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Born: 01 March 1747, Waterford City, County Waterford
Entered: 21 July 1764, St Andrea, Rome, Italy (ROM)
Ordained: c. 1759, Rome, Italy
Died: 13 September 1798, St Patrick’s, Waterford City

Had studied 2 years Rhetoric and 3 years Philosophy and in 1770 was at Roman College.
1772 at College of Spoleto teaching Grammar and Catechism
1774 appointed to teach Rhetoric and Poetry at the Scotch College
Taught with much success up to 1777
1795 appointed PP of St Patrick’s Waterford succeeding Fr Paul Power

◆ Fr Edmund Hogan SJ “Catalogica Chronologica” :
In a letter from Rome dated 22 February 1774, Father Thorpe says “A young Irish Jesuit of the name of Barron, of ROM, has just been appointed to teach Poetry and Rhetoric at the Scotch College”
He was a man of great ability, diligence and prudence, and he taught with great success up to 1777.
1795 He succeeded Paul Power as PP of St Patrick’s, Waterford, and he died there 13 September 1798, aged 49 (CF Gordon’s “Scotichronium” p 209 Appendix)

◆ Fr Francis Finegan SJ :
After First Vows he was sent for studies in Philosophy at the Roman College, and then three successive years of Regency at Citta de Castello, Spoleto and Perugia.
At the Suppression of the Society, he was released from his vows but he resolved to continue his priestly studies - becoming a DD.
On Ordination he was recalled to Ireland by the Bishop of Waterford and appointed curate at the former Jesuit church. He eventually succeeded Paul Power as PP. He was the last link with the old Jesuit St Patrick’s, where he died 13 September 1798.

16 February 1811 At the advance ages of 73, Father Betagh, PP of the St Michael Rosemary Lane Parish Dublin, Vicar General of the Dublin Archdiocese died. His death was looked upon as almost a national calamity. Shops and businesses were closed on the day of his funeral. His name and qualities were on the lips of everyone. He was an ex-Jesuit, the link between the Old and New Society in Ireland.

Among his many works was the foundation of two schools for boys : one a Classical school in Sall’s Court, the other a Night School in Sklinner’s Row. One pupil received particular care - Peter Kenney - as he believed there might be great things to come from him in the future. “I have not long to be with you, but never fear, I’m rearing up a cock that will crow louder and sweeter for you than I ever did” he told his parishioners. Peter Kenney was to be “founder” of the restored Society in Ireland.

◆ Fr Joseph McDonnell SJ Past and Present Notes :
16th February 1811 At the advance ages of 73, Father Betagh, PP of the St Michael Rosemary Lane Parish Dublin, Vicar General of the Dublin Archdiocese died. His death was looked upon as almost a national calamity. Shops and businesses were closed on the day of his funeral. His name and qualities were on the lips of everyone. He was an ex-Jesuit, the link between the Old and New Society in Ireland.

Among his many works was the foundation of two schools for boys : one a Classical school in Sall’s Court, the other a Night School in Skinner’s Row. One pupil received particular care - Peter Kenney - as he believed there might be great things to come from him in the future. “I have not long to be with you, but never fear, I’m rearing up a cock that will crow louder and sweeter for yopu than I ever did” he told his parishioners. Peter Kenney was to be “founder” of the restored Society in Ireland.

There were seventeen Jesuits in Ireland at the Suppression : John Ward, Clement Kelly, Edward Keating, John St Leger, Nicholas Barron, John Austin, Peter Berrill, James Moroney, Michael Cawood, Michael Fitzgerald, John Fullam, Paul Power, John Barron, Joseph O’Halloran, James Mulcaile, Richard O’Callaghan and Thomas Betagh. These men believed in the future restoration, and they husbanded their resources and succeeded in handing down to their successors a considerable sum of money, which had been saved by them.

A letter from the Acting General Father Thaddeus Brezozowski, dated St Petersburg 14/06/1806 was addressed to the only two survivors, Betagh and O’Callaghan. He thanked them for their work and their union with those in Russia, and suggested that the restoration was close at hand.

A letter from Nicholas Sewell, dated Stonyhurst 07/07/1809 to Betagh gives details of Irishmen being sent to Sicily for studies : Bartholomew Esmonde, Paul Ferley, Charles Aylmer, Robert St Leger, Edmund Cogan and James Butler. Peter Kenney and Matthew Gahan had preceded them. These were the foundation stones of the Restored Society.

Returning to Ireland, Kenney, Gahan and John Ryan took residence at No3 George’s Hill. Two years later, with the monies saved for them, Kenney bought Clongowes as a College for boys and a House of Studies for Jesuits. From a diary fragment of Aylmer, we learn that Kenney was Superior of the Irish Mission and Prefect of Studies, Aylmer was Minister, Claude Jautard, a survivor of the old Society in France was Spiritual Father, Butler was Professor of Moral and Dogmatic Theology, Ferley was professor of Logic and Metaphysics, Esmonde was Superior of Scholastics and they were joined by St Leger and William Dinan. Gahan was described as a Missioner at Francis St Dublin and Confessor to the Poor Clares and irish Sisters of Charity at Harold’s Cross and Summerhill. Ryan was a Missioner in St Paul’s, Arran Quay, Dublin. Among the Scholastics, Brothers and Masters were : Brothers Fraser, Levins, Connor, Bracken, Sherlock, Moran, Mullen and McGlade.

Trouble was not long coming. Protestants were upset that the Jesuits were in Ireland and sent a petition was sent to Parliament, suggesting that the Vow of Obedience to the Pope meant they could not have an Oath of Allegiance to the King. In addition, the expulsion of Jesuits from all of Europe had been a good thing. Kenney’s influence and diplomatic skills resulted in gaining support from Protestants in the locality of Clongowes, and a counter petition was presented by the Duke of Leinster on behalf of the Jesuits. This moment passed, but anto Jesuit feelings were mounting, such as in the Orange faction, and they managed to get an enquiry into the Jesuits and Peter Kenney and they appeared before the Irish Chief Secretary and Provy Council. Peter Kenney’s persuasive and oratorical skills won the day and the enquiry group said they were satisfied and impressed.

Over the years the Mission grew into a Province with Joseph Lentaigne as first Provincial in 1860. In 1885 the first outward undertaking was the setting up of an Irish Mission to Australia by Lentaigne and William Kelly, and this Mission grew exponentially from very humble beginnings.

Later the performance of the Jesuits in managing UCD with little or no money, and then outperforming what were known as the “Queen’s Colleges” forced the issue of injustice against Catholics in Ireland in the matter of University education. It is William Delaney who headed up the effort and create the National University of Ireland under endowment from the Government.from the Government.

◆ James B Stephenson SJ Menologies 1973

Father John Barron 1747-1798
Fr John Barron succeeded Fr Paul Power as Parish priest at St Patrick’s in Waterford in 1794. He had received his degree of Doctor of Philosophy and Master of Theology at the Roman College in 1733. On the Suppression of the Society, he professed at the Scots College until 1777.

He died in Waterford on 13th September 1798, the last Jesuit Parish priest of St Patrick’s, and in his will he bequeathed the Jesuit library of our Waterford house to the Bishop, in trust for the Society, should the latter ever be restored to its Residence in St Patrick’s.

◆ Clongowes Wood College SJ HIB Archive Collection - SC/CLON/142

John Barron 1749-1798
John Barron, born in Waterford, I March 1747 was received into the Society at Rome, 21 July, 1764. He studied philosophy at the Roman College, 1767-70, and t then spent the next three years as regent at Città di Castello, Spoleto and Perugia. At the Suppression, he was, of course, released from his vows but he resolved to continue his studies for the priesthood.
Before he resumed his studies he taught at the Scots College as we learn from a letter of Fr Thorpe (English Province), 22 February 1774: “Cardinal Marefoschi has placed a young Irish Jesuit (sic) Barron of the Roman province (sic) in the Scots College where he teaches Rhetoric and Poetry to i or six of the alumni”.
Barron studied theology afterwards in Rome and graduated D.D. He had evidently been adopted by the Bishop of Waterford as on his return to Ireland he was appointed curate at St.Patrick's, Waterford. He eventually succeeded Fr Paul Power and was thus the last link in the old Jesuit association with St Patrick's. He died there, 13 September 1798.

◆ George Oliver Towards Illustrating the Biography of the Scotch, English and Irish Members SJ
JOHN BARRON In a letter of F. Thorpe, dated Rome, 22nd of February, 1774, I find mention of “a young Irish Jesuit of the name of Barron, of the Roman Province, who had just been placed in the Scotch College at Rome to teach Poetry and Rhetoric”.
At the death of F. Paul Power, Parish Priest of St. Patrick s, Waterford, he succeeded him in that living, and there ended his days : but I cannot recover the date.

Born: 1599, Ireland
Entered: 17 November 1621, St Andrea, Rome, Italy - Romanae Province (ROM)
Ordained: 1629, Rome, Italy
Died: 03 November 1635, Killaloe, County Clare

1622 Studied 3 years Philosophy
1625 Was at Perugia College teaching Grammar 2 years
1630 Goes to Ireland from Rome in September, leaving some books belonging to the Irish Mission in the Chiesa del Gesù.

◆ Fr Francis Finegan SJ :
Had already completed his Philosophy studies at Douai before Ent 17 November 1621 Rome
After First Vows he was sent on Regency to Fermo and Perugia.
1629-1629 He was sent to Rome for studies and was Ordained there 1629
1630 Sent to Ireland, but did not arrive until Spring 1631. He was sent to the diocese of Killaloe, where he was befriended by Bishop John O’Molony, and he died there 03 November 1635.

Born: 1559, Leuven, Belgium
Entered: 29 December. 1578, Leuven, Belgium - Flanders Province (FLAN)
Died: 12 November 1590, Milan, Italy - Venetae Province (Vem)

◆ Fr Edmund Hogan SJ “Catalogica Chronolgica” :
Died 12 November 1590 (Biblioth. de Bourg. Ms. 6397, lib i - Defunct in variis Provinciis)

Entered: 1626, St Andrea, Rome, Italy - Romanae Province (ROM)
Died: 13 March 1651, Perugia, Italy - Romanae Province (ROM)

◆ CATSJ A-H has
Ent St Andrea 02 December 1626
1628 CAT age 25 - unclear if this is age then or at Ent
1628 ROM CAT Called “Anconitanus”
1636 ROM CAT In Catalogue

Born: 10 January 1723, Dublin City, County Dublin
Entered: 05 November 1751, St Andrea, Rome, Italy - Romanae Province (ROM)
Final Vows: 02 February 1764
Died: 04 December 1771, College of Perugia, Perugia, Italy - Romanae Province (ROM)

1756 At Irish College Rome, seems to have been in charge (writer seems to think he was a Priest and Procurator. There are notes of items of clothing for various Irish Jesuits. His accounts are in English and Italian
1758-1762 At Irish College Poitiers - Rector being Stephen Usher

◆ Fr Edmund Hogan SJ “Catalogica Chronologica” :
1763 Was “dépensier” at Irish College Poitiers (Arrêt de la Cour 1763).

◆ Fr Francis Finegan SJ :
After First Vows he spent the next four years working at the Irish College and Professed Houses in Rome. He was then sent to the Irish College Poitiers until the dissolution of the Society in France.
1762-1767 He was recalled to ROM and once more at the Irish College there. He was later sent to Teramo and then to Perugia, where he died 04 December 1771

Born: 29 June 1740, Dublin City, County Dublin
Entered: 17 September 1759, St Andrea, Rome, Italy - Romanae Province (ROM)
Ordained: 1771, Rome, Italy
Died: 01 June 1810, Leghorn (Livorno) Italy - Romanae Province (ROM)

Studied 3 years Philosophy and 3 Theology
1770 At Roman College in 4th year Theology
1772 At Livorno College Operarius
“I stayed at Leghorn..... visited Mt Plunkett, ex-Jesuit now Prof of Moral Divinity in the public school of Leghorn” (Dr Troy’s Diary, 17 April 1777)
Fr P Plunkett was visited by Fr Glover in May 1810 (Glover’s letter to Fr Aylmer)

◆ Fr Edmund Hogan SJ “Catalogica Chronologica” :
Aggregated to the Roman Province
After 1773 he lived chiefly at Leghorn (Livorno), and for some time was a Professor of Moral and Controversy. He died there post 1810 (Oliver, Stonyhurst MSS; Hogan’s List)
1777 Dr Troy, in his Diary 16/04/1777, says “I visited Mr Plunkett, ex-Jesuit, now Professor of Moral Divinity in the Public School of Leghorn”.
1780 “Suffering from asthma and other infirmities” (Letter of Father Thorpe)
1810 Father Glover, in a letter to Father Aylmer reports him as “still labouring in the vineyard”
He kept up a constant correspondence with his former brethren in Ireland.

◆ Fr Francis Finegan SJ :
1759-1763 After First Vows he remained in Rome for a year of study in Rhetoric.
1763-1766 He was sent to the Roman College for Philosophy
1766-1767 Sent to Perugia for Regency
1767-1771 Returned to the Roman College for Theology and was Ordained there 1771
1771 Sent to Leghorn (Livorno) as Operarius at the Church
1773 At the Suppression of the Society he was incardinated at Leghorn and appointed to teach Moral Theology at the Diocesan Seminary.
It is unclear if he was reaffiliated to the Society at restoration in the two Sicilies, but he died at Leghorn (Livorno) 1810

◆ George Oliver Towards Illustrating the Biography of the Scotch, English and Irish Members SJ
PLUNKET, PETER, born in Ireland : after finishing all his scholastic studies with reputation, he was aggregated to the Roman province, and was involved in the general destruction of the Society in 1773. In a letter of F. John Thorpe dated Rome 7th July, 1780, I read “that from the fatal period of the suppression F. Plunkett had always resided in Tuscany, and chiefly at Leghorn, where he is now a valetudinarian, under an asthma and other infirmities. For some time he was Professor of Controversy and Morals in a chair established at Leghorn by the Grand Duke. To the surprise of his friends the venerable Father was still living at Leghorn in the Spring of 1804. There he died.

Born: 02 February 1640, County Dublin
Entered: 20 June 1667, St Andrea, Rome, Italy - Romanae Province (ROM)
Ordained: 1666, Rome, Italy, - pre Entry
Final Vows: 15 August 1677
Died: 24 August 1707, Irish College, Poitiers, France

Superior of Mission 2 October 1684-1690

1672 At Loreto College
1678-1693 At Irish College Rome teaching Grammar and Philosophy (M Phil), Prefect of Studies, Penitentiary and Spiritual Father. Distinguished in his Philosophy and Theology studies. Capable of teaching the higher subjects.
1693 Had been Superior of Irish Mission
1691-1700 Rector of Irish College Poitiers and again in 1703 and remained at Poitiers where he died

◆ Fr Edmund Hogan SJ “Catalogica Chronologica” :
1668 In pen : Taught at Viterbo
1678 In pen : Irish and Greek Colleges Rome, Prefect of Studies
1684 Superior of Irish Mission 02 October 1684, residing in Dublin.
1697-1699 Rector of irish College Poitiers.
“An indefatigable labourer in the vineyard” (Oliver, Stonyhurst MSS)
A very distinguished scholar; Exiled; Rector of Poitiers; Talents are praised by Dr Peter Talbot; Had defended theses “ex universa theologia” in the Roman College in 1667 (cf de Backer “Biblioth. des Écrivains SJ” and his article “Rome; Foley’s Collectanea)

◆ Fr Francis Finegan SJ :
Had studied Humanities at Lille (1656-1660) and Paris graduating MA. He then went to the Irish College Rome 25 September 1662, and was Ordained there February 1666, before Ent 20 June 1667 St Andrea, Rome
1669-1671 After First Vows he was sent teaching Humanities at Viterbo.
1671-1672 He was sent as Penitentiary at Loreto.
1672-1674 He was sent Teaching Philosophy at Perugia.
1674-1676 Prefect of Studies at the Greek College Rome.
1676-1681 He was sent as Prefect of Studies at the Irish College Rome.
1681-1682 He was sent to teach Theology at Siena
1684-1690 Sent to Ireland, arriving October 1683. He was appointed Irish Mission Superior on 26 August 1684. His years in office coincided with the Catholic revival under James II. He trued his best to satisfy the many requests for Colleges of the Society.
1690-1691 Remained in Ireland
1691-1700 Appointed Rector of Irish College Poitiers. He remained there after Office and was a Consultor of the College. He died there 24 August 1707
To Father Relly we are indebted for a History of the Irish College, Rome, and the many interesting letters he wrote illustrating the persecution of the Church in Ireland in the early years of the regime of William III

◆ James B Stephenson SJ The Irish Jesuits Vol 1 1962
James Relly (1684-1687)
James Relly was born in the county of Dublin on 2nd February, 1640. He went to Belgium in 1656, and studied humanities at Lille till 1660, when he went to Paris and took out his degree of Master of Philosophy there in 1662. He accompanied the Archbishop of Armagh, Edmund O'Reilly, to Rome, and was admitted into the Irish College there on 25th September, 1662. In February, 1666 he was ordained priest, and celebrated his first Mass on the 14th of that month in the Church of S Maria Maggiore. He entered the Novitiate of the Society at Sant' Andrea on 20th June, 1667.
After teaching grammar at Viterbo, he acted as Penitentiary at Loreto for one year (1671-72). He then taught a course of philosophy at Perugia; acted as Prefect of Studies at the Greek College in Rome for half a year, when he was transferred in the same capacity to the Irish College in April, 1676. He made his solemn profession of four vows on 15th August, 1677. In 1681 he was appointed Professor of Theology at Siena. Two years later he was sent to Ireland, where he arrived in October, 1683. On 26th August, 1684, he was appointed Superior of the Mission. His years of office fell during the Catholic revival. under James II. Fr Relly tried to satisfy as best he could the many requests for colleges of the Society, and he opened a chapel in Dublin. At the end of his term as Superior he remained in Ireland till 1691, and on the 9th of June of which year he was appointed Rector of the Irish College of Poitiers, a position he held for nine years. He passed the last seven years of his life there as Consultor of the College, and died on 24th August, 1707. To Fr Relly we are indebted for a history of the Irish College in Rome and many letters illustrating the persecution in Ireland during the early years of William III.

◆ James B Stephenson SJ Menologies 1973
Father James Relly 1640-1707
James Relly, a Dublin man was the 24th Mission Superior of the Irish Mission from 1684-1687. He was already a priest with his Master’s degree in Philosophy when he entered the Society at Rome in 1667.
His Superiorship fell within the brief period of the Catholic Revival under James II, and thus he was able to open a chapel in Dublin.

His term of office over, he remained in Ireland until 1691, when he was appointed Rector of the Irish College at Poitiers. This post he held for 9 years. He died at Poitiers on August 24th 1707.

We are indebted to him for a history of the Irish College at Rome and also for many letters dealing with the Persecution in Ireland during the early years of William and Mary.