James Magauran
Encyclopedia
James Magauran D.D.
, (1769/71–1829) was an Irish
churchman who served as the bishop
of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Ardagh and Clonmacnoise
from 1815 to 1829.
of Moneensauran
in County Cavan
, Ireland
sometime around 1769 and 1771. He belonged to the Magauran family of Glangevlin
, County Cavan, a family that provided many priests to the Roman Catholic Diocese of Kilmore
.
His siblings were:
in Spain
from 1789. He was appointed a curate
in County Fermanagh
and then the Priest in charge
of the Parish of Oughteragh, Ballinamore
, County Leitrim
, situate in the Diocese of Kilmore
on the borders of Ardagh & Clonmacnoise, at its north-western limits. Kindly and cordial relations have at all times existed between the Diocese of Kilmore and the Diocese of Ardagh & Clonmacnoise, in College, and on the mission afterwards, and justly so, for the Kilmore clergy are a highly respectable, and honest body of ecclesiastics.
K. Kilroe, P.P., St. Mary's, Athlone, who, at that time, was a young priest just home from college, and without a mission, and on that account was taken around by the bishop to the different places where the clergy assembled that there was no business at any of the conferences. It was kept as a holiday, the bishop was so pleased at the brilliant examination of Dr. O'Higgins, he entertained them with a most interesting and pleasing account of the triumphant and crushing defeat dealt out by the ex-professor from Paris to Dr. Renehan. "I have never witnessed," said the bishop, "such a display of theological learning." Even the students of Maynooth, although naturally on the side of the candidate of their own college, after the first day took to cheering and clapping O'Higgins.
Dr. Magauran had a noble and commanding presence, and was very affable and simple in his manners, a great favourite with his clergy and people.
It is said that he and the late Very Reverend Dean Farrelly, P.P., of Ardagh, went to Dublin, on the occasion of the visit of King George IV
to that city, and were presented to his majesty, who afterwards observed, "They were the two finest-looking ecclesiastics in Great Britain."
On the 25 March 1825, Dr.Magauran gave evidence to a select committee of the Houses of Parliament, chaired by Lord Palmerston, about the State of Ireland.
Dr. Magauran died on the 3 or 25 June 1829 at Ballymahon
, County Longford
, where he resided and where he had officiated every Sunday at the 8 A.M. mass. He was interred in the little church there, at that time the pro-cathedral
, and where his remains still repose within its renovated walls.
Bibliography
Doctor of Divinity
Doctor of Divinity is an advanced academic degree in divinity. Historically, it identified one who had been licensed by a university to teach Christian theology or related religious subjects....
, (1769/71–1829) was an Irish
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
churchman who served as the bishop
Bishop of Ardagh and Clonmacnoise
The Bishop of Ardagh and Clonmacnoise is the Ordinary of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Ardagh and Clonmacnoise, one of the suffragan dioceses of the Archdiocese of Armagh...
of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Ardagh and Clonmacnoise
Roman Catholic Diocese of Ardagh and Clonmacnoise
The Diocese of Ardagh and Clonmacnoise is a Roman Catholic diocese in Ireland.-Geographic remit:The diocese is spread over parts of seven counties in the centre of Ireland. It includes almost all of County Longford, half of County Leitrim and parts of counties Westmeath, Offaly, Cavan, Roscommon...
from 1815 to 1829.
Early life
He was born in the townlandTownland
A townland or bally is a small geographical division of land used in Ireland. The townland system is of Gaelic origin—most townlands are believed to pre-date the Norman invasion and most have names derived from the Irish language...
of Moneensauran
Moneensauran
Moneensauran is a townland in the Parish of Glangevlin, Barony of Tullyhaw, County Cavan, Ireland. The townland name is an anglicisation of the Gaelic placename “Móinín Samhradhán” which means ‘Samhradhán’s Little Bog’, which indicates that the owner Samhradhán lived nearby...
in County Cavan
County Cavan
County Cavan is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Border Region and is also located in the province of Ulster. It is named after the town of Cavan. Cavan County Council is the local authority for the county...
, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
sometime around 1769 and 1771. He belonged to the Magauran family of Glangevlin
Glangevlin
Glangevlin or The Kingdom of Glan is situated in the northwest of County Cavan, Ireland. It is surrounded by the Cuilcagh Mountains and borders the counties of Leitrim and Fermanagh....
, County Cavan, a family that provided many priests to the Roman Catholic Diocese of Kilmore
Roman Catholic Diocese of Kilmore
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Kilmore is a Roman Catholic diocese which is mainly in the Republic of Ireland although a few parishes are in Northern Ireland. It is one of eight suffragan dioceses which are subject to the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Armagh...
.
His siblings were:
- 1. Peter Magauran of Moneensauran who was elected King of GlanGlangevlinGlangevlin or The Kingdom of Glan is situated in the northwest of County Cavan, Ireland. It is surrounded by the Cuilcagh Mountains and borders the counties of Leitrim and Fermanagh....
in 1815. - 2. Arthur Magauran of Curraghglass, d.1857. Wife Ellen.
- 3. Dr. Patrick Magauran, British army doctor who died in London.
- 4. Elizabeth Magauran who was elected Queen of GlanGlangevlinGlangevlin or The Kingdom of Glan is situated in the northwest of County Cavan, Ireland. It is surrounded by the Cuilcagh Mountains and borders the counties of Leitrim and Fermanagh....
in 1815. Her husband was Mr. O'Rourke. - 5. Miss Magauran who married Mr Lyons of EdgeworthstownEdgeworthstownEdgeworthstown or Mostrim is a town in County Longford, Ireland. The Edgeworthstown name is derived from the Edgeworth Family who have a long association with the town as the family estate of Henry Essex Edgeworth de Firmont was nearby, while Mostrim is an anglicisation of the town's pre-conquest...
, County LongfordCounty LongfordCounty Longford is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Midlands Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the town of Longford.Longford County Council is the local authority for the county...
. Their son was the Reverend James Lyons, Roman Catholic curate of LongfordLongfordLongford is the county town of County Longford in Ireland. It has a population of 7,622 according to the 2006 census. Approximately one third of the county's population resides in the town. Longford town is also the biggest town in the county...
, who died during the Irish cholera epidemic of 1833 from a rapid consumption on 10 February 1833. He was interred in Longford Chapel on 14 February 1833.
Priestly career
James Magauran was educated at the University of SalamancaUniversity of Salamanca
The University of Salamanca is a Spanish higher education institution, located in the town of Salamanca, west of Madrid. It was founded in 1134 and given the Royal charter of foundation by King Alfonso IX in 1218. It is the oldest founded university in Spain and the third oldest European...
in Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
from 1789. He was appointed a curate
Curate
A curate is a person who is invested with the care or cure of souls of a parish. In this sense "curate" correctly means a parish priest but in English-speaking countries a curate is an assistant to the parish priest...
in County Fermanagh
County Fermanagh
Fermanagh District Council is the only one of the 26 district councils in Northern Ireland that contains all of the county it is named after. The district council also contains a small section of County Tyrone in the Dromore and Kilskeery road areas....
and then the Priest in charge
Priest in charge
A priest in charge or priest-in-charge is a priest in charge of a parish who does not receive the temporalities of the parish. He or she is not legally responsible for the churches and glebe, simply holds a licence rather than freehold and is not appointed by advowson.The appointment of priests in...
of the Parish of Oughteragh, Ballinamore
Ballinamore
Ballinamore is a small town in County Leitrim, Ireland, from the border with Northern Ireland. It is located on the R202 regional road where it is joined by the R199 and R204. means "mouth of the big ford", and the town is so named because it was the main crossing point of the Yellow River,...
, County Leitrim
County Leitrim
County Leitrim is a county in Ireland. It is located in the West Region and is also part of the province of Connacht. It is named after the village of Leitrim. Leitrim County Council is the local authority for the county...
, situate in the Diocese of Kilmore
Roman Catholic Diocese of Kilmore
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Kilmore is a Roman Catholic diocese which is mainly in the Republic of Ireland although a few parishes are in Northern Ireland. It is one of eight suffragan dioceses which are subject to the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Armagh...
on the borders of Ardagh & Clonmacnoise, at its north-western limits. Kindly and cordial relations have at all times existed between the Diocese of Kilmore and the Diocese of Ardagh & Clonmacnoise, in College, and on the mission afterwards, and justly so, for the Kilmore clergy are a highly respectable, and honest body of ecclesiastics.
Episcopal career
On the death of the incumbent bishop of Ardagh and Clonmacnoise, Dr. James Cruise, the Ardagh parish priests, not having a suitable member of their own body, cast their eyes on the most eligible of the Kilmore clergy, and voted for Dr. Magauran, whom they had known to be in every way suited for the high and responsible office. So Bishop Magauran was elected, by Propaganda on the 6 March 1815, and confirmed by the Pope on the 12 March 1815. Dr. Magauran, some of the old priests used to say, was a man remarkable for common sense, and the practical and satisfactory administration of his diocese. He was a great patron of talented young priests, and thus compelled Dr. O'Higgins to stand the Concursus at Maynooth against Dr. Renehan, who was afterwards president of that college. Some few days after the examination at Maynooth, Dr. Magauran held a conference of his clergy in the different deaneries, and the Very ReverendVery Reverend
The Very Reverend is a style given to certain religious figures.*In the Roman Catholic Church, by custom, priests who hold positions of particular note: e.g...
K. Kilroe, P.P., St. Mary's, Athlone, who, at that time, was a young priest just home from college, and without a mission, and on that account was taken around by the bishop to the different places where the clergy assembled that there was no business at any of the conferences. It was kept as a holiday, the bishop was so pleased at the brilliant examination of Dr. O'Higgins, he entertained them with a most interesting and pleasing account of the triumphant and crushing defeat dealt out by the ex-professor from Paris to Dr. Renehan. "I have never witnessed," said the bishop, "such a display of theological learning." Even the students of Maynooth, although naturally on the side of the candidate of their own college, after the first day took to cheering and clapping O'Higgins.
Dr. Magauran had a noble and commanding presence, and was very affable and simple in his manners, a great favourite with his clergy and people.
It is said that he and the late Very Reverend Dean Farrelly, P.P., of Ardagh, went to Dublin, on the occasion of the visit of King George IV
George IV of the United Kingdom
George IV was the King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and also of Hanover from the death of his father, George III, on 29 January 1820 until his own death ten years later...
to that city, and were presented to his majesty, who afterwards observed, "They were the two finest-looking ecclesiastics in Great Britain."
On the 25 March 1825, Dr.Magauran gave evidence to a select committee of the Houses of Parliament, chaired by Lord Palmerston, about the State of Ireland.
Dr. Magauran died on the 3 or 25 June 1829 at Ballymahon
Ballymahon
Ballymahon on the River Inny is a town in the southern part of County Longford, Ireland. It is located at the junction of the N55 National secondary road and the R392 regional road. Ballymahon derives its name from Gaelic Baile Mathuna Town of Mahon...
, County Longford
County Longford
County Longford is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Midlands Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the town of Longford.Longford County Council is the local authority for the county...
, where he resided and where he had officiated every Sunday at the 8 A.M. mass. He was interred in the little church there, at that time the pro-cathedral
Pro-cathedral
A pro-cathedral is a parish church that is temporarily serving as the cathedral or co-cathedral of a diocese.-Usage:In Ireland, the term is used to specifically refer to St Mary's Pro-Cathedral in Dublin, the seat of the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Dublin since the Reformation, when Christ Church...
, and where his remains still repose within its renovated walls.
Sources
ReferencesBibliography
- Very Rev.Owen F.Traynor, 'Dr. James Magauran, Bishop of Ardagh, 1815-29' in Breifne Journal, Volume IV, No.15, 1972, 336-44.