Book of Ryans - The Catholic Church
Chapter Thirteen:
Catholic Church in Ireland
`The piety of the Irish Gael sees the hand
of God in every place, in every time, in
everything.'
Hyde
The Catholic church influenced the daily lives of Irish men and women ever since St. Patrick initially brought Christianity into Ireland in the 5th century. The early Irish church focused on monasticism which appeared to fit the Irish personality; consequently, religious institutions became hereditary fiefdoms which controlled local church affairs while regional princes managed the surrounding civic affairs. The Norman intervention changed the Irish church's inwardness to a more secular perspective, yet she also created divisions designed to racially separate the English and Gaelic from one another. Because the Gaelic church represented islands of theological thought, the Abbots could not always agree on basic dogma, and frequently were even at odds with the Roman Catholic hierarchy. A case in point was the theological debates in the 8th century regarding Easter, and in particular, determining the correct date for its observance. The Irish monks and other religious orders supported maintaining the traditional feast date; although Rome mandated a new date for observance.
The conservatism of the Irish church marked much of its history, and this conventionalism also defined the Gael's religious perspectives as they immigrated from Ireland to other far away places. The influence of the 19th century church was very strong, but became a greater influence following the Great Famine. One of the issues the Church openly supported was the prohibition of early marriages, so that children born of these unions would be able to inherit the family farm. The Church also preached celibacy for those children not in line to inherit the family plot, and with little opportunity to support a family in the post-famine years, the marriage rates decreased significantly. The number of men and women selecting the single life increased greatly, and because marriage was not an option being encouraged by the family and the Church, many men and women took up the religious life as Catholic priests or sisters. Catholic priests historically wielded a strong influence among its parishioners, and this prestige grew considerably in the latter 19th century as they became more vocal about agrarian outrages and general welfare issues. It is not surprising that some of these priests associated themselves with underground movements that pressed for social change. One of the associations that attracted priests in the 19th century was the Fenian Movement, even though membership into its body was officially denounced by Church edicts.
Fenianism originated in 1858 to provide a cohesive voice against the enemies of Ireland, and it also attempted to influence Ireland's demands for full independence. Splinter groups evolved such as the Irish Brotherhood (Clan-na-Gael as it was known in America) whose main objective was to achieve independence through violent means. One of its more prominent members was Dr. Mark Ryan whose family was evicted from their farm while he was still a child. This tragic experience molded his radicalism and socialistic leanings, and while associating with the Republicans became a member of the Supreme Council. In 1895 he became the leader of the Irish National Alliance, and later became a founder of the Gaelic League and Irish Literary Society.
The Catholic church officially condemned Fenianism because it "saw the movement as a manifestation of that bugaboo Communism;"[1] and accordingly, parish priests forbade their parishioners to seek membership in the society. Although the Catholic Church condemned Fenianism through its Bull of Censures which strictly banned membership into any secret society, many Catholic priests were known to be active in the IRB and other secret ribbon societies. The centuries of English civil injustices forged radical allegiances to causes espoused by these organizations, and not unsurprising many priests were attracted because of their sensitivity to the social issues of the day. They also actively preached civil disobedience from the pulpit, and one of the more vocal critics of English racism was Father C.C. Ryan.
Father Ryan was a parish priest from New Inn, Cahir, and openly criticized the agrarian outrages which Dublin legislated. The Irish Parliament tried to censure him by complaining to the Catholic hierarchy that he "actually encouraged tenants to assassinate their landlords"[2] in his sermons and writings, but the Irish bishops were unconvinced and did not attempt to silence him. Father Ryan continued preaching his radical thoughts despite the government's threats of prosecuting him for sedition. Most parish priests were not as reactionary as Father Ryan, even though they sympathized with the condition of their parishioners. Catholic priests such as Reverend Mr. Ryan from Timahoe represented a centrist philosophy concerning equal rights for Ireland's disenfranchised citizens, but he strongly believed that obtaining these rights would lost if Irish Catholics remain divided:
"You have got to form the public opinion, to fix its power in such a way as to make the place too hot for such a class of person ... we are bound together by
that bond of mutual interest, and one party cannot succeed without the other party also acquiring success.[3]
Words such as those spoken by Father Ryan of Timahoe frightened English authority because they knew that local parish priests commanded great influence among their parishioners. As priests became more active in worldly affairs, their condemnation of the existing social order also intensified, particularly over the apparent lack of England's concern for improving the Catholic peasant's economic conditions. As pressure mounted to improve the state of the poor, Ireland's conservative elements feared disrupting an existing social order which traced its origin to the Statutes of Kilkenny because it would affect the Protestant's ability to direct legislation favorable to landholder's interests. Sir Henry James wrote of these fears by saying that "though there were a 1000 denunciations of crime they would not do away with the evil effect of insidious words that such a priest as the rev. Mr. Ryan was preaching." [4]
Recognition of social change was championed by other priests including Patrick John Ryan who would eventually become Archbishop of Ferns. Ryan showed his tenacity even as a seminarian when he acted as a spokesman for his fellow students objecting to the unlawful imprisonment of Daniel O'Connell at Kilmainham prison. Daniel O'Connell was an important influence in gaining emancipation for Ireland; however, his prestige waned in later years because of the tragic effects of the Great Famine.
Irish Parish Priests
The early Christian leaders and regional kings shared a familial kinship which suggests that early religious leaders in Idrone and northern Leinster most likely traced their heritage to the Ryan ancestors. Over the centuries the Catholic hierarchy became dominated by families which viewed Church leadership as a heriditary right, and membership into the monasteries became closely regulated to maintain family control. After the adoption of surnames, the Ryans continued to be recognized as important princes of Leinster; however, this surname does not appear prominent among the ecclesiastics of the province. It should not be implied that they had no signficant religious leanings as ancient parish records have been lost or destroyed over the centuries, but clearly the leadership of these religious centers were maintained by other important family groups. While consequential Church leaders have been documented throughout the centuries, it is not until the late mediaeval period when the Ryan surname is again prominently displayed in diocese logs. The earliest recorded documents showed Donal Rean (AKA O'Mulrian) as clerk to the rectory of Croon in 1540, and over the next several centuries other Ryans have also assumed important clerical roles. After the adoption of Penal Laws, their involvement in 'papist' activities has been chronicled through numerous census figures, most notably in a census taken in 1766 to estimate the population of the Catholic and Protestant churches in the diocese of Limerick. Of the 33 parish census records remaining at the Record Office, five Ryans were listed on the rolls as registered priests. Undoubtedly there may have been other Ryans living undetected among the population as unregistered priests.[5]
Castlemahon (Mahoonagh): Protestants 21; papists 896; Andrew Ryan, priest.
Kilsconnell: papist families 52
Clonan: papist families 63
Rathkeal: papist families 492
Clonshire: papist families 21
Priests living in other parishes: Laurene Nihill; James Dundon; Friar Charles Ryan, priest.
At the Friary, Creagh Lane: James O'Brien, Augustine Ryan.
At the Castle Friary, John Casey and Con Ryan
Tullabracy: Priests, Tom Driscoll; Ryan could not get his Christian name; papists 710; protestants 13.
The Ryans also became prominent as bishops and archbishops after 1800, even though their family name appeared at the highest levels even as early as the mediaeval period:
John Ryan Clonfert Consecreted in 1963
Patrick Ryan Ferns Provisional coadj. (brief) 1804
Dermod Ryan Dublin Consecrated in 1972 (brief) died 1973
John Ryan Limerick Provisional coadj. with succession (brief) 1825
Corn. O'Mulrian Killaloe Provisional 1576 (brief) Tuam 1619
James Ryan Killaloe Consecrated 1872 Provisional coadj with succession.
Did not succeed.
Thomas Ryan Clonfert born in 1915 to Patrick and Alice Ryan
Dr. John Ryan was among the more celebrated clerics living during the 19th century because he presided over Limerick diocese at the same time Ireland was emancipated. Dr. Ryan was born in 1784 at Burris, County Tipperary; and he began his religious studies at Maynooth College in 1807. He studied theology at a rapid pace, and was ordained in 1810 at the age of 26. He was appointed curate at Doon following his ordination, and after the parish priest died, he was commissioned to succeed him. His work at Doon caught the attention of Archbishop Dr. Laffan at Cashel, and within several years was reassigned to the more important (and visible) parish of Mullinghone.
It was at this time that Limerick diocese was searching for a new coadjutor bishop to assist the aged and frail bishop Tuohy. Normally one of the local Limerick parish priests would have been selected; however, Tuohy's replacement was sought in neighboring districts because of a disagreement over the bishoperic's direction. Dr. Laffan of Cashel was one of those asked to nominate a candidate, and he presented father John Ryan's name to the search committee. After numerous interviews, the committee agreed that father Ryan was the best candidate. On December 11, 1825 he was consecrated at St. John's Chapel, Limerick, by Dr. Laffan, archbishop of his native diocese, assisted by Dr. Tuohy, Limerick, and Dr. Kelly, Waterford[6] As many had predicted, Dr. Tuohy died in 1828, and John Ryan became bishop of Limerick. Within a few years, Dublin parliament would finally legislate emancipation for Catholics, and it involved numerous organizations, including the Catholic Church, to set a new course for Ireland.
The Emancipation Act was ratified by England in 1829, and it was due to the determination of men like Daniel O'Connell who fortified their political positions by pressuring Parliament for Catholic rights. For the first time since Queen Elizabeth I's reign, Catholics were free to exercise their religion without fear of reprisal, and it offered more opportunities for the church to expand its influence among the Catholic lower class. One of Dr. Ryan's initial acts was to fill vacancies left by deceased priests, and he was equally challenged by filling vacancies resulting from newly expanded parishes. Ryan was active in the propagation of the faith, and his energies in this area have been well documented.
In a return of his laborers in 1841 it is stated that in the parish of Knockaderry he confirmed 500, in Mahoonagh 600, Drumcollogher 1,200, and corresponding numbers in other parishes.[7]
Dr. Ryan was said to be "blessed with a vigorous constitution and a strong figure, he worked through life with great energy and buoyancy."[8] He continued with great energy in his pastoral duties; however, during his last few years, Dr. Ryan's poor health forced him to remain confined at home. He died in 1864 before reaching his 80th birthday, and was buried before the high altar at the cathedral of Limerick.
Although a number of Ryans have held important positions within the Catholic Church in Ireland, the highest religious title was held by Dermod Joseph Ryan, archbishop of Dublin and Primate of Dublin. He was born in Clondalkin, County Dublin in 1924. Reverend Ryan was the second child of Dr. Andrew Ryan and Theresa McKenna Ryan, and obtained his religious education in several institutions including St. Patrick's College Maynooth and the Gregorian University in Rome. Reverend Ryan began his religious duties as an educator in 1950 where he eventually chaired Semitic languages at UCD. He was consecrated Archbishop of Dublin in 1972, but his tenure was shortened due to his untimely death the following year.