Canon John Hayes
Encyclopedia
Very Rev. John Canon Hayes (1887–1957), founder of Muintir na Tíre
, was born in 1887, in a Land League hut at Murroe
, Co Limerick
. Five of his brothers and sisters died of malnutrition and disease before he reached seven years of age.
He was educated by the Jesuits at Crescent College
, Limerick and thereafter studied for the priesthood in St Patrick’s College, Thurles
. In 1907 he went to the Irish College in Paris
where he was ordained in 1913. From 1915 to 1924 Fr Hayes worked in Liverpool
before returning home to serve as curate in Castleiney
and later in Tipperary
Town.
He came to national prominence with the foundation in 1937 of Muintir na Tíre
, a national organisation promoting community development in Ireland. Through its core principles of neighbourliness, self-help and self-reliance, Muintir na Tíre has promoted and supported the concept of active community participation and championed the idea of community development in both Ireland and Europe. Today it has 1,220 active branches across Ireland.
He was appointed parish priest of Bansha
& Kilmoyler in 1946. Due largely to his endeavours, a factory - Bansha Rural Industries - was started and enjoyed some success producing preservatives for the Irish home market. At that time also, Bansha was to the forefront in developing many Muintir na Tíre initiatives and for a time in the 1950s enjoyed the soubriquet of The Model Parish.
He spearheaded many initiatives including Rural Electrification
, the Parish Plan for Agriculture and the setting up of small industry in rural areas in an attempt to stop emigration.
Canon Hayes died in February, 1957 in a Tipperary nursing home following a minor operation. His funeral in Bansha was a national occasion, attended by leaders of Church and State. He was buried at the rear of the Church of the Annunciation, Bansha
where his grave is marked by a statue of the Blessed Virgin, Mary.
Muintir na Tíre
Muintir na Tíre is a national Irish voluntary organisation dedicated to promoting the process of community development. Canon Hayes founded the organisation in 1937. It aims to enhance the capacities of people in communities, rural and urban, to become involved in local social, economic, cultural...
, was born in 1887, in a Land League hut at Murroe
Murroe
Murroe, officially Moroe , is a small village in County Limerick, Ireland.Murroe is located in the north-eastern part of County Limerick approximately 15 km from Limerick City and close to the Tipperary border. Nearby towns include Cappamore and Newport. The village is located on the R506 road. It...
, Co Limerick
Limerick
Limerick is the third largest city in the Republic of Ireland, and the principal city of County Limerick and Ireland's Mid-West Region. It is the fifth most populous city in all of Ireland. When taking the extra-municipal suburbs into account, Limerick is the third largest conurbation in the...
. Five of his brothers and sisters died of malnutrition and disease before he reached seven years of age.
He was educated by the Jesuits at Crescent College
Crescent College
Crescent College Comprehensive SJ is a secondary school located on a section of 40 acres of parkland at Dooradoyle, Limerick, Ireland. The college is one of a number of Jesuit schools in Ireland.- History :...
, Limerick and thereafter studied for the priesthood in St Patrick’s College, Thurles
Thurles
Thurles is a town situated in North Tipperary, Ireland. It is a civil parish in the historical barony of Eliogarty and is also an ecclesiastical parish in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cashel and Emly...
. In 1907 he went to the Irish College in Paris
Irish College in Paris
The Irish College in Paris was for three centuries a major Roman Catholic educational establishment, for Irish students. It was founded in the late sixteenth century, and closed down by the French government in the early twentieth century....
where he was ordained in 1913. From 1915 to 1924 Fr Hayes worked in Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
before returning home to serve as curate in Castleiney
Castleiney
Castleiney, officially Castleleiny and historically "Castlelyny" , is a village in North Tipperary, Ireland. It is one half of the Roman Catholic parish of Loughmore-Castleiney. It is in the barony of Eliogarty....
and later in Tipperary
Tipperary
Tipperary is a town and a civil parish in South Tipperary in Ireland. Its population was 4,415 at the 2006 census. It is also an ecclesiastical parish in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cashel and Emly, and is in the historical barony of Clanwilliam....
Town.
He came to national prominence with the foundation in 1937 of Muintir na Tíre
Muintir na Tíre
Muintir na Tíre is a national Irish voluntary organisation dedicated to promoting the process of community development. Canon Hayes founded the organisation in 1937. It aims to enhance the capacities of people in communities, rural and urban, to become involved in local social, economic, cultural...
, a national organisation promoting community development in Ireland. Through its core principles of neighbourliness, self-help and self-reliance, Muintir na Tíre has promoted and supported the concept of active community participation and championed the idea of community development in both Ireland and Europe. Today it has 1,220 active branches across Ireland.
He was appointed parish priest of Bansha
Bansha
Bansha is a village in the barony of Clanwilliam, South Tipperary in Ireland. The village is part of the parish of "Bansha and Kilmoyler" in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cashel and Emly. Bansha is co-extensive with the pre-Reformation parish of Templeneiry of which the townland name of...
& Kilmoyler in 1946. Due largely to his endeavours, a factory - Bansha Rural Industries - was started and enjoyed some success producing preservatives for the Irish home market. At that time also, Bansha was to the forefront in developing many Muintir na Tíre initiatives and for a time in the 1950s enjoyed the soubriquet of The Model Parish.
He spearheaded many initiatives including Rural Electrification
Rural electrification
Rural electrification is the process of bringing electrical power to rural and remote areas. Electricity is used not only for lighting and household purposes, but it also allows for mechanization of many farming operations, such as threshing, milking, and hoisting grain for storage; in areas...
, the Parish Plan for Agriculture and the setting up of small industry in rural areas in an attempt to stop emigration.
Canon Hayes died in February, 1957 in a Tipperary nursing home following a minor operation. His funeral in Bansha was a national occasion, attended by leaders of Church and State. He was buried at the rear of the Church of the Annunciation, Bansha
Bansha
Bansha is a village in the barony of Clanwilliam, South Tipperary in Ireland. The village is part of the parish of "Bansha and Kilmoyler" in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cashel and Emly. Bansha is co-extensive with the pre-Reformation parish of Templeneiry of which the townland name of...
where his grave is marked by a statue of the Blessed Virgin, Mary.