Edmund Ffrench
Encyclopedia
Edmund Ffrench, O.P., Warden of Galway, Bishop of Kilmacduagh and Kilfenora
, 1775-1852.
Ffrench was a descendant of The Tribes of Galway, though by the 18th century his family had become Protestant. His father, Edmund, was Mayor of Galway
and the town's Protestant Warden. In 1761 he, as Mayor, signed the notorious "manifesto of intolerance, known as The Black Petition.
Edmund and his brother, Charles, became Catholic while young, due to the influence of a Catholic servant girl. Charles would go on to become a missionary
in America
.
In 1794 Ffrench was accepted as a Dominican
postulant
in The Claddagh
priory of Galway
. He took the habit at Esker monastery, Athenry
; his name in religion was Martin, but it was a name he never used. He studied in Lisbon
where he was ordained in about 1804. From 1806 to 1810 he served at St. Michan's, Dublin.
He was the last Warden of Galway, elected despite been ineligible as a member of a religious order. His term was turbulent. He was criticised for not ending the disputes between the religious orders and the secular clergy. However, he did succeeded in bringing the Presentation Order to the town, as well as building 'St. Nicholas's parish chapel', later the Pro-Cathedral, on Middle and Lower Abbeygate Streets.
The wardenship was brought to an end, with it been united with the dioceses of Kilmacduagh
and Kilfenora
. He retired to Thornville, Kinvara, building some nine churches, and aiding in school education. Towards the end of his life he lived near his sister, Mrs. Blake-Forster, at Park Lodge, Gort
. He died on 14 July 1852 and was buried in the grave of Colman mac Duagh.
His sister was grandmother to the writer Charles French Blake-Forster
.
Bishop of Kilmacduagh and Kilfenora
The Bishop and Apostolic Administrator of Kilmacduagh and Kilfenora was an episcopal title which took its name after the small villages of Kilmacduagh in County Galway and Kilfenora in County Clare, Ireland...
, 1775-1852.
Ffrench was a descendant of The Tribes of Galway, though by the 18th century his family had become Protestant. His father, Edmund, was Mayor of Galway
Mayor of Galway
The office of Mayor of Galway is an honorific title used by the of Galway City Council. The Council has jurisdiction throughout its administrative area which is the city of Galway – the largest city in the province of Connacht, in the Republic of Ireland. The office was originally established by a...
and the town's Protestant Warden. In 1761 he, as Mayor, signed the notorious "manifesto of intolerance, known as The Black Petition.
Edmund and his brother, Charles, became Catholic while young, due to the influence of a Catholic servant girl. Charles would go on to become a missionary
Missionary
A missionary is a member of a religious group sent into an area to do evangelism or ministries of service, such as education, literacy, social justice, health care and economic development. The word "mission" originates from 1598 when the Jesuits sent members abroad, derived from the Latin...
in America
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
In 1794 Ffrench was accepted as a Dominican
Dominican Order
The Order of Preachers , after the 15th century more commonly known as the Dominican Order or Dominicans, is a Catholic religious order founded by Saint Dominic and approved by Pope Honorius III on 22 December 1216 in France...
postulant
Postulant
A postulant was originally one who makes a request or demand; hence, a candidate. The use of the term is now generally restricted to those asking for admission into a monastery or a convent, both before actual admission and for the length of time preceding their admission into the novitiate...
in The Claddagh
Claddagh
Claddagh is an area close to the centre of Galway city, where the Corrib River meets Galway Bay. It was formerly a fishing village, just outside the old city walls. It is just across the river from the Spanish Arch, which was the location of regular fish markets where the locals supplied the city...
priory of Galway
Galway
Galway or City of Galway is a city in County Galway, Republic of Ireland. It is the sixth largest and the fastest-growing city in Ireland. It is also the third largest city within the Republic and the only city in the Province of Connacht. Located on the west coast of Ireland, it sits on the...
. He took the habit at Esker monastery, Athenry
Athenry
Athenry is a town in County Galway, Ireland. It lies east of Galway city, and one of the attractions of the town is its medieval castle. The town is also well-known by virtue of the song "The Fields of Athenry".-History:...
; his name in religion was Martin, but it was a name he never used. He studied in Lisbon
Lisbon
Lisbon is the capital city and largest city of Portugal with a population of 545,245 within its administrative limits on a land area of . The urban area of Lisbon extends beyond the administrative city limits with a population of 3 million on an area of , making it the 9th most populous urban...
where he was ordained in about 1804. From 1806 to 1810 he served at St. Michan's, Dublin.
He was the last Warden of Galway, elected despite been ineligible as a member of a religious order. His term was turbulent. He was criticised for not ending the disputes between the religious orders and the secular clergy. However, he did succeeded in bringing the Presentation Order to the town, as well as building 'St. Nicholas's parish chapel', later the Pro-Cathedral, on Middle and Lower Abbeygate Streets.
The wardenship was brought to an end, with it been united with the dioceses of Kilmacduagh
Kilmacduagh
Kilmacduagh is a small village in south County Galway, near Gort, in Ireland. It is best known for Kilmacduagh monastery, seat of the Diocese of that name. The diocese is now part of the Diocese of Galway and Kilmacduagh in the Roman Catholic Church and in the Diocese of Limerick and Killaloe in...
and Kilfenora
Kilfenora
Kilfenora is a small village in County Clare in Ireland, just south of The Burren. The village is noted for being the home to the Kilfenora Ceili Band and the location for much of the filming of the sitcom Father Ted.-Places of interest:...
. He retired to Thornville, Kinvara, building some nine churches, and aiding in school education. Towards the end of his life he lived near his sister, Mrs. Blake-Forster, at Park Lodge, Gort
Gort
Gort is a town in south County Galway in the west of Ireland. An Gort is the official Irish name for the town, as defined by the Placenames Commission. In spoken Irish, however, the town is known by its traditional name Gort Inse Guaire. It lies just north of the border with County Clare on the...
. He died on 14 July 1852 and was buried in the grave of Colman mac Duagh.
His sister was grandmother to the writer Charles French Blake-Forster
Charles French Blake-Forster
Charles French Blake-Forster was an Irish writer.Born at Forster Street House, Galway City, the eldest son of Captain Francis Blake-Forster of the Connaught Rangers, educated at home and later in England. Began to play a prominent part in Galway's public affairs upon his return in his late teens...
.