The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1909-07-31
NICHOLAS sHEEHY.
Az Patriot Priest Put to Death in the
$5,3-7 Penal Days.


mountains and the hills of knockmaol-
4 6oun in Tipperary, has no other me-
mortal to commend it to the attention
Of Irish historians, it may rest in the
glory of that martyr priest who gave
up his life for the cause of God and
for the love of his countrymen. Eng
land may have many dark crimes to
answer for before the bar of Eternal
Justice, but her murder of Father
Sheehy will stand out forever as a
mark of shame that no waters of Lethe
can ever wash away.
IS Father Nicholas Sheehy was born
In 1928, during the fury of the Penal
Laws. AS he could not obtain an edu-
cation in his own land, he went early
kis ordination he returned to Ireland,
where he was made pastor of Clog
} heen. AS he was not registered
priest, his ministrations among his
poor people were necessarily con-
Quoted under the cover Of secrecy and
always with the shadow of conviction
and possible death before him.
Stirred to the heart at the sight of
the wretchedness and degradation of
the once proud clans of the South, he
hestirred himself with a holy zeal to
instruct his people in the principles
Of liberty and the consciousness of
right. He spoke openly against the
enormities which he daily witnessed.
He resisted strongly the taxes i'm
posed upon Catholic people for the
support of ministers of hostile relig-
ion. Accordingly he incurred very
early the hatred of the dominant par
ties of the district, those priest hun
tiers to whom the thought of a suffer
ing priest was more grateful than FOOD
to starving man.
tent in Ireland. George III had just
assembled the throne, and was begin
ming that reign of mad tyranny which
makes his name hardly less execrated
than that of Cromwell. Into the life
OF the Irish peasantry a new spirit
had been born, a spirit, alas, not in
accord with their ancient traditions
and national courage. 1t was the spirit
of secret associations to which they
were indeed driven as a last resort
from the expressions of England.
The Steel Boys and the Oak Boys
were matched by the powerful White
boys of Tipperary, who took their
name from the custom they had of
wearing their white shirts over their
clothing during their secret nocturnal
rceetings. The fears inspired in the
hearts of the Protestant Ascendancy
by the operations of the Whiteboys
caused the government to dispatch a
regiment under the Earl of Drogheda
to garrison the little town Of Clog
Iieen, where the soldiery were made
to feel that the new enemy was some
thing to be reckoned with.
The brave conduct of Father Sheehy
In denouncing English oppression and
defending his poor, downtrodden flock
drew upon him spirit of implacable
7 hatred, which eliminated in incrimi-
mating him in the doings of the White.
boys. For time he was hunted
from place to place, and price put
Upon his head. 1t became a felony
to- shelter or even to associate with
/ him, until the good priest began to
) feel that his very life was a burden
to- those he should raise up and com
fort.
Taking refuge at length in an emp
IL ty tomb in the graveyard of Shan
VI draghan, he wrote to the government
offering himself on condition that his
trial for alleged treason should take
place in Dublin instead of Clonmel
: where he should be bounded by tn,
u interruptions Tipperary Magistrates
Maude, Hewetson and Bagwell.
AT the trial which took place ir
Dublin year later Father Sheehy
was acquitted Of the charges pre-
ferred against him, but before h.
b could go forth free man the iniquit!
Is Of. the priest hunters had already pre-
@ pared new charge, the very presen
station of which by men like the TIP
perary Magistrates meant most Ger
tain conviction. Shortly before, maj
v named Bridge, whom the enemy ha,
snborned as witness against Fathe
Sheehy, suddenly disappeared. Tn
4 Priests foes started the cry of mul
& der, and laid the act against the doc
IIs OF Father Sheehy.
IN The poor priest was again takel
into custody, and brought to trial a
Glonmel There in the midst of tn
enemies whom his manly Chrstianit
had offended, he was put through
form of trial. 1t was proven conclu
asssively by the most trustworthy and re
III spectacle witnesses that Father Shee