Joseph W. Kirwan
Encyclopedia
Rev. Dr. Joseph William Kirwan (1796-24 December 1849) was an Irish clergyman and educationalist, who served as the first president of Queen's College Galway.
Kirwan was born in Galway
in 1796. He entered the National Seminary at St. Patrick's College, Maynooth, in 1817, and was ordained to the Roman Catholic priesthood in 1822, having been awarded the degree of Doctor of Divinity (D.D.). Returning to his native Diocese of Galway, he was appointed Parish Priest of Oughterard
in 1827, where he initiated construction of a new parish church. He was considered one of the leading candidates for appointment as Bishop of Galway when that office became vacant in 1845.
Kirwan was appointed President of Queen's College Galway
on the foundation of the college in December 1845. The college, one of three founded at Belfast, Cork and Galway to provide non-denominational university education in Ireland as an alternative to the Church of Ireland's Trinity College in Dublin, was not regarded with favour by a large number of prominent Catholics, among them many members of the Catholic hierarchy, who continued to press for the foundation of a specifically Catholic university. The institutions became known as the 'Godless Colleges', and Kirwan's position came under severe pressure from several leading bishops, including his own metropolitan bishop
, John McHale, the Archbishop of Tuam
. He remained committed to the college, however, and despite failing health presided over its official opening on 30 October 1849.
Kirwan died on 24 December 1849.
Kirwan was born in 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...
in 1796. He entered the National Seminary at St. Patrick's College, Maynooth, in 1817, and was ordained to the Roman Catholic priesthood in 1822, having been awarded the degree of Doctor of Divinity (D.D.). Returning to his native Diocese of Galway, he was appointed Parish Priest of Oughterard
Oughterard
Oughterard is a small town on the banks of the Owenriff River close to the western shore of Lough Corrib in County Galway, Ireland. The population of the town in 2006 was 1,305...
in 1827, where he initiated construction of a new parish church. He was considered one of the leading candidates for appointment as Bishop of Galway when that office became vacant in 1845.
Kirwan was appointed President of Queen's College Galway
National University of Ireland, Galway
The National University of Ireland, Galway is a constituent university of the National University of Ireland...
on the foundation of the college in December 1845. The college, one of three founded at Belfast, Cork and Galway to provide non-denominational university education in Ireland as an alternative to the Church of Ireland's Trinity College in Dublin, was not regarded with favour by a large number of prominent Catholics, among them many members of the Catholic hierarchy, who continued to press for the foundation of a specifically Catholic university. The institutions became known as the 'Godless Colleges', and Kirwan's position came under severe pressure from several leading bishops, including his own metropolitan bishop
Metropolitan bishop
In Christian churches with episcopal polity, the rank of metropolitan bishop, or simply metropolitan, pertains to the diocesan bishop or archbishop of a metropolis; that is, the chief city of a historical Roman province, ecclesiastical province, or regional capital.Before the establishment of...
, John McHale, the Archbishop of Tuam
Archbishop of Tuam
The Archbishop of Tuam is an archiepiscopal title which takes its name after the town of Tuam in County Galway, Ireland. The title was used by the Church of Ireland until 1839, and is still in use by the Roman Catholic Church.-History:...
. He remained committed to the college, however, and despite failing health presided over its official opening on 30 October 1849.
Kirwan died on 24 December 1849.