Few dioceses of Ireland present so uninterrupted a succession of bishops
as Achonry in the sixteenth century. Thomas Ford, Master of Arts, and an
Augustin Canon of the Abbey of Saint Mary and Saint Petroc, in the
diocese of Exeter, was appointed its bishop on the 13th of October,
1492, and after an episcopate of only a few years, had for his successor
Thomas O'Congalan, "a man in great reputation, not only for his wisdom,
but also for his charity to the poor". He, too, was summoned to his
reward in 1508, and a Dominican Father, named Eugene O'Flanagan, was
appointed to succeed him on the 22nd December, the same year. The Bull
of his appointment to the See of Achonry is given by De Burgo, page 480,
and it describes Dr. Eugene as "ordinis fratrum Praedicatorum
professorem ac in Theologia Baccalaureum, in sacerdotio et aetate
legitima constitutum cui apud Nos de Religionis zelo, literarum
scientia, vitae munditia, honestate morum, spiritualium providentia, et
temporalium circumspectione, ac aliis multiplicium virtutum donis, fide
digna testimonia perhibentur". The learned historian of the Dominican
order gives two other Briefs of the then reigning Pontiff, Julius the
Second, by one of which the newly-appointed bishop was absolved from all
irregularities and censures which he might perchance have incurred
during his past life, whilst the other authorized him to receive
episcopal consecration from any Catholic bishop he might choose, having
communion with the Apostolic See. Dr. O'Flanagan was present in Rome at
the time of his appointment to the see of Saint Nathy, and before his
departure received from the Holy Father commendatory letters to King
Henry the Seventh, from which we wish to give one extract, in order to
place in clearer light the relations, so often mistaken or
misrepresented, which subsisted between the English monarchs and the
occupants of our episcopal sees. After stating that by Apostolic
authority he had constituted Dr. O'Flanagan bishop of the vacant See of
Achonry, Pope Julius thus addresses the English king:
"Cum itaque, Fili charissime, sit virtutis opus, Dei
ministros benigno favore prosequi, ac eos verbis et operibus
pro regis aeterni gloria venerari, serenitatem Vestram
Regiam rogamus et hortamur attente quatenus eundem Eugenium
electum, et praefatam Ecclesiam suae curae commissam, habens
pro Nostra et Apostolicae Sedis reverentia propensius
commendatos, in ampliandis et conservandis juribus suis sic
eos benigni favoris auxilio prosequaris, ut idem Eugenius
electus, tuae celsitudinis fultus praesidio in commisso sibi
curae Pastoralis officio, possit, Deo propitio prosperari ac
tibi exinde a Deo perennis vitae praemium, et a Nobis
condigna proveniat actio gratiarum".
Dr. O'Flanagan had for his successor a bishop named _Cormac_, who seems
to have held this see for about twelve years, and died before the close
of 1529. During his episcopate a provincial synod was held in Galway the
27th of March, 1523, and amongst the signatures appended to its acts was
that of "Cormacus Episcopus Akadensis manu propria". It was in this
synod that the famous will of Dominick Lynch received the sanction of
the western bishops. This will is memorable in the history of the
period, not only as showing the affluence of the burgher class, but also
on account of the testator's munificence to the Church, as an instance
of which we may mention that among his various bequests there is one
item assigning a legacy _to all the Convents of Ireland_. (See _Irish
Arch. Miscel._, vol. i. pag. 76 seq.). Dr. Cormac was succeeded by a
Dominican Father, named Owen, or Eugene, who, as is mentioned in a
manuscript catalogue of Dominican bishops, held this see in 1530, and by
his death in 1546, left it vacant for Fr. Thomas O'Fihely, of the order
of Saint Augustine. This bishop was appointed on the 15th of January,
1547, as appears from the following consistorial record: "1547, die 15
Januarii S.S. providit Ecclesiae Achadensi in Hibernia vacanti per
obitum Eugenii de persona P. Thomae Abbatis monasterii S. Augustini
Mageonen. cum retentione monasterii". Dr. O'Fihely governed this see for
eight years, till his translation to Leighlin, as we find thus recorded
in the same consistorial acts: "1555, die 30 Augusti: S.S. praefecit
Ecclesiae Laghlinensi Thomam Episcopum Acadensem cum retentione
parochialis Ecclesiae Debellyns, Dublinensis Dioecesis". This
translation to Leighlin is also commemorated by Herrera in his
"Alphabetum Augustinianum", pag. 450. The Elizabethan Chancellor of
Leighlin, Thady Dowling, in his Annals under the year 1554, gives the
following entry: "Thomas Filay, alias Fighill, Minorum frater
auctoritate Apostolica Episcopus Leighlinensis". (I.A.S. 1849, part 2nd,
pag. 40.) The apparent discrepancy between this entry and the
consistorial record may, perhaps, be referred to the well-known
inaccuracy of the Anglo-Irish annalists, or perhaps the bishop himself
exchanged the Augustinian order for that of St. Francis--similar changes
from one religious order to another not being unfrequent in the
sixteenth century.
Cormac O'Coyne was appointed his successor in the See of Achonry in
1556, and died in 1561. This prelate belonged to the order of Saint
Francis, and was probably the same as "frater Cormacus, guardianus
conventus fratrum Minorum de Galvia", who signed the decrees of the
provincial synod of 1523 (I.A.S. Miscell., vol. i. pag. 81). The next
bishop was appointed on 28th January, 1562, as is thus registered in the
consistorial acts:--
"1562, die 28 Januarii: Referente Cardinale Morono Sua
Sanctitas providit Ecclesiae Achadensi vacanti per obitum
bon. mem. Cormaci O'Coyn nuper Episcopi Achadensis extra
Romanam curiam defuncti de persona D. Eugenii O'Harth
Hiberni ordinis praedicatorum Professoris, nobilis Catholici
et concionatoris egregii commendati a R. P. Davide".
The _Pater David_ here referred to, was David Wolf, of the Society of
Jesus, who was sent to Ireland as Apostolic Delegate in 1560, and
received special instructions from the Holy See to select the most
worthy members of the clergy for promotion to the various
ecclesiastical preferments. One of the first thus chosen by Father Wolf
and recommended to the Sovereign Pontiff, was Eugene O'Hart. The result
more than justified his choice, for during the whole long reign of
Elizabeth, Dr. O'Hart continued to illustrate our Church by his zeal,
learning, and virtues. One of the good Jesuit's letters is still happily
preserved. It is dated the 12th of October 1561, and gives us the
following interesting particulars connected with the See of Achonry and
its future bishop, Eugene O'Hart:--
"Bernard O'Huyghin, Bishop of Elphin, has resigned his
bishoprick in favour of a Dominican Father, the Prior of
Sligo, named Andrew Crean, a man of piety and sanctity, who
is, moreover, held in great esteem by the laity, not so much
for his learning as for his amiability and holiness....
Father Andrew is accompanied by another religious of the
same order, named _Owen_ or _Eugene O'Harty_, a great
preacher, of exemplary life, and full of zeal for the glory
of God: he lived for about eight years in Paris, and I am of
opinion (though he knows nothing of it, and goes thither on
a quite different errand) that he would be a person well
suited for a bishoprick. And should anything happen to
Father Andrew, for accidents are the common lot of all,
Father Eugene would be a good substitute, although the
present bishop did not resign in his favour. Should it
please God, however, to preserve Father Andrew, and appoint
him to the See of Elphin, his companion might be appointed
to the See of Achonry, which diocese has remained vacant
since the demise of Cormac O'Coyn of happy memory, of the
order of Saint Francis. The Cathedral Church of Achonry is
at present used as a fortress by the gentry of the
neighbourhood, and does not retain one vestige of the
semblance of religion; and I am convinced that the aforesaid
Eugene, by his good example and holy life, and with the aid
of his friends, would be able to take back that church, and
act with it as Dr. Christopher (Bodkin) did in Tuam". (See
_Introd. to Abps. of Dublin_, pag. 86 seq.)
From this passage we learn that the Statement of De Burgo in regard of
Dr. Eugene, is inexact: "from being Prior of the Convent of Sligo", he
says "he was made Bishop of Achonry". (_Hib. Dom._, 486.) Dr. Eugene's
companion, however, was the Prior, and not Dr. Eugene himself. His was a
still higher post amongst the illustrious fathers of the Dominican
Order, as we will just now learn from another ancient record.
The published writings of Rev. John Lynch, Archdeacon of Tuam, throw
great light on the history of Ireland during the sixteenth and the
beginning of the seventeenth century. He was known, however, to have
composed other works, which till late years were supposed to be
irretrievably lost. It was only two or three years ago that a large
treatise "on the History of the Irish Church", by this learned
archdeacon, was discovered in the Bodleian Library, and we learn from a
few extracts which have been kindly communicated to us, that it is a
work of paramount importance for illustrating the lives of some of the
greatest ornaments of our island during the sad era of persecution. As
regards the appointment of Dr. O'Hart, this work informs us that he was
nephew of the preceding bishop, whom he styles _Cormack O'Quinn_, and
when young, took the habit of the order of Saint Dominick in the convent
of Sligo. In after years he was chosen Prior of this same convent, from
which post he was advanced to be Provincial of the order in Ireland. It
was whilst he discharged the duties of this important office that the
sessions of the Council of Trent were re-opened in 1562, and he was
unanimously chosen by his religious brethren to proceed thither as their
procurator and representative. Father Wolf, however, made him bearer of
letters to the Pope of still more momentous import, "_ut eum ad
Episcopalem in Achadensi sede dignitatem eveheret_". Dr. Lynch adds,
regarding his companion on this journey: "On his journey to Trent he was
accompanied by another member of the convent of Sligo, Andrew O'Crean,
who fell sick in France, and not being able to proceed further, there
received letters from the Pope, appointing him Bishop of Elphin".
It was probably in Rome that Dr. O'Hart was raised to the episcopal
dignity, and on the 25th of May, 1562, and accompanied by Dr. O'Herlihy,
Bishop of Ross, and MacConghail, Bishop of Raphoe, he took his place
amongst the assembled Fathers of Trent. The metrical catalogue of the
bishops of this great Council describes these three ornaments of our
Church as
"... Tres juvenes quos frigida Hibernia legat
Eugenium, Thomamque bonos, justumque Donaldum
Omnes ornatos ingens virtutibus orbis
Misit ut hanc scabiem tollant, morbumque malignum
Sacratis omnes induti tempora mitris".
The votes and arguments of Dr. O'Hart are especially commemorated in the
acts of the subsequent sessions of the Council. Thus, on the question of
ecclesiastical jurisdiction, some were anxious to expressly define that
episcopal jurisdiction was derived immediately from God. This opinion,
however, was warmly impugned by the Bishop of Achonry, who assigned the
three following motives for rejecting it:--"1st, Were this jurisdiction
derived immediately from God, we would have innumerable independent
sources of authority, which would lead to anarchy and confusion. 2nd,
Such an opinion leads towards the heretical tenets, and seems to favour
the Anglican opinion, that the king is head of the Church, and that the
bishops being consecrated by three other bishops, receive their
authority from God. 3rd, Were such a doctrine once admitted, the
Sovereign Pontiff could not deprive bishops of their jurisdiction,
which is contrary to the prerogatives of the Holy See, and repugnant to
the primary notion of the Christian Church". The opinion of Dr. O'Hart
was embraced by almost all the other bishops, and the historian of the
council adds: "Quae sententia omnibus placere maxime visa fuit". Even
the Papal legates, when subsequently dealing with this controversy,
expressly refer to the reasoning of our bishop. On another occasion,
when the question of episcopal residence was discussed, an Irish bishop,
who was probably Dr. Eugene, stated the following curious fact:--
"Est necessarium ut Praelati intersint in conciliis regum et
principum, alias actum esset de religione in multis regnis.
Nam in Hibernia cum ageretur concilium reginae Mariae et duo
contenderent de Episcopatu, alter Catholicus, alter
haereticus, dixit advocatus Catholici, adversarium esse
repellendum quia obtinuit Episcopatum a rege schismatico
Henrico VIII.; tunc statim praefecti consilio judicaverunt
illium reum esse laesae majestatis. Ille respondit: rogo ut
me audiatis; nam si Henricus fuit Catholicus, necesse est ut
regina sit schismatica aut e contra; eligite ergo utrum
velitis. Tunc praefecti, his auditis, illum absolverunt et
eidem Episcopatum concesserunt".
The Acts of the Council register Dr. Eugene's name as
follows:--"Eugenius Ohairt, Hibernus, ordinis Praedicatorum, Episcopus
Acadensis". The synod being happily brought to a close, the good bishop
hastened to his spiritual flock, and during the long eventful period of
Elizabeth's reign, laboured indefatigably in ministering to their wants,
and breaking to them the bread of life. He enjoyed at the same time the
confidence of the Holy See, and several important commissions were
entrusted to him. When in 1568 Dr. Creagh wrote from his prison to Rome,
praying the Holy Father to appoint without delay a new bishop to the see
of Clogher, Cardinal Morone presented his petition, and added: "Causa
committi posset in partibus D. Episcopo Acadensi et aliquibus aliis
comprovincialibus Episcopis". Amongst the papers of the same illustrious
Cardinal, who was at this time "Protector of Ireland", there is another
minute which records the following resolutions regarding our Irish
Church: "The administration of the see of Armagh should be given to some
prelate during the imprisonment of the archbishop, and should the Holy
Father so approve, this prelate should be the Bishop of Achonry. The sum
which is given to assist the Primate of Armagh should be transmitted
through the President of the College of Louvain. In each province of
Ireland one Catholic Bishop should be chosen by the Apostolic See, to
give testimonials to those of the clergy who come to Rome, viz., in
Ulster, the Bishop of Achonry, during the imprisonment of the
Metropolitan; in Munster, the Bishop of Limerick; in Connaught, the
same Bishop of Achonry; and in Leinster, too, the Bishop of Limerick"
(_Ex Archiv. Sec. Vatic._). A few years later we find a brief addressed
to "Eugenio Accadensi", granting him some special faculties, and
moreover, authorizing him to make use of them throughout "the whole
province of Tuam". The only other notice I have met with regarding Dr.
Eugene connected with this period of his episcopate, is from the Vatican
list of 1578, which gives the names of the clergy who were actually
engaged in the mission in Ireland. The first name on the list is
"Reverendissimus Edmundus Episcopus Corchagiensis, pulsus tamen
Episcopatu". Next comes "Episcopus Rossensis doctus qui interfuit
concilio Tridentino et ipse exulans". The third name is that of Dr.
O'Hart, "Episcopus Accadensis ex ordine Praedicatorum".
Our Bishop was subjected to many annoyances and persecutions whilst
Bingham administered the government of Connaught. This governor was a
worthy agent of Elizabeth, imbued with her principles, and animated with
her hatred of the Catholic faith: his cruel exactions and barbarity
became proverbial in the West, and he reaped a rich harvest of
maledictions from the good natives of that province. In Dowera's
narrative, published by the Celtic Society in 1849, mention is
incidentally made of an excursion of this governor to the episcopal town
of Dr. Eugene: "he passed the mountain", says this narrative (pag. 207),
"not far from an abbey called Banada, and encamped at night at O'Conroy
(Achonry) a town of the Bishop Oharte". It seems to have been in some
such excursion that Dr. Eugene was arrested in the beginning of 1585,
and sent a close prisoner to Dublin Castle. Sir John Perrott, who was
then Lord Deputy, commissioned the Protestant Archbishop of Armagh, Dr.
Long, to visit him, and a fulsome letter of this dignitary to
Walsingham, dated 4th June, 1585, reveals to us the important fact that
the hopes and desires of the government of that period were precisely
like those of the soupers of our own days. Dr. Long's letter is as
follows: "Owen O'Hart, Bishop of Achanore, alias Achadensis, committed
unto me by his Lordship to be conferred with, who was at the Council of
Trent, is brought by the Lord's good direction to acknowledge his
blindness, to prostrate himself before her majesty, whom he afore agreed
to accurse in religion. So persuaded, I doubt not of great goodness to
ensue by his means. He has resigned his Bishoprick and _no doubt_ (void
of all temporizing) is thoroughly persuaded that the man of sin sitteth
in Rome. I assure your honour if we used not this people more for gain
than for conscience, here would the Lord's work be mightily advanced".
(_Record Office, Ir. Cor._, vol. cxvii.) The Protestant primate soon
found that these his desires and hopes were as groundless as his
tenets, and hence, as soon as the circumstances permitted, Dr. Eugene
was deprived of his temporalities, and a crown nominee was appointed to
administer the see of Achonry. Perrott, however, was for the present
anxious to conciliate the powerful septs of the Western Province, most
of whom were closely allied to the O'Harts, and hence he gave full
liberty to our Bishop on his acknowledging the sovereignty of Elizabeth.
In an indenture made on 23rd September, 1585, the various members of the
O'Hart family and other Western septs submitted to hold their lands from
the crown, and amongst the favours granted in return by the lord deputy,
we find it decreed "that the Lord Bishop of Aghconry shall have four
quarters of land adjoining his house or town of Skrine in the barony of
Tireragh, free, and six quarters as a demesne to his house or town of
Achonry in the barony of Magheraleyny, free" (_Morrin's Calendar_, ii.
pag. 150; and publications of I. A. S. 1846, pag. 345). In another
inquisition which was held in 1558, we find it further mentioned that
the Bishop of Achonry was allowed to hold one quarter of land in Kilmore
in the barony of Belaghanes, commonly called Mac Costello's country
(_Morrin_, ib., pag. 141). There is also a State Paper of 1586, which
not only mentions Dr. O'Hart as Bishop of Achonry, but further adds that
the friars then held in peace their abbeys and houses throughout all
Sligo and Mayo. As soon, however, as the government found itself
sufficiently strong to despise the O'Harts and their dependants, a
Protestant Bishop was appointed to hold this see. Dr. Mant, indeed, is
of opinion that Miler McGrath, appointed in 1607, was the first crown
nominee to Achonry. Archdeacon Cotton is more discreet in his statement:
"Queen Elizabeth", he says, "appears to have neglected filling up this
see, as well as some few others, during great part of her reign". Ware,
too, only obscurely hinted that, besides the Catholic Bishop Eugene,
there was another contemporary of the same name holding from the crown
the see of Achonry. Nothing more, however, was known about this Bishop
till the manuscript history by Archdeacon Lynch, above referred to,
disclosed to us some remarkable features of his ministry. This
contemporary Protestant Bishop of Achonry was Eugene O'Conor, who, from
being dean of this see, was appointed by letters patent of 1st December,
1591, Bishop of Killala and administrator of Achonry. Dr. O'Hart had
been in early life the friend and school companion of this court
favourite, and hence easily persuaded him not to interfere in the
spiritual administration of the diocese, engaging, on the other hand, to
pay him annually one hundred and eighty marks, that is, the full revenue
of the see. One passage of this narrative is so important, that we must
cite the original words of the learned Lynch: "Id etiam commodi ex
episcopatibus Achadensi et Alladensi Eugenio O'Conor ab Elizabeth Regina
collatis hausit, ut ab illa sede sua minime motus fuerit, utpote cui
arcto amicitiae nexu ante religionis mutationem devinctus fuerat, sed
centum et octaginta marcarum censu veteri sodali quotannis persoluto
quietem sibi et functiones episcopales intra suae Dioecesis fines
obeundi potestatem comparavit. Et alter ille Eugenius ideo tantum a fide
descivit, ut se fluxis et caducis divitiis et voluptatibus expleret". By
this means Dr. O'Hart secured peace for his diocese during the remainder
of Elizabeth's reign; if the temporalities were lost, his spiritual
fold, at least, was preserved from the wolves that threatened it, and
the good Bishop was enabled to continue undisturbed to instruct his
faithful children, and dispense to them the blessings of our holy faith.
It was in 1597 that the Franciscan Superior, Father Mooney, visited the
western convents of his order. During this visitation he met with Dr.
O'Hart, and in the narrative which he subsequently composed, he
describes our good bishop as being then venerable for his years, and
still not deficient in strength and energy, "grandaevus, robustus
tamen". For six years more Dr. O'Hart continued to rule the see of
Achonry, till at length, having survived the arch-enemy of his Church
and country, he, in 1603, yielded his soul to God, having attained the
forty-third year of his episcopate, and the one-hundredth of his age. He
was interred in his cathedral church, and Lynch describes his place of
sepulture as being "prope aram principalem suae Ecclesiae in cornu
Evangelii".