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The Irish Martyrs Podcast25th June 1539: CORNELIUS O’NEILL, BISHOP OF LIMERICK, AND THE RELGIOUS OF THE TRINTARIAN CONVENT OF THAT CITYThe Convent of Limerick was one of the largest of the whole country, its inmates numbering forty-six religious. Cornelius O’Neill, Bishop of Limerick, had been a religious of the Order. He had been Consulted by the King about the divorce from his lawful wife, which he wishes to bring about, and gave his opinion firmly in her favour. The King was much angered and declared he would have his revenge.The Bishop was aware of the dangers. He called the Trinitarians together and addressed them in the following words: "A beginning like this...2025-06-2407 minThe Irish Martyrs Podcast20th June 1584. DERMOT O’HURLEY, ARCHBISHOP OF CASHELRothe’s Analecta, p423He was appointed Archbishop of Cashel by Gregory XIll.He landed in Skerries and went to Slane, was given a secret room by the Baron’s wife. Later he began to sit at table, not afraid to speak with any guests. Robert Dillon, the Chief Justice came to the house. While at table, some words fell from the Archbishop’s lips; and made the cunning Chief Justice ask who he was, and more. He fled. The Baron was brought before the judges. He should get a heavy fine and...2025-06-191h 04The Irish Martyrs Podcast12th June 1582. DONOUGH O’REDDY, RP.HE was a native of Connaught and parish priest of Coolrahen.[1]When the soldiers of Elizabeth rushed into the village he took refuge in the church; but to no purpose, for these persecutors of priests and profaners of churches, the English heretics, hanged him in the church opposite the high altar, and afterwards pierced him through with their swords, and so he ended his life in a very holy way, June 12th, 1582.See also Copinger, Molanus, O’Sullevan, Ward, and Porter.[1] Copinger gives the name Coleraine Please pray for fin...2025-06-1102 minThe Irish Martyrs Podcast4th June 1578_EDMUND TANNER, BISHOP OF CORKHe was a native of the city of Cork.[1] He lived for some years in the Society of Jesus, and during that time made extraordinary progress in virtue; but after some years, owing to illness, he left the Order, with the full consent of the Fathers.[2]He was appointed Bishop of Cork[3] November 5th 1574. But hardly had the burthen of the episcopate been laid on him, when he was taken to Dublin and imprisoned there for having opposed the unjust laws of the Queen. While in prison he was tortured in divers ways, and more t...2025-06-0402 minThe Irish Martyrs Podcast31st May 1639. JOHN MEAGH,[1] S.J.(From Alegamb’es MorteS lllustre, p538)JOHN MEAGH was a native of Cork. To escape the persecution, his father took him to Naples. After his father died he entered the service of the Viceroy. When the Viceroy was recalled to Spain John found himself there. After obtaining an annual pension he returned to Naples. He prayed to God to make known when he opened a book, the manner of life he should enter on. He opened it, and found there the Life of St. Dympna,[2] a maiden of royal birth, who fled from Irel...2025-05-3008 minThe Irish Martyrs Podcast26th May 1581 NICHOLAS NUGENT,[1] DAVID SUTTON, JOHN SUTTON, THOMAS EUSTACE, JOHN EUSTACE, WILLIAM WOGAN, ROBERT SHERLOCK, JOH CLINCH, THOMAS NETHERFIELD AND ROBERT FITZGERALD.(Ibid., p. 442)AMONG the chiefs who took up arms in defence of the Catholic faith professed by their ancestors against the unjust persecutions of Queen Elizabeth about the year 1580, we must reckon these illustrious champions, Viscount Baltinglass[2] and John, Baron of Dunkellin. The English executioners, whose thirst for the innocent blood of Catholics was insatiable, put to death in several ways many noble Catholics through hatred of the faith, under one false pretext or another, and especially because they were suspected of sharing in the sentiments of the aforesaid nobles. Among the many no...2025-05-2503 minThe Irish Martyrs Podcast19th May 1585 PATRICK O’CONOR AND MALACHY O’KELLY O. CIST(From Bruodin’s Propugnaculum, p. 449)PATRICK O’CONOR was descended from the very ancient and royal stock of the O’Conors in Connaught. Abandoning the deceitful pleasures of the world in the flower of youth, he made his religious profession in the celebrated monastery of Boyle,[1] in the diocese of Elphin, in Connaught, among the most observant of the disciples of the Mellifluous Doctor,[2] in the year of our Lord 1562. For twenty-three years he was seen to advance in every kind of virtue, in such a way that he became a shining light to his b...2025-05-1803 minThe Irish Martyrs Podcast15th May 1601. JOHN O’KELLY.(from Broudin's Propugnaculum, p. 469)THIS priest was a native of Connaught, and of noble birth.Having overcome various torments in defence of the Catholic faith, broken down by the noisomeness and hardships of the prison in which he was confined in the company of robbers, he gave up his soul to God on May 15th, 1601. Please pray for final perseverance for all of us!May the martyrs of old inspire us all.2025-05-1401 minThe Irish Martyrs PodcastMartyred 6th May 1588: SIR PATRICK PLUNKETT, KNIGHT.(From Bruodin’s Propugnaculum, p.456)HE was a native of Meath. Because he upheld the Catholic religion, he was hanged and quartered in Dublin. Wherefore, fighting bravely for Christ to the end, he obtained the martyr’s crown, and an increase of honour of his most illustrious family.He suffered May 6th 1588.This is probably the same person who is called by Copinger Sir Patrick of the Anally.[1][1] Spic. Ossor., iii.42Please pray for final perseverance for all of us!May the martyr...2025-05-0801 minThe Irish Martyrs PodcastMartyred 5th May 1581: RICHARD FRINCH(From Bruodin’s Propugnaculum, p.443)He was a native of Wexford, and a pious and prudent priest.He was imprisoned in Dublin, and for three years in succession he had to endure the filth and other miseries of the place, with robbers for his constant companions, because he defended the Catholic faith strenuously. At last he was sentenced to die, and was sent to Wexford to be executed in the usual way.But he died in the prison before he was taken out to be executed in public, May 5th, 1581.P...2025-05-0801 minThe Irish Martyrs Podcast6th May 1578: MAURICE GIBBON,[1]ARCHBISHOP OF CASHEL(from Broudin's Propugnaculum, p. 432)MAURICE GIBBON, a native of Munster, and Archbishop of Cashel, a prelate endowed with every kind of virtue, was confined in prison for many years[2] in Cork because he refused to take the oath of Supremacy, and endured therein endless misery. He ended his life very holily there[3],on May 6th, 1578.See also Sander, Bridgewater, Bozius, Rothe, Copinger, and Arsdeken. [1] Or Fitzgibbon. He is also called Maurice Reagh. See his Life in Renehans Collections, i.241.[2] In his letter to...2025-05-0801 minThe Irish Martyrs Podcastmartyred 4th May MALACHY SHIELL, O.CIST., AND ANOTHER (From Hartry’s Synopsis, p. 278) 4th of May I WILL set down briefly what I have learned from trustworthy persons. The Rev. Fr. Br. Robert Shiel was born in lveagh, Co.Down, in the province of Ulster.(From Hartry’s Synopsis, p. 278)The Rev. Fr. Br. Robert Shiel was born in lveagh, Co.Down. In his youth he was instructed in polite learning and piety. He was admitted to the Cistercian Order by the Very Rev. Lord Br. Patrick Barnwell,[1] Abbot, for his own monastery of Mellifont, and professed under the name of Malachy. His superior intrusted to Malachy the care of souls within the jurisdiction of the monastery of Newry, then without a pastor. This duty he discharged for 7 years with Br. Malachy O’Kea. When his brother in religi...2025-05-0708 minThe Irish Martyrs PodcastMay 1582.ENEAS PENNY1582.ENEAS PENNYTHIS priest was a native of Connaught. He was slain by the heretical English soldiers in his parish church of Killatra[1]l while celebrating the sacrifice of the Mass, May 1582.See also Copinger.[1] This name is not given in the list of towniands of the Ordnance Survey Copinger calls it Killagh. Please pray for final perseverance for all of us!May the martyrs of old inspire us all.2025-05-0202 minThe Irish Martyrs Podcast1st of May 1578, PHELIM O’HARA AND HENRY DELAHAYDE[1], 2 O.S.F.THE 1st was the son of the well-known John O’Hara, chief of his family and owner of large possessions[2] in the County of Sligo in Connaught. The territory of the O’Haras was Luigne, conterminous with the present diocese of Achonry, comprising Parts of counties Mayo, Roscommon and Sligo.He entered the Order of the Friars Minors in the 21st years of his age, and wished to be considered the lowest among the lay brothers in it. During the many years that he lived in religion, he was reckoned among the most obedie...2025-05-0206 minThe Irish Martyrs Podcast28 April 1575 FERGALL WARD, O.S.F.(From Bruodin’s Propugnaculum, p. 427)FERGALL WARD, a native of Tyrconnell,[1] a member of the Seraphic Order of St. Francis, was a very eloquent preacher and most observant of poverty. He had laboured zealously for three years in the vineyard of the Lord, and was then promoted to be Guardian of the convent of Armagh about the year 1575.At this time the plague of heresy, introduced by Elizabeth, was raging through-out Ulster.Ward opposed it as a skilful physician. Wherefore he was seized by the Ministers of Elizabeth, and no r...2025-04-2702 minThe Irish Martyrs Podcast24th April 1601. DONOUGH O’MOLLONY.1601. DONOUGH O’MOLLONY.HE was born of a noble family, was a priest, and vicar of the diocese of Kilialoe. This brave soldier and truly apostolic pastor did not fear to expose his life to danger when the wild beasts were laying the vineyard waste, opposing the heretics by word and deed. He was seized by the heretical soldiers in a certain part of Ormond which he was visiting as pastor, his hands were tied behind his back as if he were a robber, and he was led on foot to Dublin, in the...2025-04-2305 minThe Irish Martyrs Podcast22nd April 1569 DANIEL O’DUILLIAN, O.S.F.(From Mooney’s Provincia Hibernia Description)ABOUT the beginning of the year 1569, though there seems to be some doubt as to the precise date, a certain brother, Daniel O’Duillian, of the convent of Youghal,[1] (Founded by Maurice Fitzgerald, 2nd baron of Offaly, in 1232) overcame the persecutors very bravely. For when one Captain Dudal and his troops were torturing him, by order of Lord Arthur Grey[2], (who later served as the Viceroy, from 1580 to 1582.) first they took him to the gate which is called Trinity Gate, and tied his hands behind his back, and h...2025-04-2102 minThe Irish Martyrs Podcast13th April 1588 TADHG O’BOYLE, O.S.F.(From Ward’s Catalogue.) HE was Guardian of the convent of Donegal,[1] and a celebrated preacher.When the English soldiers came there[2] he sent away the rest of the brethren to a place of security, intending to follow them later; but he was prevented by the soldiers. He strove to gain them over by kindness, but he could not escape. As he was going out of the gate of the monastery, the first soldier who met him ran him through with a sword, and pierced his head to the brain with three...2025-04-1202 minThe Irish Martyrs Podcast6th April 1580 DANIEL HINRECHAN, PHILIP O’SEE,[1] AND MAURICE O’SCANLAN, O.S.F.THESE religious were natives of Kerry, and born of respectable Catholic parents. They were priests, and for more than thirty years had preached the word of God throughout different parts of Ireland, not without great profit to souls.When the rest of the brethren fled from the heretics who were coming to seize them, these could not accompany them, owing to old age and loss of sight; the youngest of them was over seventy years of age. They took refuge in church of their monastery in the town of Lislachtin, near the village of Ballylongford.[2]2025-04-0602 min