Patrick O'Hely
Encyclopedia
Patrick O'Hely (died August 31, 1579) was an Irish Roman Catholic bishop of Mayo, Ireland, who was executed by the English secular authorities.
in 1579. Born in Dromahair
, County Leitrim
, and a native of Connaught
, he joined the Franciscans at an early age. Four years after his profession he was sent to the Spanish University of Alcalá
, where he surpassed his contemporaries in sacred studies.
Summoned to Rome, he was promoted in 1576 to the bishopric of Mayo, later merged in the archbishopric of Tuam
. Pope Gregory XIII empowered him to officiate in adjoining dioceses, if no Catholic bishop were at hand, and supplied him generously with money. At Paris he took part in public disputations at the Sorbonne
university, amazing his hearers by his mastery of patristic and controversial theology, as well as of Scotist philosophy.
In autumn, 1579, he sailed from Brittany
and arrived off the coast of Kerry
after James Fitzmaurice
had landed at Smerwick from Portugal with the remnant of Thomas Stukeley's expedition. All Munster
was then in arms. The House of Desmond was divided, and the politic earl had withdrawn from the scene of action. The bishop and his companion, Conn O'Rourke, a Franciscan priest, son of Brian, Lord of Breifne, came ashore near Askeaton
and sought hospitality at the castle where, in the earl's absence, his countess entertained them. Next day they departed for Limerick
; but the countess, probably so instructed, for the earl
claimed the merit afterwards, gave information to the Mayor
of Limerick, who three days later seized the two ecclesiastics and sent them to Kilmallock
, where Lord Justice William Drury
then was with an army. As president of Munster, Drury had taken severe measures, in one year executing four hundred persons "by justice and martial law
"; some he sentenced "by natural law
, for that he found no law to try them by in the realm". At first he offered to secure O'Hely his see if he would acknowledge the royal supremacy and disclose his business. The bishop replied that he could not barter his faith for life or honours; his business was to do a bishop's part in advancing religion and saving souls. To questions about the plans of the pope and King Philip II of Spain
for invading Ireland he made no answer, and thereupon was delivered to torture. As he still remained silent, he and O'Rourke were sent to instant execution by martial law. The execution took place outside one of the gates of Kilmallock.
On September 27, 1992, Pope John Paul II
beatified O'Healy alongside 16 other Irish Catholic Martyrs.
Biography
He died at KilmallockKilmallock
Kilmallock or Kilmalloc is a town in south County Limerick, Ireland, near the border with County Cork. There is a Dominican Priory in the town and King's Castle . The remains of medieval walls which encircled the settlement are still visible. The Dublin–Cork railway line passes by the town,...
in 1579. Born in Dromahair
Dromahair
Dromahair is a small village in County Leitrim, Ireland. Dromahair is 10 km from Manorhamilton and 17 km from Sligo town.-Geography:Dromahair lies in the hilly north west of Leitrim amid some stunning unspoiled natural landscapes...
, County Leitrim
County Leitrim
County Leitrim is a county in Ireland. It is located in the West Region and is also part of the province of Connacht. It is named after the village of Leitrim. Leitrim County Council is the local authority for the county...
, and a native of Connaught
Connacht
Connacht , formerly anglicised as Connaught, is one of the Provinces of Ireland situated in the west of Ireland. In Ancient Ireland, it was one of the fifths ruled by a "king of over-kings" . Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the ancient kingdoms were shired into a number of counties for...
, he joined the Franciscans at an early age. Four years after his profession he was sent to the Spanish University of Alcalá
University of Alcalá
The University of Alcalá is a public university located in Alcalá de Henares, a city 35 km northeast of Madrid in Spain. Founded in 1499, it was moved in 1836 to Madrid. In 1977, the University was reopened in its same historical buildings...
, where he surpassed his contemporaries in sacred studies.
Summoned to Rome, he was promoted in 1576 to the bishopric of Mayo, later merged in the archbishopric of Tuam
Archbishopric of Tuam
Archbishopric of Tuam may refer to* The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Tuam* The former Church of Ireland Archbishopric of Tuam...
. Pope Gregory XIII empowered him to officiate in adjoining dioceses, if no Catholic bishop were at hand, and supplied him generously with money. At Paris he took part in public disputations at the Sorbonne
Sorbonne
The Sorbonne is an edifice of the Latin Quarter, in Paris, France, which has been the historical house of the former University of Paris...
university, amazing his hearers by his mastery of patristic and controversial theology, as well as of Scotist philosophy.
In autumn, 1579, he sailed from Brittany
Brittany
Brittany is a cultural and administrative region in the north-west of France. Previously a kingdom and then a duchy, Brittany was united to the Kingdom of France in 1532 as a province. Brittany has also been referred to as Less, Lesser or Little Britain...
and arrived off the coast of Kerry
County Kerry
Kerry means the "people of Ciar" which was the name of the pre-Gaelic tribe who lived in part of the present county. The legendary founder of the tribe was Ciar, son of Fergus mac Róich. In Old Irish "Ciar" meant black or dark brown, and the word continues in use in modern Irish as an adjective...
after James Fitzmaurice
James Fitzmaurice
James Fitzmaurice may refer to:*James Fitzmaurice Fitzgerald, Irish rebel*James Fitzmaurice , aviation pioneer*James Fitzmaurice-Kelly , English writer on Spanish literatureSee also*Jimmy Fitzmorris, U.S. businessman...
had landed at Smerwick from Portugal with the remnant of Thomas Stukeley's expedition. All Munster
Munster
Munster is one of the Provinces of Ireland situated in the south of Ireland. In Ancient Ireland, it was one of the fifths ruled by a "king of over-kings" . Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the ancient kingdoms were shired into a number of counties for administrative and judicial purposes...
was then in arms. The House of Desmond was divided, and the politic earl had withdrawn from the scene of action. The bishop and his companion, Conn O'Rourke, a Franciscan priest, son of Brian, Lord of Breifne, came ashore near Askeaton
Askeaton
Askeaton is a town in County Limerick, Ireland. Located on the N69, the town is built on the banks of the River Deel some 3 km upstream from the estuary of the River Shannon. There is also a secondary school in Askeaton...
and sought hospitality at the castle where, in the earl's absence, his countess entertained them. Next day they departed for Limerick
Limerick
Limerick is the third largest city in the Republic of Ireland, and the principal city of County Limerick and Ireland's Mid-West Region. It is the fifth most populous city in all of Ireland. When taking the extra-municipal suburbs into account, Limerick is the third largest conurbation in the...
; but the countess, probably so instructed, for the earl
Earl
An earl is a member of the nobility. The title is Anglo-Saxon, akin to the Scandinavian form jarl, and meant "chieftain", particularly a chieftain set to rule a territory in a king's stead. In Scandinavia, it became obsolete in the Middle Ages and was replaced with duke...
claimed the merit afterwards, gave information to the Mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of Limerick, who three days later seized the two ecclesiastics and sent them to Kilmallock
Kilmallock
Kilmallock or Kilmalloc is a town in south County Limerick, Ireland, near the border with County Cork. There is a Dominican Priory in the town and King's Castle . The remains of medieval walls which encircled the settlement are still visible. The Dublin–Cork railway line passes by the town,...
, where Lord Justice William Drury
William Drury
Sir William Drury, Knt., was an English statesman and soldier,He was a son of Sir Robert Drury of Hedgerley in Buckinghamshire, and grandson of another Sir Robert Drury , who was speaker of the House of Commons in 1495. He was a brother of Dru Drury.He was born at Hawstead in Suffolk, and was...
then was with an army. As president of Munster, Drury had taken severe measures, in one year executing four hundred persons "by justice and martial law
Martial law
Martial law is the imposition of military rule by military authorities over designated regions on an emergency basis— only temporary—when the civilian government or civilian authorities fail to function effectively , when there are extensive riots and protests, or when the disobedience of the law...
"; some he sentenced "by natural law
Natural law
Natural law, or the law of nature , is any system of law which is purportedly determined by nature, and thus universal. Classically, natural law refers to the use of reason to analyze human nature and deduce binding rules of moral behavior. Natural law is contrasted with the positive law Natural...
, for that he found no law to try them by in the realm". At first he offered to secure O'Hely his see if he would acknowledge the royal supremacy and disclose his business. The bishop replied that he could not barter his faith for life or honours; his business was to do a bishop's part in advancing religion and saving souls. To questions about the plans of the pope and King Philip II of Spain
Philip II of Spain
Philip II was King of Spain, Portugal, Naples, Sicily, and, while married to Mary I, King of England and Ireland. He was lord of the Seventeen Provinces from 1556 until 1581, holding various titles for the individual territories such as duke or count....
for invading Ireland he made no answer, and thereupon was delivered to torture. As he still remained silent, he and O'Rourke were sent to instant execution by martial law. The execution took place outside one of the gates of Kilmallock.
On September 27, 1992, Pope John Paul II
Pope John Paul II
Blessed Pope John Paul II , born Karol Józef Wojtyła , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church and Sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death on 2 April 2005, at of age. His was the second-longest documented pontificate, which lasted ; only Pope Pius IX ...
beatified O'Healy alongside 16 other Irish Catholic Martyrs.