Roche MacGeoghegan
Roche MacGeoghegan | |
|---|---|
Roman Catholic Church | |
| See | Diocese of Kildare |
| In office | 1628/9 – 1644 |
| Predecessor | Donatus Doolin |
| Successor | James Dempsey |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1580 Probably County Westmeath |
| Died | May 26, 1644 (aged 63–64) Probably County Westmeath |
Roche MacGeoghegan (1580 – 26 May 1644), also known as Roque de la Cruz, was a seventeenth-century
Origins and background
Born in 1580, Roche was the sixth son of Giles (Giles) "Sheila" O'Dempsey (1561-1619) and
Despite being educated in a Protestant school for 6 months, the bulk of MacGeoghegan's early education was in the hands of Catholics, men such as the Westmeath priest John Power, as well as Catholic laymen in Westmeath and County Tipperary.[2] He travelled to Lisbon in 1600 and joined the Dominican Order, acquiring the name Roque de la Cruz.[2] At the Irish College in Lisbon he spent many months learning the Humanities, before he moved to Salamanca in 1601 .[2]
The Dominican
MacGeoghegan spent 8 years at Salamanca, during many of which he lectured to students from Ireland.
For his preaching and organisational efforts he achieved recognition in Continental Europe, for instance when he attended the Dominican chapter meeting at Lisbon in 1618. he was awarded the decree of praesentatus.[2] While at this chapter meeting, MacGeoghegan presented his plans for the recovery of the Dominicans in Ireland, a plan that was accepted by the Order.[2] All Irish Dominicans in Continental Europe were instructed to return to Ireland after completion of their training, and MacGeoghegan was empowered to recall Irish Dominicans who had not returned after their training.[2]
The Bishop
MacGeoghegan continued in such a manner for the following decade.
At Leuven, MacGeoghegan remained active, successfully lobbying King Philip II for the foundation of a Dominican college in that city.
Death
Two traditions exist about his death exist. A traditional story is that while preaching a sermon in praise of Francis of Assisi, he was overcome with paralysis and died immediately.[2] Contemporary official records however reveal that in the 1640s Bishop MacGeoghegan's health declined and that he became paralysed, remaining is such a condition for an extended period before his death.[2] In the event, he died on 26 May 1644, perhaps in County Westmeath.[2] His place of burial is not known for certain, but it was likely at either Multyfarnham Franciscan friary, the traditional burial place for his family, or at the Catholic Church of Kildare.[2] He left an extensive library which, after his death, was divided between his diocese and the Dominican Order.[2]
See also
Notes
- ^ Mathews, Thomas. Account of the O'Dempseys, Chiefs of Clan Maliere. p. 85.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z Forrestal, "MacGeoghegan, Roche (1580–1644)".
- ^ Forrestal, "MacGeoghegan, Roche (1580–1644)"; Fryde et al., Handbook, p. 420.
- ^ Fryde et al., Handbook, p. 431.
- ^ Forrestal, "MacGeoghegan, Roche (1580–1644)"; Fryde et al., Handbook, p. 431.
References
- Forrestal, Alison (2004), "MacGeoghegan, Roche (1580–1644)", Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, retrieved 28 April 2008
- Fryde, E. B.; Greenway, D. E.; Porter, S.; Roy, I., eds. (1986), Handbook of British Chronology, Royal Historical Society Guides and Handbooks, No. 2 (3rd ed.), London: Offices of the Royal Historical Society, ISBN 0-86193-106-8
- Moody, T. W.; Martin, F. X.; Byrne, F. J., eds. (1984), Maps, Genealogies, Lists: A Companion to Irish History, Part II, New History of Ireland: Volume XI, Oxford: Oxford University Press, ISBN 0-19-821745-5