From 'The New Zealand Tablet'

From Intercontinental of 'The New Zealand Tablet' of 6 August, 1906, (link here):

"The high honor of the freedom of the City of Kilkenny, conferred on Mr. Thomas Loughlin, of Ballarat - (nephew of the late Martin Loughlin), "who carried out the wishes of his uncle* and built a splendid church in that city, "has given very general satisfaction here" (writes the Melbourne correspondent of the 'Freeman's Journal'). With a lavish hand, Mr. Thomas Loughlin has disbursed "the means at his disposal during the past six or seven years of his residence, in Victoria. The Very Rev. Dean Phelan, V.G., received a cable from his Grace Archbishop Carr last week, that he and Bishop Higgins, of Ballarat, arrived in London on June 19, and on June 3 both prelates assisted, at the consecration of the new parish church, Kilkenny, Mr. Loughlin being also amongst the visitors. The church, which is allowed to be one of the most perfect examples of Gothic; architecture in Ireland, cost £30,000."

The Count and Father Hackett, S.J.

Archbishop Daniel Mannix of Melbourne

From: The riddle of Father Hackett: a priest in politics in Ireland and Australia, by Brenda Niall.

p. 153 ff."...William Hackett was given his parallel mission: to found a library that would help to educate Melbourne Catholics to know their faith and to take their place in the world... One of the first and most important patrons of the Library was a Kilkenny man, Count Thomas O'Loughlin. Hackett met the Count in 1923, when he and Murphy, then both at Xavier, were invited to O'Loughlin's home, Tara Hall, in Studley Park Road near Raheen. In this neo-Elizabethan mansion, complete with turrets and gargoyles, spacious reception rooms and a splendid staircase, O'Loughlin lived in state, with a manservant and a cook, several maids, and a governess for his daughters. All this came from a legacy. The archetypical of the rich uncle who struck lucky at the goldfields was the literal truth for the O'Loughlins. Martin Loughlin (1833-1894), born into a farming family in Kilkenny, made such a large fortune on the Victorian goldfields and in subsequent speculations in land, hotels and racehorses, that even the 1890s depression left him relatively untroubled. He died leaving an estate of £250,000.

His nephew Thomas, the ultimate beneficiary, came to Australia, where he passed on large portions of his wealth to the Catholic Church. One spectacular gift was the Church of St. John the Evangelist, which he endowed in his native Kilkenny in 1908. On his wedding day in 1911, Thomas was given the papal title in recognition of his benefactions. The farmer's son became Count O'Loughlin and his bride was addressed as Countess. Like everyone else in Kilkenny, Hackett and Murphy grew with the stories of Martin Loughlin's luck and the nephew's inheritance; they knew the Church that was built on Australian gold.

In the first five years of the Central Catholic Library, O'Loughlin was its main patron. Hackett became a family friend and visitor to Tara Hall, which was so close to Raheen that he could call on the Count before seeing the Archbishop. For O'Loughliin, as for few others, Mannix made a small adjustment to his policy of never accepting private hospitality. Except on a condolence visit in 1925, when the Countess died, he would not enter the front door of Tara, but at least once he crossed Studley Park Road and stood for a talk in his neighbour's garden. He brought the Archbishop of Brisbane, Dr. Duhig, and Cardinal Cerretti, the Apostolic Delegate of the time, his guests at Raheen. Two purple birettas and one scarlet cap made a brilliant spectacle for the little O'Loughlin girls. 'Look, look! Three popes in the garden!' one of them called to her governess.

When his wife died, Thomas O'Loughlin gave up Tara for a smaller house in Hawthorne. His own death in 1929 left five daughters to the care of an aunt from Ireland. Hackett did not forget the friendship, though five girls, the eldest only 17, strained his social resources. Card games were the best he could do: bridge or solo. He did not care for cards, nor did the O'Loughlin girls, but politeness on both sides kept them at the table..."

p 172 "Most important, in the early years of the library, was that other Kilkenny man, Count O'Loughlin, who wrote in 1927 that he would have great pleasure in paying the next year's rent of the Collins Street building. 'I shall also put my hand to raising the £10,000 you hope to reach within the next twelve months,' O'Loughlin added. His death in 1929, just as the Depression hit hard, was a serious setback."

Old St. John's

Exterior and interior images of the old St. John's Church in Kilkenny that was to be replaced by the O'Loughlin Memorial Church dedicated to St. John the Evangelist. The images are from the National Library of Ireland's online collection.

Old Images of the O'Loughlin Memorial Church

Archive images of the O'Loughlin Memorial Church from the National Library of Ireland online catalogue.

The Australian Connection

Interior of old St. Michael's Church, Athy

The Australian Connection

From the weekly column of Frank Taaffe

‘THIS altar rail was erected and the sanctuary adorned by Count Thomas J O’Loughlin, Melbourne to the memory of his beloved wife Kathleen’. So read the opening lines of the inscription on the plaque which graced the sanctuary of St Michael’s Church which was demolished following the last mass celebrated there on 24 September 1960. Who was Thomas O’Loughlin and what connection, if any, did he or his wife Kathleen have with Athy?

Thomas O’Loughlin was born Thomas Laughlin in Castlewarren a few miles on the Carlow side of Kilkenny city in 1869. His uncle Martin, who emigrated to Australia following the Great Famine and made his fortune in the goal mines of Ballarat, died in 1894. His nephews Thomas and Martin Laughlin were appointed executors of his will and both went ‘down under’ four years later to administer their uncle’s vast estate. Under the terms of the will funds were to be made available to build a church in memory of the O’Loughlin family in either Australia or Ireland.

The parish priest of the rural parish of Castlewarren did not accept the offer of a new church and eventually fortune favoured the Kilkenny city parish of St Johns where the O’Loughlin family had acquired a substantial property. The O’Loughlin Memorial Church of St John the Evangelist, built in the Gothic style, was completed in 1908 after nine years work at a cost of approximately £40,000.00. The church was consecrated on 28 June 1908 and in the following month word came from Rome that Pope Pius X had conferred the title of Knight of St Gregory the Great on Thomas O’Loughlin.

On returning to Australia Thomas Laughlin, now known as O’Loughlin, made the acquaintance of a Kilkenny born nun in a Melbourne convent. On a subsequent visit to Ireland he visited the family of Nicholas Murphy of Ballybur, brother of that nun and met Murphy’s daughter Kathleen whom he was to marry in 1911. The wedding ceremony took place on 27 September 1911, presided over by Bishop Brownrigg of Kilkenny, assisted by a number of clerics including Canon Mackey PP who was described as ‘an uncle of the bride’.

This then was the Athy connection with Count Thomas O’Loughlin as Canon Mackey had been appointed parish priest of Athy just two years previously.

Five daughters were born to Thomas O’Loughlin and his wife Kathleen who had returned to live in the vast O’Loughlin estate in Australia. Tragically on 1 August 1925 following the birth of their first son Kathleen O’Loughlin died, as did the baby boy. She was just 44 years of age. Count O’Loughlin died four years later, aged 63.

Subsequent court proceedings delayed administration of Count O’Loughlin’s will. It was not until 1936 that a Melbourne court ruled on the disputed will and a subsequent appeal to the Australian High Court found in favour of the count’s last will and testament.

I have not seen the count’s will but clearly he had decided to donate funds to his late wife’s uncle, Canon Mackey, ‘to erect altar rails and decorate the sanctuary of St Michael’s Athy.’ What form the sanctuary decorations took I cannot say. Canon Mackey had in the meantime died on 31 March 1928 but the installation of the altar rails went ahead in 1937.

The photograph shows the installation of the altar rails. They complemented the marble pulpit which had been presented in 1904 by the local people of Athy to mark the jubilee of the ordination of their then parish priest Canon Germaine. The pulpit still adorns our present parish church and a somewhat truncated version of the original marble railings are to be found beside the side altars. I don’t know where the rest of the railings can be found.

In recent weeks both Tom Byrne of St Joseph’s Terrace and Esther Owens of The Bleach passed away. I had the pleasure of interviewing Tom in the company of his friend Paddy Walsh several years ago but unfortunately I have temporarily mislaid my notes of that interview. Tom had a long and interesting life and his passing and that of Esther removes yet another valuable source of interesting knowledge and rich experience with which I always associate the older generation amongst our local community.

From 'Five Years in Ireland'

Taken from 'FIVE YEARS IN IRELAND, 1895-1900' By M. J. F. MCCARTHY, M.A., BARRISTER-AT-LAW, Published in 1901 by Hodges, Figgis & Co., Dublin, from Chapter XX 'The Events of Jubilee Year, Ninety-Seven Continued,' at p. 252 ff.

"Dr. Kelly was elected Bishop of Ross, of which diocese Skibbereen is the chief town. Dr. Kelly brings us back to ecclesistical matters. Prominent amongst them is "an impressive ecclesiastical function at Armagh." The public were informed that 'Cardinal Logue obtained special permission from the Pope for the Canons of his Cathedral to wear the celebrated choral dress, as worn by the Canons of the Basilica of St. John Lateran, the special Canons of His Holiness the Pope, a dress which is con- sidered one of the richest and most beautiful both in material and colouring that the Canons of the Church are permitted to wear.' The function was 'the investing of the Canons with this imposing and gorgeous church uniform.'

"Dr. Foley, Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin, issued his first pastoral, and nothing could be more instructive for those who wish to know what manner of man the Irish Catholic Bishop is than to read that document, or the part of it printed in the Press for the instruction of the Irish people. Had I room, I would print it all. He lamented the fact that 'it may not be prudent' to have public processions of the Blessed Sacrament through the towns. I have seen them in the South of Ireland. He laments that we, in Ireland, 'cannot give full and free expression to the homage that we know well ought to be given to our Divine Lord in the Holy Eucharist.' And he exclaims : 'The very atmosphere we breathe is not one calculated to -force the finest specimens of full-blown Catholicity.' With all due respect to Dr. Foley, the forcing-bed and the artificial heat are sufficiently in evidence here abeady; and if Catholicity in Carlow is not full-blown enough for him, he is very hard to please.

"The foundation stone of the new Catholic Church of St. John was laid at Kilkenny, one of our most decadent Irish towns. It will be, when com- pleted, a magnificent building, with a tower and spire 238 feet high! It is said to have cost £30,000, up to the year 1900, but the works have been stopped, I believe, owing to the cost having exceeded the estimate and the gift for its erection, but I have not been able to obtain any statement of accounts in connection with this or any other of the new Catholic Churches referred to.

"The vast sum of money intended to cover its erection was the gift of an old couple called Loughlin and their two sons, and was inherited, it is stated, from relatives in Australia. Dr. Brownrigg, the Bishop of Ossory, boasted that it would be the most beautiful church along the line of the silver Nore from the spot where it rises at the root of Slieve-bloom to where that river mixes its waters with the sea at Waterford." He alluded to the people who gave this vast sum for its erection, as 'the venerable old man, head of the family, whose health, I hope, has permitted him to be here, and his two sons,' and 'the venerable old lady, his wife, whose health I know has not permitted her to be here.' Thus were the Loughlins dealt with, while he eulogised to the stars his fellow-bishops who were present, and himself, as if they had done more in connection with the affair than the Loughlins.

"All I can say is that I do not believe Saint John feels a bit honoured by the building of that church in such a poor town and district as Kilkenny ; and I am sure he could have suggested to Dr. Brovmrigg a dozen ways in which the money might have been better spent."

The Mercy Convent Chapel, Callan, Co. Kilkenny

Celebrating with the Mercy Order

Published in the Kilkenny People of 29th November, 2006

ON Sunday evening the Mercy Order in Callan celebrated the centenary of their convent chapel with a concelebrated Mass for the nuns and invited guests.

Later in the evening solemn benediction was also celebrated in the little chapel for parishioners, friends and supporters. This writer was privileged to be asked to the special Mass which was celebrated by Bishop of Ossary, Dr. Laurence Forristal.

In my 35 years living in the town I had never had the privilege or opportunity to visit the interior of the church, it was certainly worth the wait as it is the most beautiful of places. This was the church build by local tradesmen 100 years ago and the beautiful church is testament to their wonderful workmanship. One could sense the history of the place and could just imagine when young and not so young nuns sitting in the choir seats which line both walls saying their office all those years ago.

Nothing has changed in the little church in those hundred years, the exquisite white marble alter which was donated by Count Thomas O'Loughlin still stand proudly at the front of the church, the wonderful marble pillars still shine like beacons and the original timber floor looks as good today as the first day it was installed.

Also in place are the stain glass windows, Sr. Asumptha tells of a recent visit by a stain glass expert who was amazed at the excellent condition of the windows and were definitely the finest stain glass workmanship he had ever seen.

Before the concelebrated Mass began there was a procession by some of the nuns and former members of the order to the alter bearing of artefacts from the convent including the original plans of the church. Also brought to the alter was a ticket dated 1904 which was sold to fundraise for the church. The Mercy Nuns greatest benefactor was cardinal Moran, he was especially remembered as the royalties from his books helped to pay for the building.

During the Mass Bishop Forristal spoke of his wonderful time as a pupil of the Mercy Convent in Thomastown and humorously stated they were responsible for the direction he took in life.

The concelebrants were Fr.Jim Forristal was Chaplin to the St.Brigids College for twenty years, Fr. Johnny Lawlor, Fr. Sean Doherty, Fr.Mark Condon and Fr. Raftes all former curates in Callan, Fr. Bernard Larche Community, Fr. Larry O'Keeffe Parish Priest of Clara and native of Callan and Fr. Willie Dalton P.P.

Parish Priest of Callan Fr. Willie Dalton gave the homily. He spoke of the Mercy nuns contribution to Callan and on arriving in Callan wasted no time in getting involved in education and parish work. Callan at the time was a very poor place and on their arrival the town was trying to over come many divisions and great poverty.

The town was still trying to come to terms in the aftermath of the Great Famine and as part of the Nuns work they engaged themselves in working in the Work House. He said the church is a legacy of our past and was described at the time as 'A Little Gem in the Mitre of Ossary'. When the nuns arrived in 1872 they first set about building a school and convent which both stand today and are in full use.

Their one wish was to build a church and Bishop Moran pledged to help them in every way, but economic circumstances dictated the church would not be built for another thirty years.On that faithful day in 1906 when the church was consecrated on eminent Jesuit priest said the church was a 'Store House of Apostolic Energy'. It was certainly a very fitting tribute to the Mercy nuns who have spread their teaching from Callan to many parts of the world.

In this modern age callings to the religious life are very few, and even though many of the community of Callan convent are getting older, there is a great vibrancy and spirituality about the community and above all a great welcoming as was again witnessed on Sunday.

The fascinating patchwork that makes up local history

The fascinating patchwork that makes up local history

From the weekly column of Frank Taaffe

...Do you remember the marble altar rail in St. Michael’s Church [Athy, Co. Kildare] which was removed in 1960 when the old parish church was being demolished?

The railing, or at least some of it, now forms part of the fabric of the existing St. Michael’s Parish Church. The original altar rail was erected and the church sanctuary adorned by Count Thomas J. O’Loughlin of Melbourne in honour of his wife Kathleen who died in 1925.

O’Loughlin was from Castlewarren, Co Kilkenny and after leaving St. Kieran’s College he emigrated to Australia where some members of his family already lived.

In 1911, he married Kathleen Murphy of Ballybur, Co Kilkenny and they had five daughters, all of whom were born in Australia. O’Loughlin, together with Michael and Martin O’Loughlin, were generous benefactors of the Catholic church and the Church of St. John the Evangelist in Kilkenny city was built following a bequest of £50,000 provided in the will of Martin O’Loughlin.

I don’t know whether Martin was father or brother of Thomas O’Loughlin but when the church was opened in 1908 the O’Loughlin family was represented by Thomas O’Loughlin who was conferred with the freedom of Kilkenny city and with papal honours including the title of Count of the Holy Roman Emperor.
Count Thomas O’Loughlin died in 1929 and as far as I can recall the altar rails of St. Michael’s Church were erected sometime in the mid 1930s.

This might suggest that O’Loughlin left a bequest in his will to fund the provision of altar rails in the Athy church. What, I wonder, was his connection with Athy or perhaps what link did his wife, the former Kathleen Murphy, have with the town? Again, I would like to hear from anyone who can help me with this query...

The Kildare Nationalist, Thursday, November 17, 2005

Images of the O'Loughlin Memorial Church