Edmund O'Reilly (archbishop)
Encyclopedia
Edmund O'Reilly was a Roman Catholic Archbishop of Armagh.
(Ms 23 F 11, pp. 32–47 & Ms 23 F 12, p. 31). He was a descendant of the O'Raghallaigh chiefs of East Breifne and was born in Dublin in 1619. Edmund was educated in Dublin and ordained there in 1629. After ordination he studied at the Catholic University of Leuven
, where he held the position of prefect of the college of Irish Secular Ecclesiastics. In 1640 he returned to Dublin and was appointed vicar-general. In 1642 the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Dublin, Thomas Fleming
, having been appointed on the Supreme Council of the Confederate Catholics, transferred his residence to Kilkenny
and until 1648 O'Reilly administered the Archdiocese of Dublin.
With the triumph of the Puritans he was imprisoned and his deposition was taken on the 8th e 1652.
In 1653, ordered to quit the kingdom, he took refuge at the Irish College of Lisle where he was notified of his appointment to the See of Armagh, and shortly after consecrated at Brussels
. Ireland was then a dangerous place for ecclesiastics, and not until 1658 did he attempt to visit his diocese; even then he could proceed no further than London.
Ordered to quit the kingdom, he returned to France, but in the following year went to Ireland, this time directly from France, and for the next two years exercised his ministry. Accused of favouring the Puritans and of being an enemy of the Stuarts, he was ordered by the pope to quit Ireland.
At Rome he was able to vindicate himself, but he was not allowed to return to Ireland by the English authorities until 1665, and then only in the hope that he would favour the Remonstrance of Peter Valesius Walsh. O'Reilly, like the great majority of the Irish bishops and priests, rejected it, nor could the entreaties of Walsh or the threats of James Butler, 1st Duke of Ormonde
change him. In consequence he was imprisoned by Ormonde, and when released, driven from the kingdom.
He spent the remaining years of his life in France, chiefly concerned with the care of the Irish colleges there. He died at Saumur
, France on the 17th March 1669 and was buried in the Church of Notre Dame des Ardilliers at Saumur.
Biography
His father was Gearoid O'Reilly. Edmund's pedigree is preserved in the Royal Irish AcademyRoyal Irish Academy
The Royal Irish Academy , based in Dublin, is an all-Ireland, independent, academic body that promotes study and excellence in the sciences, humanities and social sciences. It is one of Ireland's premier learned societies and cultural institutions and currently has around 420 Members, elected in...
(Ms 23 F 11, pp. 32–47 & Ms 23 F 12, p. 31). He was a descendant of the O'Raghallaigh chiefs of East Breifne and was born in Dublin in 1619. Edmund was educated in Dublin and ordained there in 1629. After ordination he studied at the Catholic University of Leuven
Catholic University of Leuven
The Catholic University of Leuven, or of Louvain, was the largest, oldest and most prominent university in Belgium. The university was founded in 1425 as the University of Leuven by John IV, Duke of Brabant and approved by a Papal bull by Pope Martin V.During France's occupation of Belgium in the...
, where he held the position of prefect of the college of Irish Secular Ecclesiastics. In 1640 he returned to Dublin and was appointed vicar-general. In 1642 the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Dublin, Thomas Fleming
Thomas Fleming (archbishop)
Thomas Fleming was an Irish Franciscan and Roman Catholic Archbishop of Dublin.He was son of the Baron of Slane. He studied at the Franciscan College of Leuven, became a priest of the Franciscan Order, and after finishing his studies continued at the Catholic University of Leuven for a number of...
, having been appointed on the Supreme Council of the Confederate Catholics, transferred his residence to Kilkenny
Kilkenny
Kilkenny is a city and is the county town of the eponymous County Kilkenny in Ireland. It is situated on both banks of the River Nore in the province of Leinster, in the south-east of Ireland...
and until 1648 O'Reilly administered the Archdiocese of Dublin.
With the triumph of the Puritans he was imprisoned and his deposition was taken on the 8th e 1652.
In 1653, ordered to quit the kingdom, he took refuge at the Irish College of Lisle where he was notified of his appointment to the See of Armagh, and shortly after consecrated at Brussels
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
. Ireland was then a dangerous place for ecclesiastics, and not until 1658 did he attempt to visit his diocese; even then he could proceed no further than London.
Ordered to quit the kingdom, he returned to France, but in the following year went to Ireland, this time directly from France, and for the next two years exercised his ministry. Accused of favouring the Puritans and of being an enemy of the Stuarts, he was ordered by the pope to quit Ireland.
At Rome he was able to vindicate himself, but he was not allowed to return to Ireland by the English authorities until 1665, and then only in the hope that he would favour the Remonstrance of Peter Valesius Walsh. O'Reilly, like the great majority of the Irish bishops and priests, rejected it, nor could the entreaties of Walsh or the threats of James Butler, 1st Duke of Ormonde
James Butler, 1st Duke of Ormonde
James Butler, 1st Duke of Ormonde PC was an Irish statesman and soldier. He was the second of the Kilcash branch of the family to inherit the earldom. He was the friend of Thomas Wentworth, 1st Earl of Strafford, who appointeed him commander of the Cavalier forces in Ireland. From 1641 to 1647, he...
change him. In consequence he was imprisoned by Ormonde, and when released, driven from the kingdom.
He spent the remaining years of his life in France, chiefly concerned with the care of the Irish colleges there. He died at Saumur
Saumur
Saumur is a commune in the Maine-et-Loire department in western France.The historic town is located between the Loire and Thouet rivers, and is surrounded by the vineyards of Saumur itself, Chinon, Bourgueil, Coteaux du Layon, etc...
, France on the 17th March 1669 and was buried in the Church of Notre Dame des Ardilliers at Saumur.