The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1910-07-23
Toward End of Sixteenth Century
Irish Priests Were Cruelty
Prosecuted
Heroic Fortitude of Franciscans
Forms a Remarkable Chapter
in History
Methods Employed by the Persecu
tors Were Savage Beyond
Description.

About the year 1860 the persecutio"
Of the Irish priests was carried on with
savage barbarity throughout the Diff
ferent parts of the country. The in
ducements held out TO inforlners and
priest-hunters, by those who coveted
their possessions as we'll as their lives
was SO great that it was almost i'm
possible to escape the merciless sleuth
hounds thirsting for their prey, says
the Irish World.
Father Mooney, in his work on tho
prosecutions of the Franciscans in tho
seventeenth century, says; Though
they were violently driven out of the
converts into the great towns, and
the converts profanely turned into
dwellings. and some OF the fathers suf-
fered violence and others death. yet
in the country and remote places they
remained in their converts, celebrat-
ing the divine office. preaching to tho
people, and fulfilling their other func-
tions, holding 1t sinful to lay aside or
even hide their religious habits
through human fear"
The Franciscan convent at Youghal.
the parent establishment Of that. orr
der in Ireland, was founded by Maur-
ice Fitzgerald in the year 1881. This
abbey continued for many centuries
the cemetery of the Desmond family.
I During the terrors of Elizabeth's
reign this extensive convent had been
pillaged and so completely demolished
ruins was allowed to remain. Those
of the community who had escaped
the storm fled for refuge, into the
mountains of the County Waterford.
Daniel O'Sullivan was one of tho
first martyrs. He was humble
brother in the convent of Youghal, but
by his answering adherence to his
order and faith, he brought upon him.
self the vengeance of Capt. Dowdal,
then in command there. This tyrant
selected the poor, jealous friar to
make an example Of him, to brighten
other religious and ecclesiastics. With
this object in view, Brother O'sulli-
van was subjected to the most cruel
and excruciating tortures They took
him to Trinity Gate, and tied his
hands behind his back, and, having
fastened heavy stones to his feet,
thrice pulled him up with ropes from
the earth to the top Of the tower, ana
| left him hanging there for a time.
| At length, after many insults and
i tortures he was hung with his head
down and his feet In the air. at the
mill near the monastery. While he
lived he never uttered an impatient
word, but necessarily repeated pray
ers now aloud, now in a low voice.
The soldiers were now ordered to
shoot at him, as though he was tar
get, and yet that his suffering might
be the longer and more cruel, they did
not aim at his head, or heart, but as
much as they pleased at any other
part of his body.
i Amid insults, jeers and ribaldry the
soldiers fired at him, vieing with each
other ais to who would hit nearer to
a vital part without killing him. All
this time the feeble voice Of the mar
| tyr, beseeching God to grant him mer-
Icy and grace, and pardon to his per-
secutors. mingled with the ribald
oaths Of his murderers. At length,
when they had grown tired Of the
savage sport and when their victim
had tainted, one with more mercy
| than the rest, shot him through the
heart. Thus did the martyr seal his
devotion with his blood, April %, 1869.
Father Mooney narrates the death
lof Father o'Dowd, another Francis
can. who. was rartyred IN 1871. He
states that the event took place in the
convent Of Elphin. The soldiers
pressed one OF the inmates, who was
| a captive, to reveal all he knew OF
the hiding places Of other members.
He begged to be allowed to make his
confession to Father O'Dowd, which
favor wa granted. AZ soon as the
4 confession was over they hung him.
u