Religion

By Samuel J. Maguire

The eighteenth century and the period ending with the death of George IV, in Galway, was an age of lawlessness and religious bigotry. Society was channelled and congealed into fixed, durable forms in which the Protestant gentry put themselves above the law and placed the Catholic labouring class below it. There was "extraordinary arrogance on the one side, and on the other a deference which had in it much servility." It was a society neither brilliant above or stable below. It was certainly not an "age of enlightenment."

1703

"The Act, 8 Anne, c.3.s.39, for explaining and amending the Act to prevent the further growth of Popery, after reciting that Oliver Martin of Tullyra ,County Galway, Esq., was during the rebellion a person who behaved himself with great moderation, and was remarkably kind to numbers of Protestants in distress, many of whom he supported in his family, and by his charity and goodness saved their lives ..."

'enacted that he the said Oliver Martin might enjoy his estate to him and his heirs, and settle and dispose of the same to his eldest son and his heirs male'. Hardiman, History of Galway

1724
The abbey chapel was repaired, and mass publicly celebrated, which gave offence to the heads of the Corporation. The friars, four in number, were arrested by order of the mayor, and tried on capital indictments at the ensuing assizes, but were severally acquitted. Hardiman, History of Galway

1738
Died in Rome, Edmund de Burgo (Bourke), a Dominican friar, who began his studies in the convent of Galway, which he finished in Spain. In 1706 he became principal regent of the Irish school of his order in Louvain. Fahy, History of Kilmacduagh.

1746
Eyre, Governor of Galway, made many attempts to enforce the penal laws. Protestant settlers increased in wealth, while the Catholics hemmed round by penal laws were deprived of place and power. Abduction of the daughters of wealthy Protestant neighbours by Catholics became common occurrences. Lecky, Ireland in the Eighteenth Century.

1752

"We, the mayor, recorder, clergy, and the rest of the Protestant gentry of the town of Galway, do certify that Mr. Richard Simcockes, of this town, mariner, is descended from an ancient Protestant family of this place; that so after the late happy revolution of King William III of glorious memory, his grandfather, Alderman Thomas Simcockes, the mayor of this town two years successively, as was also his father, Alderman Samuel Simcockes, soon after the occasion of his late majesty, King George I when, for their well known loyalty and warm affection to his illustrious house in the preceding critical times, both his grandfather and father were, at the same time, appointed justices of the peace for this town, in the first commission that was ever granted, pursuant to an act of parliament then made for strengthening the Protestant interest therein, and were honoured with commands in the militia in every array since that happy era; in which stations they acquitted themselves with integrity and credit, agreeable to the true Protestant principles, which they always professed, and which are still retained by their descendants now living here, as we verily believe they are by the said Richard, who is married to the daughter of an old Protestant, and during his abode here, made constant profession of them. Given under our hands this 25th February 1752."

Original MS signed and quoted by Hardiman.

1756
John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, records in his Diary under date "Galway 25th June, 1756 ... pretty well tired." He adds that he could find no room in the inns, but was fortunate to secure suitable lodgings in a private house. Describing the old city, he then writes: "five or six persons who seemed to fear God visited them and they spent a little time in prayer. "

1761

"The Black Petition: the mayor, sheriffs and sundry resident free burgesses and freemen write to John Eyre and Richard Fitzpatrick, representatives of the town in Parliament, dated 10th November, 1761, stating that several shopkeepers and dealers of the Roman Catholic communion assumed a privilege of selling, and exposing to sale, divers commodities and manufactures, to the manifest prejudice of the Protestant tradesmen and artificers, freemen of the town; that they employed journeymen, and carried on branches of handicraft business, which they exposed to sale in their shops without being competent judges of the goods so manufactured, and without serving any legal apprenticeship to any such art, craft or mystery, contrary to the real intent and meaning of the Galway Act, and the royal charters granted to their ancient corporation; that they heard that Mr. Perry, one of the representatives of Limerick, had promised his constituents to employ his best endeavours in obtaining an act of parliament for redress of the aforesaid grievances, and therefore requested that they would concur in promoting such an act, and also to add such clause to clauses in favour of the freeman of Galway as might effectively restrain such shopkeepers and dealers from the like practices for the future, to the furthering and promoting the Protestant interest among them in general, and encouraging the tradesman and artificers of the town to make necessary and useful improvements in the manufacture of their several callings."

Hardiman, History of Galway

1762
Wesley's second visit to Galway was on the 17th May, 1762, where he attempted to preach in the Exchange, "but after a little the beasts of the people (just as I expected) roaring louder and louder ... and walked to my lodgings accompanied by a gaping crowd." Wesley Journal.

1762
In the year 1762, it was stated in the House of Commons on the part of the Corporation, that Galway was most inhabited by Papists, and that the population of the town and liberties amounted to 14,000 of which scarcely 350 were Protestants. Commons Journal, Vol. VIII.

1765
The preaching-room being small, some of the friends prevailed on him (Wesley) to preach in the Exchange; but as he feared, "the beasts of people made such an uproar that I was compelled to desist, and walked through their midst of my lodging without let or hindrance." Wesley, Journal.

1767
Galway, February 2. A letter from Paris, dated the 12th ult. received here last post, brings advice that Dr. Murray, a native of the country of Clare in this kingdom, and a most eminent physician of that city, died there a few days before in a very advanced age, possessed of a very considerable fortune, which he acquired with distinguished reputation. Among the many worthy actions of this truly good man's life, he is said to have left a foundation to the Irish community of Lombard, for the education of 25 students, natives of Ireland, for ever. Pue's Occurrences, 10th February, 1767.

1767
Died 12th August, at Galway, the Rev. Thomas Kirwan, parish priest of Claregalway. Sleator's Public Gazetteer, 22nd August, 1767.

1768,16 April.
Died, a few days ago at Galway, the Rev. Mr. John King, a Romish clergyman. Pue's Occurrences, 16 April, 1768.

1768.
Died at Gortinarragh, Co. Galway, the Rev. Mr. Patrick Roch, parish priest of Killanin in Eyreconnaught. Freeman's Journal, 28th May, 1768.

1768
James D'Arcy of the county of Galway, Esq., read his recantation from the Church of Rome and embraced the Protestant religion in the parish church of St. Mary's, Dublin. Dublin Mercury, 22 November 1768.

1769
Died at Tuam, the Rev. Mr. Richard Burke, a Romish clergyman. Freeman's Journal, 23 September 1769.

1769
Wesley again preached in Galway in the Session's House to a "tolerably civil congregation. Next evening I had many officers and genteel people at my service." Wesley Journal.

1770
Died in Galway, the Rev. Mr. Francis French, a Romish clergyman. Sleator's Public Gazetteer, 29 May, 1770.

1770
Died a few days ago at Galway, Mr. Peter Browne, a Romish clergyman. Pue's Occurrences, 30 June, 1770.

1771
Died at Drumgriffin, Co. Galway, the Rev. Patrick Gallagher, a Romish clergyman. Freeman's Journal, 21 March, 1771.

1771
Died a few days ago at Galway, Mr. Francis Kirwan, a Romish clergyman. Pue's Occurrences, 6 April, 1771.

1771
Galway, April 29. Last Thursday Mr. Bartholomew Dillon of Rockfield, in this county, renounced the errors of the Church of Rome, and was the same evening married to the widow Hains of Tuam. Hibernian Journal, 6 May, 1771.

1771
In May, 1771, Wesley preached in the Court-house. Here he had in his audience, what he describes as a rare sight in Ireland: "five or six men to one woman. Next day the Mayor and several people of fashion were present." Wesley Journal.

1771
Died at Galway, Mr. Myles Burke, a Romish clergyman. Dublin Chronicle, 13 June ,1771.

1771
Galway, Sept. 9. Last Thursday (5), Malachy Haneen was apprehended and committed to the town gaol by James Shee, Esq., deputy mayor, for rescuing and carrying away from one of the carriers of the Incorporated Society of the Protestant Charter Schools, one Nicholas Haneen, a charter school boy, whom the carrier was conveying to Dublin, by virtue of an order of the committee of fifteen for that purpose. Hibernian Journal, 16 Sept., 1771.

1771
Died at Tuam, Mr. Walter Bourke, assistant parish priest of that town. Freeman's Journal, 27th Sept. 1771.

1771
Died at Galway, Mr. Mark McDermott, a Romish clergyman. Hibernian Journal, 18 November 1771. 1771
Catholics allowed to take on lease a certain number of acres of unwholesome and unprofitable bog. Lecky, Ireland in the Eighteenth Century.

1772

" A Town (Galway) in which were 20,000 Papists and 500 Protestants. But which of them are Christians, have the mind that was in Christ, and walked as he walked? And without this, how little does it avail whether they are called Protestant or Papists?"

Wesley Journal.

1772

"Great rejoicings in Galway on Ladie Day in August, to thank God Almighty for passing ye Act of Parliament for to enable ye Catholics to take out leases of 50 acres of Land. The Warden read high mass in ye Parish Chappel, and Father Mark Skerrett, the bishop of Tuam, gave holly water, and preached a grand sermon in English for ye counsellors who are here in great stock for ye assizes, although 'tis too little they have to do in this place, thanks be to God."

Burke, The Connaught Circuit.

1772
Last Friday evening (28), as the Rev. Mr. Patrick Whelan, parish priest of Craughwell, was returning from the neighbourhood of Seefin in this county (Galway) he was thrown from his horse and killed on the spot. Hibernian Journal, 11 March, 1772.

1772
Died at Galway, Mr. Valentine Fleming, a Romish clergyman. Hibernian Journal, 23 Sept. 1772.

1772-1773
Catholics enabled to recover by law moneys lent by them to Protestants on mortgage. Burke. The Connaught Circuit.

1773
Died at Galway, occasioned by a fall from his horse, Mr. Francis Kirwan, a Romish clergyman. Hibernian Journal, 21 July 1773.

1774
The Oath of Allegiance modified to meet the religious objections of Catholics. Lecky, Ireland in the Eighteenth Century.

1774
Died a few days since at Grange, in the county of Galway, Mr. Martin Brady, a Romish clergyman. Sleator's Public Gazetteer, 25 Jan 1774.

1775
Died, at Galway Mr. Ambrose D'Arcy, a Romish clergyman of Oranmore, in the Co. of Galway. Hibernian Journal, 31 July, 1775.

1777
Arising out of the penal laws, a case of considerable interest was tried at the Summer Assizes for County Galway in 1777. The local newspapers while reporting the case withheld the names of parties.

One of the landed gentry residing on his estate had in early life become a Protestant,

"attended church, and took the sacrament every Christmas Day and Easter Sunday. On all other Sundays and holy days throughout the year he heard mass in his castle. Never seen at mass in his castle he assisted at the service kneeling in the drawing room and observing through a hatch. Reaching old age and being confined to his room he had a section of the floor cut out and hinged over the room where mass was said. Nearing death he sent for a Dominican friar, was readmitted into the Church, received the last sacraments after he had made his will."

The questions before the jury at the Assizes were:- (1) was the will the last will and testament of the deceased?
(2) was the deceased competent, being a relapsed Papist?
(Note:- No person could make a valid will if he became a Catholic either before or after making the will. - The Editor).

Counsel impugning the will proved "beyond all doubt that a Popish priest, dressed in black, had a pair of candles lighted, and that a white cloth was put under the chin of the dying man, and he administered to him the Communion." The judge summing up told the jury:

"this being a penal statute, the burden of proving by reputation, if no higher proof was required, that this gentleman who administrated something to the deceased was a priest at all, lay on the party impugning the will. The jury were bound to assume, until the contrary was proved, that everything was properly done according to law; and, for all they could tell, the so called priest might have been an apothecary or a doctor (doctors usually dressed in black) who was administering some medicine to him. They all knew how sick persons taking medicine were in the habit of having a towel under their chins. It also might have been that the person in black was a barber; for nothing relieves a sick man more, when his hair is matted in sickness, than to have himself cleanly shaved. As for having lighted candles, why he might have wanted to seal a letter, or an apothecary might have required them for his chemicals, or a barber to see what he was about. He would not offer any opinion other than what he had stated. It was a question entirely for the jury."

The jury without leaving the box found that here was no proof that the testator was a relapsed Papist, and consequently that the will was duly executed.

It is evident from this case that public opinion was beginning to act strongly against the penal laws. Quoted by Burke in The Connaught Circuit.

(Note by the Editor) Those who nominally changed their religion privately received the rights of the Catholic Church at their death. If this could be proved, their acts would be nullified. Several lawsuits, like the one described took place. Such persons were described as "Relapsed Papists." Many of the Catholic landowners throughout the penal times fearing that informations would be lodged against them, and not wishing to lose their property read their recantations, though not believing in Protestantism, and attended the Protestant churches. Many were known to stuff their ears during the sermon, and while the Book of Common Prayer was being read, they perused the Roman Missal. The Dominicans of Galway earned quite a reputation for the number of "Lapsed Catholics" they attended. Anne Blake, daughter of Sir Valentine Blake of Menlough Castle, stated that her father was attended by Father Bonaventure Burke on his deathbed.

Charles Ffrench Blake-Forester records that at this time Blake of Oranmore Castle fearing that he would lose his property, went with reluctance to be received into the Protestant Church according to law. When the parson before putting him through the 'necessary forms' remarked that it was very favourable to Protestantism to see a gentleman of his respectability joining their communion, Blake replied that his reason for becoming a Protestant was "to save Oranmore." One Burke who had an estate at Barnadearg, near Tuam, hearing that his cousin was about to conform in order to get his estates, rode off to Dublin, sold his lands to a banker there, and so baffled his kinsman.

Even so late as 1779 the property of a Catholic proprietor was unsafe unless he conformed. On the Convert Roll, in consequence, the names of many Galway gentlemen appeared in the Rolls Office.

1781

"The abbey chapel was rebuilt, before which it was a small thatched edifice, both narrow and inconvenient. Its external appearance was plain, but 'it presents within a spacious, convenient and handsome place to worship, 120 feet long and 30 feet broad, as is capable of accommodating upwards of two thousand people. The devotion called the stations of the Holy Cross, which is confined solely to the Franciscans, is observed here."

Hardiman, History of Galway.

1782.

"By 21, 22 George III - an Act 'for the further relief of his majesty's subjects of this kingdom professing the Popish religion,'- repealed the law which subjected to certain penalties those Catholics who took any house or came to live in Limerick or Galway, or their suburbs."

State Papers, quoted by Burke.

1785
Gregory French of Aggard renounced the errors of Popery. Convert Roll, quoted by Fahey.

1791
Gideon Ouseley, a member of a respectable and distinguished family, was now twenty-nine years of age, and resided at Dunmore, in the county of Galway. Having been intended for the Church, he received for the time and place, a liberal education. Living in uninterrupted familiarity with bog and cabin, with mountain road and secluded lake; with frieze coats, shoeless feet, and beggars' wallets; with the Irish tongue, or English spoken with a glorious brogue; with two or three fields for a farm and for a table the potato basket, set on an iron pot; with the wake and the 'berrin', the weddings and the stations, the village market, the rollicking fair, the hurling matches, the patrons, and the rows which made up the sum of peasant life, there was laid the basis of that quick sympathy between him and the common people. Crookshank, History of the Methodists in Ireland.

1791

"Very Rev. Augustine Kirwan, D.D., Warden of Galway, Vicar of St. Nicholas, who on the 7th of August, 1791, closed a life of 67 years, whereof 40 and more were spent in the apostolical labours of the church of Christ - Of gentle manners, unaffected piety, unbounded benevolence. The father and friend of the poor. Founder of the Charity School. By all beloved when living; now dead, by all regretted. As a tribute of affection this Monument is erected by his Nephew, N. French, in the year1796."

Hardiman, History of Galway.

1792
At a Post Assembly of the Lord Mayor, Sheriffs, Commons, etc., held at their house in William's Street, Dublin, the 11th September ,1792, adopted an address to the Protestants, "... Resolved - A Protestant King of Ireland." Burke's Connaught Telegraph.

1793
By the Catholic Relief Act of 1793, Martin ffrench Lynch of Renmore and Donelan of Ballydonelan were called to the bar. Previous to that Act Catholics could not be called, but they entered the Inns of Court, continued their legal studies, and became qualified to act as conveyancers - a calling in which many of them earned large fees. Burke, The Connaught Circuit.

1794

"On the 29th April, 1794, a list of 300 Roman Catholics who had been admitted as Freeman of the Corporation of Galway, under the provisions of 33 George III, c.21, was certified by Elias Tankerville, Secretary, and John Bradley, Notary Public, at Galway."

Hardiman, History of Galway. (Note:- It is interesting to read that 20 of the names belong to the 'Tribe' families, and the remaining 280 names are of the 'Non Tribe' families. Editor).

1794

"Messrs. Averell and Tidd spent most of December in travelling through Tipperary, Limerick, Clare, and Galway ... At Galway the evangelists preached morning and evening to a considerable part of the Protestant inhabitants, about twenty of whom were members of the Society (Methodist)."

Crookshank. History of Methodists of Ireland.

1795

" At Galway, where it was said one hundred and seventy had gone over to the Church of Rome in the previous ten years, the Lord had still a seed to serve Him, there being fourteen zealous and consistent members of Society (Methodist)."

Crookshank. History of Methodism in Ireland.

1796

"Mr. John Hamilton was appointed to Connemara, a mountainous country, west of the county of Galway. Here his journeys were long and wearisome, and his fare often very scanty; but he persevered in his work until he sank into a low fever, in which he was almost destitute of care and medical skill. On regaining consciousness, he found himself alone in a hut, where he had sought an asylum, lying on a pallet of rushes with a mug of water at his side. When a desire for food returned, it is related, a dog came in with a large fish in his mouth, which he dropped beside the invalid. Thus a timely supply was afforded in a way the more remarkable as the place was two miles from the lake where the fish must have been caught."

Reilly, Memorial of Ouseley.

1798
Died, Christopher French, husband of Margaret, daughter of Irael O' Farrell of Roscommon. He professed himself a Protestant though his son was a Roman Catholic priest. Fahy, History of Kilmacduagh.

1798

"August, 1798. During their absence (of the garrison and the Kilkenny Militia) at Castlebar, the town was left without military protection, and the Catholic clergy were indefatigable in their exertions to preserve the public peace. On this occasion, one of the regulars of St. Augustine presented a novel spectacle - a friar standing sentinel on the west bridge, to prevent the entrance of disaffected persons to a place where, within the memory of many then living, he would himself have been doomed to transportation or death for daring to appear or return; thus affording a striking example of the mutability of human opinion, and of the happy change which had taken place in the public mind during that period."

Hardiman, History of Galway.

1800
The Dominican Chapel was erected on the site of the former. This neat and commodious building which is 100 feet long and 28 feet broad, contains a spacious gallery, with a well-toned organ. Burke's Connaught Telegraph.

1804
Correspondence published between Lord Redesdale, the Irish Lord Chancellor, and the Earl of Fingal, the leader of the derided party of Catholics, who were beginning to reassert their claims to civil justice, shows that the Chancellor in placing Fingal on the Commission of the Peace, had thought it necessary to read him a long lesson on the errors and dangers of the Catholic religion. The Annual Register for 1804.

1805
The Reverend Valentine Bodkin was elected Warden. Hardiman, History of Galway.

1808 Grattan in his speech in the House of Commons on 15th May, 1808, declared:

"The Counties of Clare and Galway have had meetings convened by their Sheriffs, at which they passed resolutions expressing their ardent wish for the admission of their Catholic brethren to the benefits of the Constitution ...."

Burke, The Connaught Circuit.

1812
The Reverend Edmund Ffrench, O.P., was on the death of the Reverend Valentine Bodkin elected Warden. He became Warden in the same town in which his father had been for many years Protestant Warden.

1815
This useful order of religious females (Presentation Nuns) was established here on the 27th of October 1815, under the patronage and protection of the very reverend Warden Ffrench. In 1819 they removed to a spacious, elegant and well-situated building - the former charter school, which they hold by lease for 60 years, at 8ol annual rent, in the west suburbs of the town. Hardiman, History of Galway.

1816
The foundation of the new collegiate chapel of St. Nicholas was laid on 1st July, 1816 (being the old anniversary of the battle of the Boyne) by Hyacinth Daly, esq., and mayor of the town. Hardiman, History of Galway.

1818
The Protestant clergy and gentry gave freely, and even many Romanists, including some priests, were amongst the contributors (for the erection of the Methodist Meeting house). The Catholic Warden subscribed a large sum, and appended a strong recommendation to his clergy and people to follow his example, giving as his reason, that it would prevent Mr. Ouseley from preaching in the streets. Crookshank. History of the Methodists in Ireland.

1822
The last prosecution under the Popery Acts was that of The King v.O'Connor heard at the Galway Summer Assizes of 1822. The interesting feature of the case was the ridiculing by the Town Council of the originators of the prosecution. The Rev. John O'Connor, Parish Priest of Kilconnel and Aughrim stood indicted that:

"he, on the 17th February last, did in Kilconnel celebrate marriage between Thomas Curley, a reputed Papist, and Mary Parry who had professed herself to be a Protestant, within the space of twelve months previous to the date of her marriage, contrary to the peace of our Lord the King, his Crown and dignity."

Daniel, K.C., prosecuted and stated that the accused was a clergyman of position in the Roman Church, respected by all who knew him. The crime he stood indicted for was a violation of the law which makes it criminal for a Roman Catholic priest to perform the ceremony of marriage between a couple, either of whom had within twelve months been a professed Protestant. The reverend defendant might not intentionally have violated that law, but the Hon. and Most Reverend Doctor Trench, and the Rev. Mr. Martin, Rector of the Parish, who had originated this prosecution, thought otherwise. The jury must be aware that the 32 and 33 George III, Chapter 21, ss. 12 and 13, restricts Roman priests from performing the service of marriage between Protestants, or between those who had been Protestants within twelve months previously, and Papists, unless first performed by the Protestant clergyman. The young lady admittedly had been a Protestant in this case, in which she was an unwilling witness. She had become a Catholic and married, and she will now be examined as to the state of facts, as also will be the Rev. Mr. Martin, whose church she was wont to attend. He would put his witness on the table, and he ventured to hope that it would be the last time in his life that he would be employed in such a prosecution.

The judge charged for an acquittal. The Freeman's Journal in reporting the proceeding states: "The jury accordingly acquitted the traverser, Mr. Daniel K.C., expressing his disgust at holding such a brief."

1825

"... I should not wish to see any settlement of the Catholic question effected in which the rights of the Established Church were not preserved. I gave expression to the same feeling when I was examined before the House of Lords. I think what I stated then in substance, was that I should not be favourable to any settlement, or that I should object to any settlement, which went to disturb the Protestant Establishment; that I considered it a main link in the connexion between Great Britain and Ireland, and that with that connexion I was satisfied the interests of Ireland were essentially identified. I understand it has since been imputed to me, that in uttering this sentiment I indulged in a peculiar latitude of expression in order to make a show of liberality. I wish, therefore, now most unequivocally and most solemnly to reiterate the same feeling... The Protestant Church is rooted in the Constitution; it is established by the fundamental laws of the realm; it is rendered, as far as the most solemn acts of the legislature can render any institution, fundamental and perpetual; it is also declared by the Act of Union between Great Britain and Ireland. I think it could not now be disturbed without danger to the general securities we possess for liberty, property, and order; without danger to all the blessings we derive from being under a lawful government and free constitution. Feeling thus, the very conscience which dictates to me a determined adherence to the Roman Catholic religion, would dictate to me a determined resistance to any attempt to subvert the Protestant Establishment, or to wrest from the Church the possessions which the law has given it."

Some observations of the Right Hon. Richard A. Blake to the effect that the Establishment should be preserved....