TUAM
82
TUAM
Galway, Mayo, and even Roscommon. The arch-
bishop also complained that Armagh claimed jurisdic-
tion over the Diocese of Kilmore and Ardagh, which
rightfully belonged to his province, and also over sev-
eral parishes in the Archdiocese of Tuam, to which the
primate had no claim. A composition was effected
later, in 1241.
In 125S died Walter De Salerno, an Englishman, who was appointed by the pope but never got posses- sion of his see. In 1286 Stephen de Fulnurn, who had been justiciarj', was appointed to the See of Tuam, but he resided mostly at Athlone. There is extant an inventory of his effects which goes to show that he lived in much state and splendour. William de Ber- mingham, son of Meyler de Berniingham, Lord of Car- bery, Dunmore, and Athenry, appointed in 1289. He was a powerful high-handed prelate, but the monks of Athenry and Annaghdown resisted him successfully. Maurice O'Fihely, called in his own time "Flos Mundi" on account of his prodigious learning, was consecrated Archbishop of Tuam by Julius II in 1506, but like Florence Conry in later times, he never beheld his see. In 1537 Christopher Bodkin, then Bishop of Kilmacduagh, was appointed Archbishop of Tuam by Henry VIII, and it is said took the Oath of Su- premacy. He managed to hold his ground in Tuam for thirty-five years under Henry VIII, Edward, Mary, and Elizabeth. Bodkin, though a temporizing prelate, was always a Catholic and zealous in the ser- vice of his flock. In 1558 he held a visitation of his diocese, the account of which has been preserved and gives invaluable information regarding the state of the archdiocese at that time.
Malochy O'Queely was one of the greatest Irish prelates of the seventeenth century — a patriot, a re- former, and a scholar; but he was not a general, and imwisely undertook to command the Confederate troops in Connacht during the wars of 1642-45. His forces were attacked unexpectedly during the night by Sir F. Hamilton near Sligo and the archbishop was slain on the field. Mention must be made, too, of Florence Conry, though he never took possession of his see. He rendered signal service to Ireland by the foimdation of St. Anthony's Convent of Louvain, whose scholars — Michael O'Clery, Ward, Fleming, Colgan, and many others — did so much for the pres- ervation of the literature and the language and the history of Ireland both sacred and profane. John MacHale has a .special article in this Encyclopedia; his immediate successor, John MacEnilly, was an in- defatigable and zealous prelate; he found time to write commentaries in English on practically the whole of the New Testament. He was born in 1818, died in 1902, and lies burieii before (he high altar of Tuam cathedral beside ,Iohn MacHale.
Moral and Social Condition. — The moral state of the archdiocese is very good. Temperance is making rapid strides air.ongst all classes of the population. Grave public crimes of every kind have almost disap- peared. Primary education is now universally dif- fused even in the remotest mountain valleys. The Christian Brothers' schools are remarkablj' efficient, St. Jarlath's College, Tuam, now holds a premier place amongst the diocesan colleges of Ireland. The social condition of the people also has been greatly improved mainly through the efforts of the Con- gested Districts Board. They are better housed and better fed; the land is better tilled, and much more is derived from the harvest of the seas around the coast. No part of Ireland suffered more during the famine years from starvation and jjrosclytism than Conne- mara and the Island of Achill. The starving people were bribed during these years by food and money to go to the Protestant churches and send their children to the proselytizing schools. If they went they got food and money. "Silver Monday", as they called it, was the day fixed for these dojp.s. If they refused
to go to the church and to the school they got noth-
ing; and to their honour it must be said, that most of
them, but not all, preferred starvation to apostasy.
The proselytizers have now completely disappeared,
and have quite enough to do to take care of them-
selves.
The present archbishop, Most Rev. John Healy, a native of the Diocese of Elphin, was born on 14 Nov., 1841, at Ballinafad, Co. Sligo. His early education was received at an excellent classical school in the town of Sligo whence, at about fifteen years of age, he pro- ceeded to the diocesan college, in those days situated at Summerhill near Athlone. On 26 August, 1860, he entered the class of rhetoric at Ma>Tiooth, and just before the completion of his course was called out by his bishop to be a professor in the college at Summer- hill. Here he was ordained in Sept., 1867, and con- tinued to teach for over two years. His missionary experiences were gained in the parish of Ballygar, near Roscommon, where he was curate for two years, and then at Grange, Co. Sligo, where he spent seven years. He was then for one year in charge of a deanery school in the town of Elphin. In 1879, he competed simultaneously for two vacant chairs — one of theology and the other of classics — in the national college of Maynooth, and had the unique honour con- ferred on him of being appointed to both and allowed to make his own choice between them. He naturaUy selected the chair of theology, which he filled till 1883, when he succeeded Dr. Murray, as prefect of the Dun- boyne Establishment. During his tenure of this office. Dr. Healy acted as editor of the "Irish Ecclesi- astical Record", but this was only for a single year, for in 1884 he was appointed titular Bishop of Macra and Coadjutor Bishop of Clonfert. Here it may be interesting to note that no less than five members of Dr. Healy's class in Maynooth wear the episcopal purple in Irish sees. In 1896, on the death of the saintly Dr. Duggan, he succeeded to the see of Clon- fert. Seven years after, by papal Brief, dated 13 Feb., 1903, he became Archbishop of Tuam, and on the fol- lowing St. Patrick's Day took possession of his an- cient see. On 31 August, 1909, he celebrated the sil- ver jubilee of his episcopate.
The archbishop is a member of many Irish public bodies, notably of the Agricultural Board, the Senate of the National University, the Board of Governors of University College, Galway. He is president of the Catholic Truth Society of Ireland, and a Commis- sioner for the publication of the Brehon Laws. He acted on the Royal Commission of 1901 io inquire into and report on condition of University Education in Ireland. His principal published works are: "Ire- land's Ancient Schools and Scholars", which has reached a fifth edition; "The Centenary History of Maynooth College"; "The Record of the Maynooth Centenary Celebrations"; "The Life and Writings of St. Patrick"; " Irish Essays : Literary and Historical; "Papers and Addresses", a jubilee collection of fugi- tive periodical articles and reviews.
CoLOAN, Acta sanctorum Hibernian; Knox, Notes on the Dio- ceses of Tuam. etc.; Idem, Hist, of the County Mayo; Healt, Ire- land's .indent Schools and Scholars; Annah of the Four Masters, ed. O'Donovan; Bhadt, Episcopal Succession; D'Alton, History of Ireland; Hardiman, Hist, of Galway; O'Conor Don, The O'Conors of Connacht,
John Healy.
Tuam, School of (Irish, Tuaim da GhxMlann, or the "Mound of the two Shoulders"), was founded by St. Jarlath (q. v.), and even during his life (d. c. 540) became a renowned school of piety and sacred learn- ing, while in the eleventh century it rivalled Clon- macnoise as a centre of Celtic art. St. Jarlath was trained for his work by St . Benignus, the successor and coadjutor of St. Patrick, and under this gentle saint's guidance he founded his first monastery at Cluain- fois, now Cloonfush, about two miles west from Tuam, and a still shorter distance across the fertile fields
