(From Hartyr’s Synopsis, p. 251)

F. NICHOLAS FITZGERALD, to escape from the cruel persecution, fled to a wood, and lay concealed there. 

He was seized in his monastic habit, taken in chains to the city of Dublin, and condemned by the Viceroy, who was never sated with the blood of Catholics, to be hanged, and while half-alive to be quartered. 

He endured that manner of death courageously for the Catholic faith, wearing his religious habit.

The faithful, influenced by pious devotion, preserved the clothes and blood of the courageous martyr, dividing them into small portions as relics in the year of Christ’s birth 1581, in the month of September. 

His father Maurice Fitzgerald, and his mother, Margaret FitzRedmond, obtained, as a very great favour, that the four quarters of their beloved son, when cut asunder, should be given to them for burial in the tomb of his ancestors in the church of the Nuns of the Order of St. Brigid, in Kildare. 

Our glorious martyr was descended from the noble race of the Geraldines.1

There is a tombstone close by the vestry door of the cathedral of Kildare which bears the names of the parents of Nicholas Fitzgerald.2

If the original position of this stone was ascertained, it would determine the place where the martyr was buried.

1 Thomas, 2nd son of Thomas, 7th Earl of Kildare, settled at Lackagh, midway between Kildare and Monasterevan

2 The inscription is given in Comerford’s Dioceses of Kildare arid Leighlin, ii.29

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

THIS priest was a native of Leinster. 

He was accused by the heretics of celebrating Mass.1

He was hanged and quartered by order of the cruel tyrant Marshal Burrowes, and so deserved to obtain a martyr’s crown September 4th, 1597.

See also Copinger and Wadding.

1 For that he said Mass to Teig MacHugh.’ Copinger

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

Comemorate 6th September

While striving to protect the flock entrusted to his care from heresy, he was captured, and ended his life in prison.

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

(From Hartry’s Triumphalia, p. 257.)

ON the 8 of September, 1620, the Rev. James Eustace received the crown of martyrdom, and by sufferings on earth like those of his brother in religion Nicholas Fitzgerald,[1] obtained a reward in heaven. 

The author says he heard the account of the martyrdom of these two religious from a venerable priest, Richard Kelly, then in the seventy-sixth year of his age and in the fifty-first of his priesthood.

1 See p. 120, ante-a

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

(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.

(From Hartry’s Synopsis, p. 259

IN the Abbey of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Assaroe1 in the Co. Donegal, the Abbot, Eugene O’Gallagher and Bernard O’Trevir, his Prior, and the other monks to the number of thirty, lived according to their rule, undisturbed from the first erection of the abbey till some years after the suppression of nearly all the other monasteries,2 while the power of O’Neill and O’Donnell lasted. 

But when they fled across the sea the monks too were forced to fly, and when they died at Rome in 1609,3 the English took occasion to seize on their vast domains and possessions, threw down the monastery, and drove out the monks. 

The venerable Eugene O’Gallagher who happened to be away from his monastery, was slain by the aforesaid enemies through hatred of the faith. 

So too, Bernard O’Trevir, one of his monks, when flying from his persecutors, was slain near the monastery in the year 1606, in the same year and month as the Abbot, but not on the same day, and entered heaven wearing a martyr’s crown.

The author says he heard the account of the martyrdom of these two religious from a venerable priest, Richard Kelly, then in his seventy-sixth year.

See also Rothe, O’Sullevan Henriquez, and Bruodin.

1 The abbey is close to the town of Ballyshannon. It was founded in 1178 by O'Cannanan, chief of Tyrconnell.

2 See Introduction p.7

3 See Meehans Flight of the Earls

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

(From Bruodin’s Propugnaculum, p. 467)

HE was a Drogheda merchant, & when returning from France to Ireland he was driven by contrary winds into a harbour in the south of England. 

The Mayor questioned him about the spiritual supremacy of Elizabeth. 

Dowdall answered, as a Catholic should, that he recognized no other as Head of the Church than the Roman Pontiff. 

Because he had spoken thus, his merchandise was confiscated, and he was taken to Exeter, his hands bound behind his back as if he were a robber. 

There after being put to the rack, he was hanged and his body was cut into four parts; and in this way, in return for temporal goods, this very wise merchant got in exchange eternal life. 

He suffered September 20th, 1600.

‘This year’ (1599), says Challoner,1 ‘I find two of the laity executed for religious matters, viz., Mr. John Lyon... and Mr. James Dowdal, an Irish merchant, native of Wexford, who for the same cause was hanged, bowelled, and quartered at Exeter, August 13, whose burial-place, says his countryman, John Mullan of Cork, is said to be illustrated with miracles to this day.’

Rev. Dr. Oliver, who obtained access to the official records of Devon, says2 : 

‘The only victims I have met within Devonshire are …. . and James Doudal, 

an Irish merchant and a native of Wexford. 

For denying the Queen’s spiritual supremacy he was thrown into Exeter gaol. 

When I examined the calendar of the prisoners in September, 1824. 

I found this minute at the autumn assizes of 1598 

“Jacobus Dowdall remanet in gaola per mandatum Concilii Privati.’3

(J.D. remains in prison by order of the privy Council)

At the following Lent assizes he is thus noticed : 

‘Jacobus Dowdall remanet quia judicandus pro proditione.”4

(J.D. remains because he is to be tried for high treason)

At the autumn assizes 

“Jacobus Dowdall suspendatur, &c., pro proditione.”5

(J.D. shall be hanged, &c., for high treason)

His execution took place on the 13th of August, 1598.’

See also Rothe, Copinger, and Molanus.

1 Memoirs, i. 198

2 See his Collections, p. 2

3 J.D. remains in prison by order of the privy Council

4 J.D. remains because he is to be tried for high treason

5 J.D. shall be hanged, &c., for high treason

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

GEORGE HALLEY, in religion Brother Angelus of St. Joseph, was born in Herefordshire, in England, of Catholic parents, by whom he was entrusted for his education to the care of a Carmelite missionary. 

In the year 1640 he came to Ireland to join the Carmelite Order, being then in the 18th year of his age.

As a happy omen of his future destinies, he received the sacred habit of Our Lady on the 5th of May, the feast of St. Angelus, the Carmelite Martyr.

Having completed the noviciate and pronounced the vows of religion, 

he was sent by his superiors to Drogheda,1 in the year 1642, to enter upon a course of studies in a house of the Order.

It happened that in this year almost all the Catholics were relentlessly driven forth from the town by the Puritan garrison.

Br. Angelus, with a few of his religious brethren, contrived to remain Unnoticed for some time, intending to depart as soon as they could do so unobserved. 

But before he could effect his purpose, he was discovered and thrown into prison, where Protestant ministers left no means untried to make him renounce the Catholic religion; but he remained firm, and Continued even to observe the strict abstinence from flesh meat prescribed by the rule of the Order. 

He was, in consequence, subjected to injury and insult, and constrained to fast on bread and water. 

The ministers persisted long in fruitless attempts to shake his constancy. 

At length, in order to put an end to the harassing conflict and to secure himself against danger, he opposed a rigours and unbroken silence to their vexatious importunities, contenting himself merely with Occasionally replying: -

‘The way of the Lord is immaculate, and the ways of heretics vile.’ 

Throughout this encounter with the heretical ministers, Brother Angelus, like the prophet, ceased not to beseech the Almighty Giver of gifts to grant him perseverance and constancy. 

He frequently offered to God the sacrifice of his life, and often expressed to his Catholic fellow-prisoners his ardent desire to shed his blood for the faith, in order thus to encourage and sustain them in their hour of trial. 

All attempts to subdue the constancy of the dauntless friar having entirely failed, Br. Angelus was released from prison. 

Quitting Drogheda immediately, he set off to join his religious brethren, whether at Ardee2 or at Athboy3 our Annalists do not say. 

On his way he rested in a certain town, called by one of our Annalists Selanum, probably the present town of Slane by another Charigia. 

While there, the place was attacked by the Puritans under Lord Moore,1 on August, the 14th and, being insufficiently provided with gunpowder, was captured by him during the following night.

Brother Angelus, considering that his death was at hand, assisted at Mass in the morning, 

together with some nuns, who were also at the time flying from their persecutors, and received the Holy Eucharist ; after which he earnestly exhorted the nuns to continue steadfast in the faith, to faithfully observe their sacred vows, and, if necessary, to defend them by a glorious death. 

He then concluded his discourse by offering up his own life to God for the Catholic faith. 

In order to await the manifestations of the divine will in his regard, he refrained from needlessly or rashly exposing himself, but endeavoured to escape unobserved in the company of the nuns, with whom he appeared before Lord Moore.4

The nuns were granted their liberty by the Puritan Commander. 

But not so Brother Angelus for him the tyrant reserved his frowns, and informed him that no such mercy would be shown to him, whom, he said,

he well knew to be a

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

(From Bruodin’s Propugnaculum, p. 450)

THERE was formerly in the diocese of Limerick a celebrated monastery of the holy Order of Citeaux, situated on the river Maigue,1 from which the monastery took its name. 

It was founded in a most generous way by Donald O’Brien formerly Prince, or as other say, King of Limerick.2

Here a large community of monks, under the gentle rule of the Mellifluous Doctor, Bernard, employed themselves profitably night and day praising God, till Henry VIII., King of England, begat Elizabeth, the active agent of the Prince of darkness. 

While she was on the throne, and, like her father, creating disorder everywhere throughout Ireland, she determined to put an end to the pious exercises of the monks of Nenay, so odious to the demons.

The children of the holy Order of Citeaux refused to obey the unjust laws of that frantic woman. 

Wherefore her impious satellites made a sudden attack on the monastery, and slew at the same time forty monks and their abbot with spears and daggers, and cut off their heads, in the very church before the Blessed Sacrament.

They awaited the attack calmly, and encouraged each other to contend bravely for the faith. 

This happened on August 14th ; but I do not know the year.3

Hartry adds: Very many grave authors whom the Chrysostom4 of our Orders cites, have given a very remarkable account of forty Cistercian monks in Ireland, who with their Abbot died for the Catholic Faith, and after their glorious death are commemorated:

Concerning Ireland there is a constant tradition in reference to forty monks, martyrs, who suffered the death of the body by the swords of the impious on August 14th, and on the same day having had their heads miraculously restored to them they sang at vespers in the choir.’5

1 This river rising in Milford, Co. Cork, passes through Croom, and Adare, and falls into the Shannon seven miles below Limerick. 

Hence the name of the monastery De Magio

2 Hartyr says in 1151. Triumphalia, p. 192

3 Bruodin inserts this sketch between 1585 and 1586

4 S. Henriquez, the historian of the Order.

5 Triumphalia, p. 243

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

(From Ward’s Catalogue)

F. TADHG DONALD, of the convent of Bantry1, a famous preacher, and his companion2, were seized by English soldiers near the same monastery. 

They were tied together with their girdles, and thrown into the sea from a high rock. 

Bruodin says they were put to death on the 10th of August.

Notes:

The convent of Bantry was ‘founded by Dermot O’Sullevan, about 1460, on the water’s edge, a mile west of the town. Nothing remains of it now.

Bruodin says the name of Fr Donald’s companion was John Hanly.

1 ‘Founded by Dermot O’Sullevan, about 1460, on the water’s edge, a mile west of the town. 

Nothing remains of it now.

2 Bruodin says his name was John Hanly.

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