The MacEgan, Egan, Eagan & Keegan Families
© 1998-2008
Clann MacAodhagain
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Section 4
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Our contribution to Religion and Politics JOHN EGAN |
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Egan, John, Chairman of Kilmainham, was born probably about 1750, at Charleville, County of Cork, where his father was a Church of Ireland clergyman. He entered Trinity College as a sizer in 1773 and studied law in London, Irish Bar 1778. After his return home married a widow lady of some fortune. He was a Bencher at King's Inns, Dublin in 1787. 1n March, 1789 he entered Parliament as member for Ballinakill; and from 1790 to the period of the Union, sat for Tullagh, Co. Waterford in the Irish House of Commons. He was a noted duelist. A contemporary account says: "In person he much resembles Fox, in manner he is rough, boisterous, and overbearing." He once fought with his intimate friend, Curran, fortunately without serious consequences. Egan complained of the great advantage his size gave to his adversary: "I'll tell you what, Mr. Egan", said Curran, "I wish to take no advantage of you whatever let my size be chalked out on our side, and I am quite content that every shot which hits outside that mark should go for nothing." In after life there were few of his old friends of whom Curran was accustomed to speak with greater affection than Egan. In 1799 he was appointed Chairman of Kilmainham. His means were by that time reduced, and the post was then almost his only source of income. The office depended upon government favour, and it was intimated that his support of the Union would lead to further advancement. As the final debate on the question proceeded, it was seen that he was writing under conflicting emotions; at length he rose, delivered a furious speech against the Union, and sat down exclaiming: "Ireland - Ireland for ever ! and damn Kilmainham !" He died in Scotland it is said in poverty, May 1810? Aged about 60. A writer in Notes and Queries, 2nd series, suggests that Egan was the author of a number of letters on political characters of the day, that appeared during his life-time in the Dublin Evening Post, signed "Junius Hibernicus."
MONSIGNOR
MICHAEL R. EGAN The untimely death of Rt. Rev. Monsignor Michael Robert Egan, retired Pastor of St. Brigid's Church, Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.A. occurred following a car accident and caused deep regret not only amongst his former parishioners and friends but in his native West Offaly where he was well known and to which he was a frequent visitor. Monsignor Egan, who was born 19 April, 1906, was ordained in June 1930 and on June 29th, 1980 he celebrated the Golden Jubilee of his ordination with Concelebrated Mass in St. Ciaran's Church. Shannonbridge. One of eleven children of the late Patrick and Margaret Egan, Clondelara, Shannonbridge, he was nephew of the late Canon Robert Egan, P.P., Mullahoran, Co. Cavan, he was educated in Shannonbridge Primary School and at St. Mel's College, Longford, before studying for the priesthood for the Archdiocese of Baltimore at All Hallows College, Dublin, as a protege of Archbishop Michael J. Curley (a native of Athlone and a friend of the family). After ordination he took up his first post in St. Anthony's Parish Church, Washington D.C., and in 1940 was appointed assistant to Rt. Rev. Monsignor Leary in St. Louis Church, Clarksville, Maryland. His term here recalled a historic link with South Offaly as he also had charge of St. Mary's Church, Doughoregan Manor, the home of the O'Carroll family of Carrolton, descendants of the O'Carroll's, Princes of Ely. Msgr. Egan was glad to spend eighteen years in Clarksville prior to taking up duty as pastor of St. Brigid's Church, Baltimore, in 1958 where he was to spend yet another eighteen years. At the request of Cardinal Archbishop Laurence Shehan the Holy See raised him to domestic prelate with the title of monsignor in April, 1965. But before he retired at the age of seventy in June, 1976 Msgr. Egan had added a new church, new school and new convent buildings in St. Brigid's Parish, a formidable task that considerably added to the religious and educational structure of the parish. A New Role When he retired he found a new pastoral role for his talents when he was invited by Fr. Edward Staub, Pastor of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, Baltimore, to assist him and since July 1st, 1976, he had been carrying out a very caring mission amongst the sick, the elderly and the house-bound visiting hospitals and homes and bring consolation and spiritual hope to the sick and elderly. It was a most rewarding role that he carried out with great diligence and patience and for which he was greatly admired by all the parishioners. It was here he reached the Golden Jubilee of his priestly life and Cardinal Shehan preached the sermon at his Jubilee Mass. Returning to Ireland to share occasion with his family he was one of the concelebrants of the Jubilee Mass of his classmates in All Hallows College, Dublin, on June 22nd, 1980, when the sermon was preached by Bishop John J. Scanlon of Honolulu. A week after a similar Jubilee Mass was concelebrated with neighbouring priests in St. Ciaran's Church, Shannonbridge, at which all his family and friends attended; his brothers, sisters, and nephews and fifty grandnephews and grandnieces. At the time of his death Msgr. Egan was residing at Stella Maris Hospice, and following the car accident he was removed to Maryland Institute for emergency medical services, and shock treatment unit of University Hospital. Where he was visited by two of his brothers, Augustine (Shannonbridge) and John (Dublin) before he passed away, at 0700 hrs. Irish time, on Saturday, 20th March, 1982. His brothers are Kieran Patrick Egan and Augustine Egan (Shannonbridge), James Joseph Egan and John Egan (Dublin) and his sisters are Agnes Keegan and Bridget Grennan (Tullamore); Theresa Smyth (Daingean), Alice Egan (Shannonbridge) and Evelyn Egan (Fivealley, Birr). He was predeceased by another sister Margaret Mary Moran (Shannonbridge.
BOETIUS
MACEGAN It comes as no surprise that the name of Roger Boyle, who became Baron Broghill and afterwards first Earl of Ossery, is now remembered only as the man associated with the hanging of Boetius MacEgan, Bishop of Ross, at Carraigh an Droichid. According to a contemporary authority Boyle was 'a great poet, statesman, soldier, and great in everything which merits the name of great and good'. An Irish commentator put it another way: "His name will, however, never be wholly forgotten at least as long as a stone of Carraigh an Droichid remains or whilst the stirring verses ('The tramp of the soldier is heard in Macroom') find a place in our anthologies." (Editor's Note: - Words anybody?) MacEgan was born at Ballygrady in the parish of Kilbrin. As a boy he became attached to the Franciscan way of life and went to the Continent to be educated for the priesthood. He studied theology at Bordeaux, and after his ordination he went to Alcale in Spain where he continued his studies for three years. He then returned to Ireland where he won fame as a preacher. He was guardian of Buttevant Friary about 1641-1642 and later became Definitor Provincial and Definitor General at the General Chapter held at Toledo in Spain on June 3rd, 1645. He returned to Ireland at the end of August 1645. The Ireland he returned to was a troubled one. The war that had begun in Ulster in October 1641 had soon spread to the whole country. Now, after three years, the Catholic Parliament known as the Confederation of Kilkenny was more divided than ever. They were awaiting the coming of a Papal Nuncio to draw them together. The Nuncio, Rinuccini, came to Kenmare a few weeks later and Boetius hurried south to meet him. He accompanied him on his triumphal journey to Kilkenny. MacEgan was appointed senior chaplain to the Ulster Army under Eoghan Rua O'Neill, and was present at Benburb to bless the soldiers before their great victory there on June 5th, 1646. Eoghan Rua sent him to Limerick to bring news of the victory to the Nuncio and he arrived there with the captured flags on June 13th. The city went wild with joy; bonfires blazed in the streets and salvoes of guns hailed the victory. The standards were deposited in the Franciscan Church and were taken out the next day in solemn procession to St. Mary's Cathedral. The differences between the Old Irish and the Old English in the Confederation were growing deeper; differences soon arose between the Confederation and the Nuncio. One of them arose out of the choice of Boetius as Bishop of Ross. The confederation had already nominated Robert Barry Ross; the Nuncio proposed, however, that Barry should go to Cork and that Boetius, who had received no nomination from the Confederation, should go to Ross. The appointments were confirmed at Rome early in 1647. The Nuncio left Ireland in 1649, a deeply disappointed man; a few months afterwards Cromwell landed at Ringsend. Town after town fell and in November Eoghan Rua died. Cromwell spent Christmas in Cork and on January 29th, 1650, took the field again, marching out from Youghal. He went on to lay siege to Clonmel held by Eoghan Rua's nephew, Aodh Dubh. Word was brought to Cromwell that a large force under David Roche was marching from Kerry to relieve Clonmel. Broghill was ordered by Cromwell to gather an army and march against Roche, who had centred his army at Macroom. Broghill went by Cork to Kilcrea passing by Carraig an Droichid, held by Roche's forces. Roche, decided to withdraw his army into the country behind Macroom and in a running fight MacEgan was captured. On the following day which was May 11th or May 22nd, 1650, according to our modern calendar, Broghill summoned Carraig an Droichid to surrender and promised MacEgan that he would spare his life if he advised the garrison in the castle to lay down arms. When he was brought before the castle, MacEgan called on the defenders to hold out to the last. In his fury Broghill had him taken to a nearby tree and had him hanged with the reins of his horse. Roche reported that he had been strangled and beheaded. That night the Bishop was buried at Ahina. His grave is not known.
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