Conor O'Devany

Concobhar Ó Duibheannaigh (c. 1532 – 1 (O.S.)/11 (N.S.) February 1612; Conor O'Devany, Cornelius O'Devany) was an Irish Franciscan priest from Donegal Abbey and Roman Catholic bishop during the religious persecution of the Catholic Church in Ireland that began during the reign of Henry VIII and ended only with Catholic Emancipation in 1829. Similarly to St. Polycarp of Smyrna, Bishop Ó Duibheannaigh was in his eighties when he was hanged, drawn and quartered outside the walls of Dublin. In September 1992, he was formally beatified by Pope John Paul II as one of the 24 officially recognized Irish Catholic Martyrs. His feast day is on June 20.

Early life Conor O'Devany was born at Malin Head in Inishowen, County Donegal, in Ulster. His family had their seat at Tulach Uí Dhuibheannaigh, near Raphoe in the Laggan district, and were the erenagh family responsible for administering local Church lands on behalf of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Raphoe. Conor O'Devany joined the Observant Franciscans at Donegal Abbey at an early age.

While in Rome, Ó Duibheannaigh was appointed Bishop of Down and Connor by Pope Gregory XIII on 27 April 1582, and consecrated by Cardinal Nicolas de Pellevé on 2 February 1583.

Execution and martyrdom In 1588, Bishop Ó Duibheannaigh was committed to Dublin Castle. Failing to convict him of any crime punishable by death, Lord Deputy Sir William FitzWilliam sought authority from the 1st Baron Burghley to "be rid of such an obstinate enemy of God and so rank a traitor to Her Majesty as no doubt he is".

In November 1590, he was released on his own petition, although the 1913 Catholic Encyclopedia speculates that this was likely a blanket policy. He was protected by Aodh Mór Ó Néill, Earl of Tyrone, until the Flight of the Earls in 1607. The Bishop escaped arrest until the middle of 1611, when, almost eighty years old, he was taken while administering Confirmation and again committed to Dublin Castle.

He was drawn on a cart from Dublin Castle to the gallows beyond the river; the whole route was crowded with Catholics. Protestant clergymen pestered him with ministrations and urged him to confess he died for treason. "Pray let me be", he answered, "the viceroy's messenger to me here present, could tell that I might have life and revenue for going once to that temple", pointing to the tower of a Church of Ireland parish. He kissed the gallows before mounting, and then proceeding to exhort the Catholics to constancy, he was thrown off, cut down alive, and quartered.