Province (ROM)
Ordained: 1771, Rome, Italy
Died: 01 June 1810, Leghorn (Livorno) Italy - Romanae Province (ROM)

Studied 3 years Philosophy and 3 Theology
1770 At Roman College in 4th year Theology
1772 At Livorno College Operarius
“I stayed at Leghorn..... visited Mt Plunkett, ex-Jesuit now Prof of Moral Divinity in the public school of Leghorn” (Dr Troy’s Diary, 17 April 1777)
Fr P Plunkett was visited by Fr Glover in May 1810 (Glover’s letter to Fr Aylmer)

◆ Fr Edmund Hogan SJ “Catalogica Chronologica” :
Aggregated to the Roman Province
After 1773 he lived chiefly at Leghorn (Livorno), and for some time was a Professor of Moral and Controversy. He died there post 1810 (Oliver, Stonyhurst MSS; Hogan’s List)
1777 Dr Troy, in his Diary 16/04/1777, says “I visited Mr Plunkett, ex-Jesuit, now Professor of Moral Divinity in the Public School of Leghorn”.
1780 “Suffering from asthma and other infirmities” (Letter of Father Thorpe)
1810 Father Glover, in a letter to Father Aylmer reports him as “still labouring in the vineyard”
He kept up a constant correspondence with his former brethren in Ireland.

◆ Fr Francis Finegan SJ :
1759-1763 After First Vows he remained in Rome for a year of study in Rhetoric.
1763-1766 He was sent to the Roman College for Philosophy
1766-1767 Sent to Perugia for Regency
1767-1771 Returned to the Roman College for Theology and was Ordained there 1771
1771 Sent to Leghorn (Livorno) as Operarius at the Church
1773 At the Suppression of the Society he was incardinated at Leghorn and appointed to teach Moral Theology at the Diocesan Seminary.
It is unclear if he was reaffiliated to the Society at restoration in the two Sicilies, but he died at Leghorn (Livorno) 1810

◆ George Oliver Towards Illustrating the Biography of the Scotch, English and Irish Members SJ
PLUNKET, PETER, born in Ireland : after finishing all his scholastic studies with reputation, he was aggregated to the Roman province, and was involved in the general destruction of the Society in 1773. In a letter of F. John Thorpe dated Rome 7th July, 1780, I read “that from the fatal period of the suppression F. Plunkett had always resided in Tuscany, and chiefly at Leghorn, where he is now a valetudinarian, under an asthma and other infirmities. For some time he was Professor of Controversy and Morals in a chair established at Leghorn by the Grand Duke. To the surprise of his friends the venerable Father was still living at Leghorn in the Spring of 1804. There he died.

Born: 03 May 1736, Clonmel, County Tipperary
Entered: 07 September 1754, Watten, Belgium - Angliae Province (ANG)
Ordained: 1761
Final Vows: 02 February 1772
Died: 01 March 1779, France - Angliae Province (ANG)

Son of Thomas
Younger brother of James RIP 1788

1757 was in 1st Philosophy at Liège
“An ex-Jesuit ‘Power’ was Professor of Moral Theology at Leghorn in 1777” (Dr Troy’s Diary)

◆ Fr Edmund Hogan SJ “Catalogica Chronologica” :
Son of Thomas Power, MD at Clonmel and Tallow, who also had property near Avignon. His uncle, Canon James Power was Chaplain to the French Ambassador in Rome. His brothers Peter and John were in the Irish Brigade. His brother Francis was the first vice-President of Maynooth, and his first cousin was Archbishop Bray of Cashel. (Cf Dr Troy’s Diary)
Probably younger brother of James Power RIP 1788 ???

◆ George Oliver Towards Illustrating the Biography of the Scotch, English and Irish Members SJ
POWER, EDMUND, was born on the 3rd of May, 1734, (another catalogue incorrectly says 1736) and entered the Novitiate at Watten on the 7th of September, 1754. For several years he served the Mission in England. His letter now before me, dated Weston, March 14th, 1769, proves, that he had then been Chaplain there at the very least two years, and that he was, with the permission of his Provincial, F. Elliott, preparing to visit his Father in Ireland. He died in France March, 1779.