(From Bouchier’s Hist. De Martyrio FE Ordinis S.F.)

In 1576 he was appointed Bishop of Mayo. 1

With Con O’Rourke OSF, he landed at Dingle, and immediately recognised. 

They were taken to Drury, President of Munster. 2 O’Hely replied for both. 

‘By God’s grace we are both priests and religious of the Order of St. Francis. Moreover, I am the Bishop of Mayo, having been appointed to that office and consecrated by the Supreme Head of the Church on earth, Gregory XIII., and I have been sent by him to Ireland to visit, and gather together, and feed with the word of Life the Catholic people confided to my care, and now scattered by the fury of the heretics. This is my calling and the cause of my return to my native country.’ 

‘do you dare,’ asked Drury, ‘to assert, like a rebel, that the Pope is the Supreme Head of the Church in Ireland, notwithstanding the lawful decrees made by the Queen and parliament to the contrary?’

‘If these laws were just,’ replied the Bishop, ‘they would not contradict what I say; and to prove the truth of my assertion, I am ready to suffer any torments you please and to lay down my life, if necessary.’ 

They were stripped; beaten; & racked; sharp points thrust between the nails and the flesh, their fingers cut off, arms and feet beaten with hammers, and their thigh-bones broken. 

They exhorted each other, urged Catholics present to persevere, and preached repentance.

Drury sent an attendant to ask whether he would conform outwardly. 

The Bishop stated that he would endure a thousand deaths rather than deny publicly or privately what had been defined as true by the Church or subscribe to what was condemned.

They were hanged on 22nd of August, 1578. When the Bishop reached the top of the ladder, he warned Drury that within a few days he should appear before the judgment-seat of God. 3 days after he was seized by a disease which baffled all the physicians. 

He declared that he was punished by God for the unjust sentence against the Bishop.

The Earl of Desmond ordered the bodies removed and buried with great honour. 70 years later, they were transferred to Askeaton monastery. 3

F. Holing’s manuscript, Magna Supplicia, states:-

'1577. William Drury, an Englishman, Viceroy of Ireland, was summoned by the Most Rev. Patrick Hely, of the Order of St. Francis, bishop (whom with his brother in religion he had condemned to death solely on account of his faith), before the judgment-seat of God to give an account of his deed.

He was seized with a very violent disease, and died soon after mad and uttering blasphemies. On the day he was buried, there was such darkness, thunder, and lightning as Ireland never saw before or since.’ 4

The year of death is uncertain. Some say 1577, others 1578, others  1579.

See also Annals of Loch Ce, Gonzaga, Harpsfield, Sander, Bozius, Verstegan, Bridgewater, Fitzsimon, Rothe, O’Sullevan, Molanus, Ward, Wadding, O’DaIy, Bruodin, Lynch, Porter, and Hueber.

[1]  Its last Bishop was Adam Magauran, appointed in 1585. Now united to Tuam,
[2] Appointed President in 1576, held office for 3 years. In year 2 hanged 400 persons. Webb’s Irish Biography.
[3] Founded 1420 by James 6th Earl of Desmond. See Meehan’s Franc. Mon., p.96
[4] 2 Spic. Ossor., iii.25.

Please pray for final perseverance for all of us!
May the martyrs of old inspire us all.