The Irish standard., 1908-01-25
FRIEND OF DAVITT
Rev. VIM. Casey Of Abbeyfeale,
Co. Limerick, Is Dead.
Prominent Figure at Irish
National Conventions.

: II 3
ireland. on Dec. 90. a Jealous friend OF
the Irish people, passed to his reward
His parishioners mourn as for loving
father departed. one who entered into
their every joy and sorrow, whose in
terests We're his own without class or
distinction; who claimed no greater
right than to stand between the people
and their troubles, the nation and its
enemies. But it is as a patriot, as the
combatant of Ireland's wrongs, and the
fearless defender Of her liberties that
his reputation lives far beyond the
humble parish Of his ministry. In the
remotest state of America, on the
plains of the Southern Cross, and
wherever an lrishman has found a
homo, his noble work and sacrifices In
the ranks of the National movement
are tenderly treasured, in this dark
hour. by the exiles who took his kindly
words Of courage and advice.
Born at Castlequarter, near Mitch
sistown, in the archdiocese Of Cashel.
aixty-three years ago. his young days
we're passed under tho shadow OF
the Galtees His early studies began
1t Mountmellary, and were continued
at st. Coleman's College. Fermoy.
Thence he passed to Carlow College,
where his early ecclesiastical studies
matured and where. on July %, 1858. he
was ordained priest for the Diocese OF
Cloyne. His services being lent to the
Limerick Diocese. he began his mission
in Banogue. After Il few months he
was sent to Abbeyfeale on temporary
duty. during the illness of one of the
priests, ON Jan. IL. 1859, but returned
to Banogue shortly after, and thence
went to Manister. In 1871 he came TO
Abbeyfeale, and has since remained
amongst the people there. During the
terrible fever plague which ravaged the
district in 1885 in his devotion to tho
stricken poor, he displayed an utter
disregard Of personal risk by his great
desire to fulfill ono Of the heroic obli-
cations Of his sacred calling. At this
time there were sixty patients in the
Fever Hospital at Newcastle from the
district. On one occasion Father Casey
in four adjoining houses anointed nine
teen persons, and then became a VIC
tim himself TO the disease, as did also
Father Byrnes, r. P, Dromcolloher,
then C. c. at Abbeyfeale, Father J..
Cregan. P. p, Of Athea (who admins
tered the last rites to Father CaseyD
taking over their duties at the time.
Previous to this he rode into the flood
ed Feale, and rescued four young men
who were in imminent peril of being
drowned, bringing them safely to land
under the most perilous circumstances.
Some few years before the death of the
late Dr. Coughlan, the well-known.
eminent divine, who preceded Father
Casey in the pastorate Of Abbeyfeale,
the latter became administrator during
the illness of DIR. Coughlan, and short
1y after his death, which occurred in
the late DR.. Butler, of Limerick.
At this time the great Land League
movement was swelling to it's height,
and there certainly were few districts
in Ireland more in need OF some agra
rian reformative measures than Abbey
feale then was. On more than one oc-
( ojr I1HofI 70 lot hat
Of his parshioners at this period were
in a sad state of privation, many of
them merely subsisting, in their ex-
treme efforts to meet a rent which was
subsequently proved to be an impossi-
BILE one, and it was undoubtedly at
tributable to his personal experience of
/ some cases Of singular hardship in this
respect that his warm nature espoused
so ardently the cause Of the tenant
farmers of his parish, and fought the
long, difficult, but victorious battle
against landlordism which ended in its
complete overthrow in the district, the
Nindication Of his demand that tenants
81 should be at least more than rent slaves
( and which made them independent
n holders of their farms.
His zeal for the emancipation of ten
ants similarly circumstanced, found
him actively engaged, even up to the
s. commencement of his last illness. in ar
effort to conclude terms of purchase
for tenants, not only in different parts
Of Limerick County, but even in Ker.
nv, Cork and elsewhere. For many
years he was the life and soul of the
:s National movement in Limerick Coun.
s ty, being chairman of the City an6
County Executives of the United Irisf
u League, and President Of the West
Limerick Executive, before each OF
which bodies he constantly kept NOV.
Ing the claims of the evicted tenants
RI and it was characteristic of his solitude