In 1992 a representative of seventeen Irish martyrs, were chosen from a list of almost three hundred who died for their faith in the 16th and 17th centuries. They were beatified by St. Pope John Paul II.
Below is the list of these martyrs as listed on a plaque mounted on the wall beside the gate at St. Oliver Plunkett’s & the Martyrs’ parish church side entrance; close to the wheelchair carparking area. Stories on these 17 martyrs are largely taken from “Our Martyrs” written by D. Murphy.
1) Dermot O’Hurley was the archbishop of Cashel & Emily, who suffered brutally at the hands of Walter Dunlop and Adam Loftus, heretics with authority in Dublin whom employed enticements and extreme torture of hot oils; burning off the skin and muscles of his feet. Walter later had Dermot killed under court martial for not reneging the Catholic faith in 1584.
2) Patrick O’Healy, was the Franciscan Bishop of Mayo, appointed by Pope Gregory XIII. He set off for Ireland from Brittany accompanied by Cornelius O’Rourke, a fellow Franciscan. They landed at Dingle in Kerry. They were seized on landing by heretics and brought to the Countess of Desmond, who sent them onwards to Limerick, out of political expediency. There, the two Franciscans faced a court martial under a Catholic man of authority named Drury. In 1578, the two Franciscans were enticed with high office to renounce the faith, and having refused, they were tortured; being placed on a rack, with sharp needles inserted between the nails, their fingers cut off, their high bones broken. They were hanged afterwards, for which Drury suffered a strange malady, that brought him to his death three days later. Before he died, Drury confessed that he was guilty of killing innocent religious men.
3) Cornelius O’Rourke (O.S.F.) Was the 1st son of the prince of Brefny, but renounced worldly pursuits for the religious life. He was martyred along with bishop Patrick 0’Healy.
4) Matthew Lambert and the martyred sailors; Wexford 1581 (info taken from Catholic Ireland Website Jun 20 – The Irish Martyrs of the (16th & 17th centuries) – Catholicireland.netCatholicireland.net
Mathew Lambert was a Wexford baker who organised with five sailors safe passage by ship for Viscount of Baltinglass and his Jesuit chaplain Robert Rochford. English troops pursued these two fugitives, for their involvement with the Second Desmond Rebellion (1579-83). Authorities got word of the plan and Matthew was arrested with his sailor friends. They were thrust into prison, and questioned about politics and religion. Lambert’s reply was: “I am not a learned man. I am unable to debate with you, but I can tell you this, ‘I am a Catholic and I believe whatever our Holy Mother the Catholic Church believes.’”
Nb* Mathew’s name does not appear listed in “Our Martyrs” by Rev. D. Murphy, S.J.
5) Edward Cheevers, was one of those Wexford sailors martyred. He was hung drawn and quartered with his Catholic associates.
6) Robert Myeler was another sailor and associate of Mathew Lambert.
7) Patrick Cavanagh was also an associate of Mathew Lambert. The remaining sailors’ names are unknown. Together, all the Wexford associates were found guilty of treason and sentenced to death.
8) Margeret Ball in Drogheda was the mother of the infamous Walter Ball, (the royalist who snitched on Bishop Dermot O’Hurley). Margaret desired that her son Walter, would revert to Catholicism, and she often impressed upon her son of the importance of the faith. But the Catholic faith was to be scorned for position of power, and Margaret’s own son as Lord Mayor of Dublin shamefully had his mother thrown into the dungeons of Dublin Castle. Walter had his mother tortured as to force her to renounce the faith. She never did, and she died in the dungeon of failing health in 1584.
Nb* Margaret’s name does not appear listed in “Our Martyrs” by Rev. D. Murphy, S.J. and the information about Margaret has been gleaned from the Catholic Ireland website Jan 30 – Bl Margaret Ball (d. 1584) and Bl Francis Taylor (d. 1621) – Catholicireland.netCatholicireland.net
9) Maurice McEnraghty or Kireghtin (Muiris Mac Ionrachtaigh) was a secular priest from Kilmallock in the Limerick dioceses. He became a chaplain to the Earl of Desmond, who had joined a confederate for the Catholic cause. Maurice was a man of virtue, and fell into the hands of Murtogh Swiney, a blood thirsty soldier who himself was a deserter. Maurice was handed over to Sir John Norris, president of Munster. Maurice was then thrown into prison in Clonmel. He remained steadfast to the Catholic faith, as the unique way of salvation. He was allowed bail for one night to celebrate the sacrament of confession among the Catholic faithful in Clonmel, thanks to a Victor White who provided the jailer with money. However, a wicked spy, brought this to the attention of president John Norris. All who attended a secret mass were then set upon by English soldiers. There was panic in the air, and Catholics fled for fear, jumping from dangerous heights to escape. Maurice hid under a bail of hay, the soldier searched, prodding the hay with swords, but the priest evaded them. Victor was now in grave danger, and so Maurice gave himself up in exchange for Victor’s release. Maurice was cast into the dungeons of the prison. He was illegally sentenced to death by hanging, and would not renounce his faith. His head was later cut off, and his body carved into four parts at Clonmel on 20th April 1585.
10) Dominic Collins was from nobility in Youghal, East Cork. He became a Soldier in France and later served as captain of the marines in Spain under King Phillip before he became a Jesuit priest as a late vacationer. It was during his captaincy in Spain, where there was relative peace, enabling him to pursue spiritual matters. He became a type of army chaplain for the Irish confederate project with the help of Spain. He was good with caring for the war wounded and offering spiritual help. He landed at Dunboy Castle and was seized already by heretics, and put in prison in Cork under George Carew, president of Munster. Mountjoy, the viceroy of Ireland failed to entice Dominic to renounce the faith, sentenced him to hanging and disembowelling after been tied to the rack in 1602.
11) Conor O’Devany entered religious life at the age of twelve as a Franciscan. He studied in Rome at a later age, and Pope Gregory XIII appointed him as bishop of Down & Connor. He administered his duties very well. In 1592 he was imprisoned in Dublin castle. After three years starving in prison, he was released on conditions. The governors of the prison regretted letting him go free, and tried in vain to recapture him. In 1611 he was seized together with a Fr. Patrick O’Loughran. They were brought to trial on false accusations that merely served as pretexts, to gloss over the real problem, namely being a Catholic clergy. They were sentenced to death, and Conor helped Patrick face his martyrdom before his own triumphant martyrdom in 1612.
12) Patrick O’Loughran (O.S.F.) was executed along with Conor O’Devany.
13) Francis Taylor was a Dublin senator (Alderman) who died for the faith in the dungeons of Dublin Castle in 1621. He was the most respected senator in Dublin, and esteemed by all good men. He would never be induced to renounce the faith nor to renounce obedience to Rome.
14) Peter Higgins (O.P.) was taken captive at the beginning of the Irish confederate war. The heretics knew he was innocent of any crime or involvement; however, he suffered kindly the injustice, and later hanged in 1642.
15) Terance Albert O’Brien – He was appointed bishop of Emily by Pope Urban VIII. Terance was a Limerick man from nobility, he studied in Spain. In Limerick city he was besieged and put to death in 1651 by Henry Ireton, Cromwell’s son in law. Henry was struck down by a plague soon after the execution.
16) John Kearney – (O.S.F.) This man was from Cashel. He learned the faith from his mother, and from priests on the run-in safe keeping at his residence. He became a Franciscan priest, and was later seized by heretics, put to the rack, and thrown in the dungeon. He managed to be set free, and was shipped out of the country. He returned however to Wexford from France. In Cashel he fell into the hands of a cruel captain Wilmer, who brought him to prison in Clonmel. The president of Munster Sankey had sentenced John Kearney to death for his Catholic faith. He was hanged in his Franciscan vestments in 1651.
17) William Tirry – (O.S.A). A man of noble birth who chose to become an Augustinian over worldly pursuits. He remained with the viscount Sarsfield living a quiet holy life until he was found out by heretics, who tried to entice him to renounce the faith for lure of riches, then threw him into a dungeon prison before having him executed. At the prison in Clonmel, William welcomed his executioners like they were his best friends doing him the great honour of brining him to eternal life in 1654.
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