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, building the Immaculate Conception Church in Lawrence, MA in 1846, the first Catholic church in the city.[1][2]
In 1794 Ffrench was accepted as a Dominicanpostulant 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 the Dominican, College of Corpo Santo, 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 succeed in bringing the Presentation Sisters 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 in 1831, being absorbed into the new Diocese of Galway. Between 1824 (consecrated 1825) and his death he also served as Bishop of Kilmacduagh and Kilfenora.
Ffrench 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.
Referencesedit
^Corrigan, Michael. "Register of the Clergy Laboring in the Archdiocese of New York", Historical Records and Studies, Vol. 2, United States Catholic Historical Society, 1901, p. 40
^Rancourt, Leo, ed. (1999). St. Mary-Inmaculada Concepcion Parish: 150 Years. Lawrence, MA. pp. 8, 11.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
Sourcesedit
The Wardenship of Galway, 1791–1831, Martin Coen, private circulation, 1967
Dr. Edmund Ffrench, Martin Coen, Galway, The Presentation Convent, n.d.
The Dominicans in Galway 1241–1991, ed. Eustás Ó Héideáin, O.P., 1991
The Tribes of Galway, Adrian James Martyn, Galway, 2001
edmund, ffrench, this, article, includes, list, references, related, reading, external, links, sources, remain, unclear, because, lacks, inline, citations, please, help, improve, this, article, introducing, more, precise, citations, june, 2020, learn, when, re. This article includes a list of references related reading or external links but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline citations Please help improve this article by introducing more precise citations June 2020 Learn how and when to remove this message Edmund Ffrench O P 1775 1852 was the Roman Catholic Warden of Galway and Bishop of Kilmacduagh and Kilfenora 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 building the Immaculate Conception Church in Lawrence MA in 1846 the first Catholic church in the city 1 2 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 the Dominican College of Corpo Santo 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 succeed in bringing the Presentation Sisters 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 in 1831 being absorbed into the new Diocese of Galway Between 1824 consecrated 1825 and his death he also served as Bishop of Kilmacduagh and Kilfenora Ffrench 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 References edit Corrigan Michael Register of the Clergy Laboring in the Archdiocese of New York Historical Records and Studies Vol 2 United States Catholic Historical Society 1901 p 40 Rancourt Leo ed 1999 St Mary Inmaculada Concepcion Parish 150 Years Lawrence MA pp 8 11 a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a CS1 maint location missing publisher link Sources editThe Wardenship of Galway 1791 1831 Martin Coen private circulation 1967 Dr Edmund Ffrench Martin Coen Galway The Presentation Convent n d The Dominicans in Galway 1241 1991 ed Eustas o Heideain O P 1991 The Tribes of Galway Adrian James Martyn Galway 2001 Religious titles Unknown Warden of Galway1812 1831 Office abolished Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Edmund Ffrench amp oldid 1192661966, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
