Patrick O'Hely

Born in Dromahair, County Leitrim, and a native of Connacht, Patrick O'Hely 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.[1]

Summoned to Rome, he was promoted in 1576 to the bishopric of Mayo,[2] 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The House of Desmond was divided, and the Earl had withdrawn from the scene of action. The bishop and his companion, Conn O'Rourke (Irish: Conn Ó Ruairc, born c. 1549), a Franciscan Friar, son of Brian, Lord of Breifne, came ashore at Corca Dhuibhne and sought hospitality at Askeaton Castle, where, in the Earl's absence, the Countess entertained them. Next day, they departed for Limerick; but the Countess, probably so instructed, for the Rebel Earl later claimed the merit afterwards, gave information to the Lord Mayor of Limerick, who three days later seized the two ecclesiastics and sent them to Kilmallock, where Lord Justice Sir William Drury then was with an army.[2]

As Lord 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 Bishop Ó hÉilí in his see for the Church of Ireland if he would take the Act of Supremacy and disclose all business of the Holy See. 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 the Catholic 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 Ó Ruairc were sent to instant execution by martial law.

They were hanged outside one of the gates of Kilmallock on 31 August 1579 and their bodies allowed to remain suspended from the gallows for fourteen days.[2]

In September 1992, Pope John Paul II beatified O'Rouke and O'Hely alongside 15 other Irish Catholic Martyrs.[3]

•  This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). "Patrick O'Hely". Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company.

• Excerpt from Chapters towards a History of Ireland in the reign of Elizabeth