Martyrs Associated with Cashel and Emly

Dermot O'Hurley
Terence Albert O'Brien
John Kearney
William Tirry

 

 

Dermot O'Hurley
Born in Emly, Archbishop of Cashel

Dermot O'Hurley was born near Emly. With no intention of becoming a priest at the time, Dermot studied Law at Louvain University, serving later at Rheims University and eventually going on to Rome in 1570. In 1581, and while still a layman, he was asked to become Archbishop of Cashel. He accepted, and after due Ordinations set out for Ireland. He landed near Skerries, but was recognised whilst staying with the Baron of Slane. As a result, he left for his diocese, first calling on the Earl of Ormond at Carrick-on-Suir. But the Baron, who had fallen foul of the authorities and was fearful for his possessions, followed and asked the Archbishop to return to Dublin with him. This the Archbishop agreed to, but realised that he was being looked upon as a prisoner as they journeyed to Dublin. On arrival he was imprisoned in Dublin Castle, and later "tortured with the most fiendish cruelty" and hanged.

 

Terence Albert O'Brien
Born in Cappamore, Bishop of Emly

He was born in Cappamore in 1601, joining the Dominicans in 1621. Ordained in Spain in 1627, he was appointed Bishop of Emly in 1648. He was in Limerick during the siege by lreton in 1651. After the fall of the city, he was arrested in the plague house where he was attending to the sick and dying. He was immediately tried by court-martial, sentenced to be hanged, and executed the following day.

 

John Kearney, O.F.M.

Born in CashelBorn at Cashel in 1619, John Kearney entered the Franciscan novitiate at Kilkenny. He went to Louvain for studies in 1638. On his way back to Ireland in 1644, he was captured by the English Parliamentarians. He was tortured and condemned to death, but was helped to escape before the execution could be carried out. He returned to France, eventually sailing for Wexford. In Ireland he taught philosophy at Cashel, became Novice Master at Waterford, and Guardian at Carrick-on-Suir, but spent most of his nine years in Ireland as a wanted man. He was eventually captured and martyred at Clonmel on 11 March 1653. His body was buried in the old Friary at Cashel, in the area occupied by the former Presentation Convent.

William Tirry, O.S.A.
Arrested and buried in Fethard

William was born in Cork in 1608. As an Augustinian, he studied on the Continent, returning to Ireland in the late 1630s. He was secretary to his uncle, the Bishop of Cork, for some time, and then became chaplain to the family of Viscount Kilmallock. About 1654 he went to live at the residence of a relative at Fethard, County Tipperary. He lived there in seclusion until he was betrayed by some informers. Arrested on Holy Saturday, March 25th., 1654, he was tried on April 26th. He was condemned to death together with Matthew Fogarty, O.F.M. Capuchin. As was not unusual, Matthew's sentence was commuted to one of banishment. William was martyred at Clonmel on May 12 and was buried with some ceremony at the ruins of the Augustinian Priory at Fethard.