Dermot O'Hurley | |
|---|---|
| Archbishop of Cashel | |
 Memorial plaque atSt. Kevin's Church, Camden Row, Dublin | |
| Archdiocese | Cashel |
| Appointed | September 1581 |
| Term ended | 19 or 20 June 1584 |
| Predecessor | Maurice MacGibbon |
| Successor | David Kearney |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | 9 September 1581 |
| Consecration | 10 September 1581 by Pope Gregory XIII |
| Personal details | |
| Born | c. 1530 Lickadoon Castle, Lickadoon, Ballyneety,County Limerick,Lordship of Ireland |
| Died | 19 or 20 June 1584 |
| Buried | St. Kevin's Church, Camden Row, Dublin, Ireland |
| Nationality | Irish |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Parents | William O'Hurley |
| Alma mater | University of Leuven |
| Sainthood | |
| Feast day | 20 June |
| Venerated in | Ireland |
| Title as Saint | Blessed |
| Beatified | 27 September 1992 Vatican City by Pope John Paul II |
| Shrines | St. Kevin's Church, Camden Row, Dublin, Ireland |
Dermot O'Hurley (c. 1530 – 19 or 20 June 1584)—alsoDermod or Dermond O'Hurley:Irish:Diarmaid Ó hUrthuile—was theRoman CatholicArchbishop ofCashel in Ireland during thereign of Elizabeth I, who was put to death for treason. He was one of the most celebrated of theIrish Catholic Martyrs, and wasbeatified byPope John Paul II on 27 September 1992.[1]
O'Hurley was born in Lickadoon Castle, Ballyneety,County Limerick, around the year 1530. His father, William, was theO'Hurleyclan'sChief of the Name and steward toJames FitzGerald, 14th Earl of Desmond. The O'Hurley clan claims descent from theDál gCais, one of the more powerful Irish clans inMunster's history.
O'Hurley was educated by tutors and then sent toFlemish Brabant to study at theUniversity of Leuven.[2] In 1551 he graduated with aMaster of Arts degree, then adoctorate of Law and was appointed a professor of philosophy in one of that university's greater colleges, where he remained for 15 years. In 1574 he was appointed a professor ofcanon and civil law in theFaculty of Law ofReims University, at which he spent 4 years.[3]
In 1570Pope Pius V excommunicated QueenElizabeth I of England in thepapal bullRegnans in Excelsis. This led to theSecond Desmond Rebellion in 1579–83, which was still in progress when O'Hurley was required to travel to Ireland. On 11 September 1581, while still alayman, he was appointed Archbishop of Cashel byPope Gregory XIII. He was ordained and consecrated and set out on his mission in 1583.[3] O'Hurley's voyage was fraught with danger because of thestate of war between the Pope and England, but he accepted the risks involved and arranged for a sea captain fromDrogheda to smuggle him intoIreland. He disembarked on Holmpatrick Strand inCounty Dublin in the autumn of 1583. His letters, which had been sent via a different ship, were intercepted by priest hunters.
Through its elaborate spy system, the government in Dublin had knowledge of Dermot's appointment to the See of Cashel, and Elizabeth's spies were soon on his tracks. He never reached Cashel.[3] O'Hurley lodged withThomas Fleming, 10th Baron Slane, atSlane, and from there he spread his activities through the territory of theO'Reilly clan. While sheltering at Slane Castle he was recognised. Under pain of severe penalties, Fleming was ordered to arrest O'Hurley who had by then left Slane. O'Hurley was arrested atCarrick-on-Suir in September 1583, while staying withThomas Butler, 10th Earl of Ormond, a Protestant, referred to asdubh (the black), who was theLord Treasurer of Ireland at the time. Butler was much offended and distressed at the arrest, and afterwards did his best to rescue O'Hurley from the executioners.[4] On 8 October 1583 O'Hurley was imprisoned inDublin Castle.
O'Hurley was subjected to savage torture, including the boiling boot, in which his bare feet were imprisoned in iron boots, filled with water, that were slowly heated over a gentle fire until the water boiled and consumed both flesh and bone.[4] Yet, O'Hurley refused to embraceProtestantism. According to surviving correspondence betweenDublin andWhitehall, Elizabeth I was reluctant to dispense with a fair trial underEnglish Law, but her mind was changed by SirFrancis Walsingham and she approved of a trial bymilitary tribunal. O'Hurley was tried in a day and sentenced to death.
The Chancellor, learning that Butler was coming, by whose influence and power they feared O'Hurley would be saved, determined to put him to death as soon as possible.[4] In the early morning of 19,[5][6][7] or 20,[1][8] June 1584, O'Hurley was taken outside the walls of Dublin and hanged atHoggen Green. In his last speech, he proclaimed,
Be it therefore known unto you...that I am a priest anointed and also aBishop, although unworthy of soe sacred dignitites, and noe cause could they find against me that might in the least deserve the paines of death, but merely for my funcon ofpriesthood wherein they have proceeded against me in all pointes cruelly contrarie to their own lawes ...and I doe injoin you (Deere Christian Brethren) to manifest the same to the world and also to beare witness on theDay of Judgment of my Innocent death, which I indure for my function and profession of the most holy Catholick Faith.[9]
He was buried inSt. Kevin's Church, Camden Row, Dublin. His gravesite remained a site ofpilgrimage for many years.
As word of his execution spread, O'Hurley was immediately revered as a martyr by Catholics throughout Europe. Several accounts of his life and death were printed and reached a wide audience.
FollowingCatholic Emancipation in 1829, the hierarchy of theCatholic Church in Ireland began an investigation into his life and death. One of the most valuable resources was found to be the documents and letters written by the men who tortured and executed him. In 1904, he was declared aServant of God.
On 27 September 1992, O'Hurley wasbeatified byPope John Paul II, alongside 16 otherIrish martyrs.[10]
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