Colm Kiernan
Encyclopedia
Colm Padraic Kiernan (24 November 1931 – 27 March 2010) was an historian and writer.
, Australia. There began a long and successful career as an academic and researcher in both European and Australian History, which encompassed his writing of two volumes of Science and the Enlightenment of 18th Century France, the biographies of Arthur Calwell
and Archbishop Daniel Mannix, and his last book, Australia and Ireland – Bicentenary Essays 1788-1988.
. He received a classical education at boarding school in Clongowes, Ireland, the school which James Joyce describes in his writing “A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man”. During this time, his father was posted to be the Irish Ambassador to the Vatican and his family was presented to the Pope. It was a grand occasion, and his parents and three sisters were photographed for the local newspapers. Kiernan used to say the only thing he remembered from that occasion was that he was allowed to play on the Pope’s golden telephone. He was a strong believer in Catholicism, and having been educated by the Jesuits, he understood the Church laws and decrees. His faith was more an intellectual spiritual belief than a practical religiosity, but it was a very deep commitment from which he never wavered. He used to say that in boarding school he had attended enough Masses to last him the rest of his life.
When he was the Irish Ambassador to the United States, T. J. Kiernan recited this poem to the parents of John F. Kennedy, Jr.
soon after he was born in 1960. It was recited again by Senator Ted Kennedy
to mark the death of John Jr. in 1999.
. After completing his BA and MA at the University of Melbourne
, he married Joan Louise McKay (1935–1992) on 24 August 1954, at St Christopher’s Church in Manuka, A.C.T. They traveled to Cambridge
, England, where Kiernan converted his degrees to a BA, MA (Cantab). Their first child was born in Cambridge, their second in Dublin, Ireland, and the third in Wollongong. Kiernan was the first PhD completion in the Arts Faculty for the University of New South Wales
, Kensington.
While appointed Professor of Australian History at University College Dublin
in Ireland, Kiernan researched the Irish background of many Australian political and historical figures including Henry Handel Richardson
and Peter Lalor
. He was well versed in Irish, Gaelic, Celtic, Latin, and old English and could translate many very difficult texts including those written by the Bronte sisters, also of Irish descent, particularly Charlotte, who wrote in a mixture of Gaelic and old English.
He spoke fluent Italian, Spanish, and French, loved language, literature, and poetry, and was passionate about all things Irish Australian. He married Susan Margaret Mayer, his second wife, on 11 June 1994, and they had a son together. Kiernan is survived by Susan, his four children and nine grandchildren.
Historian
In 1964 Colm Kiernan was appointed foundation Lecturer in History at the University of WollongongUniversity of Wollongong
The University of Wollongong is a public university located in the coastal city of Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia, approximately 80 kilometres south of Sydney...
, Australia. There began a long and successful career as an academic and researcher in both European and Australian History, which encompassed his writing of two volumes of Science and the Enlightenment of 18th Century France, the biographies of Arthur Calwell
Arthur Calwell
Arthur Augustus Calwell Australian politician, was a member of the Australian House of Representatives for 32 years from 1940 to 1972, Immigration Minister in the government of Ben Chifley from 1945 to 1949 and Leader of the Australian Labor Party from 1960 to 1967.-Early life:Calwell was born in...
and Archbishop Daniel Mannix, and his last book, Australia and Ireland – Bicentenary Essays 1788-1988.
Irish background
Kiernan was the only son of Dr Thomas Joseph Kiernan, Irish diplomat and academic, and the Irish ballad singer Delia MurphyDelia Murphy
Delia Murphy was a singer and collector of Irish ballads. Her notable voice gave her the nickname the "Queen of Connemara".-Early life:...
. He received a classical education at boarding school in Clongowes, Ireland, the school which James Joyce describes in his writing “A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man”. During this time, his father was posted to be the Irish Ambassador to the Vatican and his family was presented to the Pope. It was a grand occasion, and his parents and three sisters were photographed for the local newspapers. Kiernan used to say the only thing he remembered from that occasion was that he was allowed to play on the Pope’s golden telephone. He was a strong believer in Catholicism, and having been educated by the Jesuits, he understood the Church laws and decrees. His faith was more an intellectual spiritual belief than a practical religiosity, but it was a very deep commitment from which he never wavered. He used to say that in boarding school he had attended enough Masses to last him the rest of his life.
Poem
The Irish poet Daniel Kelleher wrote this poem for Colm Kiernan to mark his christening. It was read at his funeral.
- For CK at his Christening
- We wish to the new child,
- A heart that can be beguiled,
- By a flower,
- That the wind lifts,
- As it passes.
- If the storms break for him,
- May the trees shake for him,
- Their blossoms down.
- In the night that he is troubled,
- May a friend wake for him,
- So that his time be doubled,
- And at the end of all loving and love
- May the Man above,
- Give him a crown.
When he was the Irish Ambassador to the United States, T. J. Kiernan recited this poem to the parents of John F. Kennedy, Jr.
John F. Kennedy, Jr.
John Fitzgerald Kennedy, Jr. , often referred to as John F. Kennedy, Jr., JFK Jr., John Jr. or John-John, was an American socialite, magazine publisher, lawyer, and pilot. The elder son of U.S. President John F...
soon after he was born in 1960. It was recited again by Senator Ted Kennedy
Ted Kennedy
Edward Moore "Ted" Kennedy was a United States Senator from Massachusetts and a member of the Democratic Party. Serving almost 47 years, he was the second most senior member of the Senate when he died and is the fourth-longest-serving senator in United States history...
to mark the death of John Jr. in 1999.
Irish Australian
When his father was appointed as the first Irish Ambassador to Australia, in 1946, Kiernan finished his schooling at St Patrick's College, GoulburnSt Patrick's College, Goulburn
St Patrick's College, Goulburn was an independent, Roman Catholic, day and boarding school for boys located in Goulburn, New South Wales, Australia. It was one of the earliest schools established by the Christian Brothers in Australia. It is also a school which has a significant Rugby Union...
. After completing his BA and MA at the University of Melbourne
University of Melbourne
The University of Melbourne is a public university located in Melbourne, Victoria. Founded in 1853, it is the second oldest university in Australia and the oldest in Victoria...
, he married Joan Louise McKay (1935–1992) on 24 August 1954, at St Christopher’s Church in Manuka, A.C.T. They traveled to Cambridge
Cambridge
The city of Cambridge is a university town and the administrative centre of the county of Cambridgeshire, England. It lies in East Anglia about north of London. Cambridge is at the heart of the high-technology centre known as Silicon Fen – a play on Silicon Valley and the fens surrounding the...
, England, where Kiernan converted his degrees to a BA, MA (Cantab). Their first child was born in Cambridge, their second in Dublin, Ireland, and the third in Wollongong. Kiernan was the first PhD completion in the Arts Faculty for the University of New South Wales
University of New South Wales
The University of New South Wales , is a research-focused university based in Kensington, a suburb in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia...
, Kensington.
While appointed Professor of Australian History at University College Dublin
University College Dublin
University College Dublin ) - formally known as University College Dublin - National University of Ireland, Dublin is the Republic of Ireland's largest, and Ireland's second largest, university, with over 1,300 faculty and 17,000 students...
in Ireland, Kiernan researched the Irish background of many Australian political and historical figures including Henry Handel Richardson
Henry Handel Richardson
Henry Handel Richardson, the pseudonym used by Ethel Florence Lindesay Richardson, was an Australian author. She took the name "Henry Handel" because at that time, many people did not take women's writing seriously, so she used a male name...
and Peter Lalor
Peter Lalor
Peter Fintan Lalor was an activist turned politician who rose to fame for his leading role in the Eureka Rebellion, an event controversially identified with the "birth of democracy" in Australia.- Early life and migration to Australia :...
. He was well versed in Irish, Gaelic, Celtic, Latin, and old English and could translate many very difficult texts including those written by the Bronte sisters, also of Irish descent, particularly Charlotte, who wrote in a mixture of Gaelic and old English.
He spoke fluent Italian, Spanish, and French, loved language, literature, and poetry, and was passionate about all things Irish Australian. He married Susan Margaret Mayer, his second wife, on 11 June 1994, and they had a son together. Kiernan is survived by Susan, his four children and nine grandchildren.
External links
- Obituary in The Sydney Morning HeraldThe Sydney Morning HeraldThe Sydney Morning Herald is a daily broadsheet newspaper published by Fairfax Media in Sydney, Australia. Founded in 1831 as the Sydney Herald, the SMH is the oldest continuously published newspaper in Australia. The newspaper is published six days a week. The newspaper's Sunday counterpart, The...
- Obituary in The Irish TimesThe Irish TimesThe Irish Times is an Irish daily broadsheet newspaper launched on 29 March 1859. The editor is Kevin O'Sullivan who succeeded Geraldine Kennedy in 2011; the deputy editor is Paul O'Neill. The Irish Times is considered to be Ireland's newspaper of record, and is published every day except Sundays...