The Irish standard., 1910-07-23
THE PERSECUTION
OF IRISH PRIESTS
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 prosecutions
OF the Irish priests was carried on with
savage barbarity throughout the diff
ferent parts of the country. The in
ducements held out to infor,ners and
priest-hunters, by those who coveted
their possessions as we'll as their lives,
was so great that it was almost i'm
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-
tons, holding it sinful to lay aside or
through human fear"
The Franciscan convent at Yougl1al
the parent establishment of that or
der III Ireland, was founded by Maur-
ice Fitzgerald in the year 1891. This
abbey continued for many centuries
the cemetery of the Desmond family.
During the terrors of Elizabeth's
reign this extensive convent had been
pillaged and so completely demolished
that not even a single vestige of its
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 a 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 a Capt. Dowdal,
then in command there. This tyrant
selected the poor, Jealous frlar to
make an example Of him, to brighten
other religious and ecclesastics. With
this object in view, Brother O'Sulli-
van was subjected to the most cruel
and excrucating 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, and
left him hanging there for time.
At length, after many insults and
fortunes 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 all impatient
word, but necessarily repeated pray
ers now aloud, now in q low voice.
The soldiers We're now ordered to
shoot at him, as though he was q 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.
Amid insults, jeers and ribaldry the
soldiers fired at him, vieing with each
other as 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-
cy 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 %, 1863
Father Mooney narrates the death
of Father O'Dowd, another Francis
, can. who was martyred IN 1877. 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 o.
the hiding places Of other members
, He begged to be allowed to make his
, confession to Father O'Dowd, which
: favor was granted. AS soon as tn.
confession was over they hung him