Thomas Croke was born in Castlecor (parish of Kilbrin), County Cork, in 1824. He was the third of eight children of William Croke, an estate agent, and his wife, Isabella Plummer, daughter of an aristocratic Protestant family who disowned her following her Catholic marriage in 1817.
After William Croke died in 1834 his brother, the Reverend Thomas Croke, supervised the education and upbringing of the children. Two of Thomas's brothers entered the priesthood, while two sisters became nuns. He was educated in Charleville, County Cork and at the Irish College in Paris and the Irish College in Rome, winning academic distinctions including a doctorate of divinity with honours.[1]
He was ordained in May 1847. Returning to Ireland for a short time he was appointed a Professor in Carlow College. Croke's brother, James, was also a priest and served in the Pacific Northwest helping to found several churches including St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Oregon Territory.[2] The Irish radical William O'Brien said that Thomas Croke fought on the barricades in Paris during the 1848 French Revolution. Croke returned to Ireland and spent the next 23 years working there.
In 1870, Croke was appointed Bishop of Auckland in New Zealand, helped by the strong recommendation of his former professor, Paul Cullen, by then-Cardinal Archbishop of Dublin, who was largely responsible for filling the Australasian Catholic church with fellow Irishmen. Croke arrived in Auckland on 17 December 1870 in the City of Melbourne. During his three years as bishop, he restored firm leadership to a diocese left in disarray by his predecessor, Bishop J. B. F. Pompallier. Croke devoted some of his considerable personal wealth to rebuilding diocesan finances and also took advantage of Auckland's economic growth following the development of the Thames goldfields to further his aims, ensuring that all surplus income from parishes at Thames and Coromandel was passed on to him, and he instituted a more rigorous system for the Sunday collection at St Patrick's Cathedral. He appointed Walter McDonald administrator of the Cathedral.[4]
Croke imported Irish clergy to serve the growing Catholic community, and with Patrick Moran, the first Catholic Bishop of Dunedin, he tried (unsuccessfully) to secure an Irish monopoly on future episcopal appointments in New Zealand.
Croke made several journeys to Australia from New Zealand, visiting Sydney, Melbourne and Bathurst (where his sister Mother Mary Ignatius Croke had set up the Sisters of Mercy in 1866[5]) in 1872[6] and Melbourne in 1875 on his way back to Ireland.[7][8]
His energies were devoted to saving the souls of the Irish immigrant rather than converting the Māori. Croke supported separate Catholic schools and their right to state aid and voiced his opposition to secular education as Auckland's Catholic schools were threatened by the provincial council's Education Act 1872, which helped to create a free, secular and compulsory education system. However, generally, Croke's image was uncontroversial. There was also little sign of the strongly Irish nationalist line he would adopt during his subsequent career in Ireland. On 28 January 1874, after barely three years in office, Croke departed for Europe, on what was ostensibly a 12-month holiday and he did not return to New Zealand.[9]
Archbishop Croke was a strong supporter of Irish nationalism, aligning himself with the Irish National Land League during the Land War, and with the chairman of the Irish Parliamentary Party, Charles Stewart Parnell.[11] In an 1887 interview he explained that he had opposed the League's "No rent manifesto" in 1881, preferring to stop payment of all taxes: "I opposed the No Rent Manifesto six years ago because, apart from other reasons, I thought it was inopportune and not likely to be generally acted on. Had a manifesto against paying taxes been issued at the time I should certainly have supported it on principle. I am precisely the same frame of mind just now."[12]
His support of nationalism caused successive British governments and Lord Lieutenant of Ireland's governments in Dublin to be deeply suspicious of him, as were some less politically aligned Irish bishops.[citation needed]
Following the scandal that erupted over Parnell's relationship with Kitty O'Shea, the separated wife of fellow MP Captain Willie O'Shea, Archbishop Croke withdrew from active participation in nationalist politics.[13] He died at the Archbishop's Palace in Thurles on 22 July 1902, aged 78. In honour of Croke, his successors as Archbishop of Cashel and Emly traditionally were asked to throw in the ball at the minor Gaelic football and All-Ireland hurling finals. This practice ceased after 1964.[14]
Croke Park, the headquarters of the GAA, named after Archbishop Croke.
References
^Mark Tierney (1976) Croke of Cashel: the life of Archbishop Thomas William Croke, 1823–1902, Gill and MacMillan, Dublin.
^Wilfrid S.J. Schoenberg (1987 ) A History of the Catholic Church in the Pacific Northwest 1743 – 1983, The Pastoral Press Washington D.C. pp. 140–142 ISBN0-912405-25-2
^ abM. Tierney (1970). "A Short-Title Calendar of the Papers of Archbishop Thomas William Croke in Archbishop's House, Thurles: Part 1, 1841–1885". Collectanea Hibernica. 13 (13): 100–138. JSTOR 30004435.
^E.R.Simmons (1978) A Brief History of the Catholic Church in New Zealand, Catholic Publications Centre, Auckland. p. 72.
^"The Late Archbishop Croke". Freeman's Journal. Vol. LIII, no. 3317. New South Wales, Australia. 2 August 1902. p. 17. Retrieved 12 January 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
^"DIOCESE OF AUCKLAND". Advocate. Vol. IV, no. 172. Victoria, Australia. 27 April 1872. p. 6. Retrieved 12 January 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
^"The most Rev. Dr. Croke". Advocate. Vol. XXXIII, no. 1749. Victoria, Australia. 2 August 1902. p. 12. Retrieved 12 January 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
^"Did Aussie Rules Get There First?". Irish Daily Mail. 25 October 2016.
^"Archbishop Thomas William Croke [Catholic-Hierarchy]".
^Mark Tierney (1974). "A Short-Title Calendar of the Papers of Archbishop Thomas William Croke in Archbishop's House, Thurles: Part 3, 1891–1902". Collectanea Hibernica. 17 (17): 110–144. JSTOR 30004418.
thomas, croke, thomas, william, croke, 1824, july, 1902, second, catholic, bishop, auckland, zealand, 1870, later, archbishop, cashel, emly, ireland, important, irish, nationalist, movement, especially, champion, irish, national, land, league, 1880s, main, gae. Thomas William Croke D D 28 May 1824 22 July 1902 was the second Catholic Bishop of Auckland New Zealand 1870 74 and later Archbishop of Cashel and Emly in Ireland He was important in the Irish nationalist movement especially as a Champion of the Irish National Land League in the 1880s The main Gaelic Athletic Association stadium in Dublin is named Croke Park in his honour The Most ReverendThomas CrokeD D ChurchCatholicArchdioceseCashel and EmlyInstalled5 July 1875Term ended22 July 1902PredecessorPatrick LeahySuccessorThomas FennellyOther post s Bishop of Auckland 1870 74 OrdersOrdinationMay 1847Personal detailsBorn 1824 05 28 28 May 1824Kilbrin County Cork IrelandDied22 July 1902 1902 07 22 aged 78 Thurles County Tipperary IrelandBuriedCathedral of the Assumption ThurlesNationalityIrishResidenceArchbishop s Palace ThurlesParentsWilliam Croke and Isabella PlummerEducationDoctor of DivinityAlma materIrish College in ParisPontifical Irish College Contents 1 Early life 2 Bishop of Auckland 3 Archbishop of Cashel 4 References 5 Further reading 6 External linksEarly life EditThis section needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources in this section Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Thomas Croke news newspapers books scholar JSTOR May 2023 Learn how and when to remove this template message Thomas Croke was born in Castlecor parish of Kilbrin County Cork in 1824 He was the third of eight children of William Croke an estate agent and his wife Isabella Plummer daughter of an aristocratic Protestant family who disowned her following her Catholic marriage in 1817 After William Croke died in 1834 his brother the Reverend Thomas Croke supervised the education and upbringing of the children Two of Thomas s brothers entered the priesthood while two sisters became nuns He was educated in Charleville County Cork and at the Irish College in Paris and the Irish College in Rome winning academic distinctions including a doctorate of divinity with honours 1 He was ordained in May 1847 Returning to Ireland for a short time he was appointed a Professor in Carlow College Croke s brother James was also a priest and served in the Pacific Northwest helping to found several churches including St Joseph s Catholic Church in Oregon Territory 2 The Irish radical William O Brien said that Thomas Croke fought on the barricades in Paris during the 1848 French Revolution Croke returned to Ireland and spent the next 23 years working there In 1857 Croke became wealthy due to inheriting the fortunes of his uncle James Croke who had gained his riches in the Colony of Victoria in Australia 3 In 1858 he became the first president of St Colman s College Fermoy County Cork and then served as both parish priest of Doneraile and Vicar General of Cloyne diocese from 1866 to 1870 Thomas Croke attended the First Vatican Council as the theologian to the Bishop of Cloyne 1870 3 Bishop of Auckland Edit Croke in the 1870s In 1870 Croke was appointed Bishop of Auckland in New Zealand helped by the strong recommendation of his former professor Paul Cullen by then Cardinal Archbishop of Dublin who was largely responsible for filling the Australasian Catholic church with fellow Irishmen Croke arrived in Auckland on 17 December 1870 in the City of Melbourne During his three years as bishop he restored firm leadership to a diocese left in disarray by his predecessor Bishop J B F Pompallier Croke devoted some of his considerable personal wealth to rebuilding diocesan finances and also took advantage of Auckland s economic growth following the development of the Thames goldfields to further his aims ensuring that all surplus income from parishes at Thames and Coromandel was passed on to him and he instituted a more rigorous system for the Sunday collection at St Patrick s Cathedral He appointed Walter McDonald administrator of the Cathedral 4 Croke imported Irish clergy to serve the growing Catholic community and with Patrick Moran the first Catholic Bishop of Dunedin he tried unsuccessfully to secure an Irish monopoly on future episcopal appointments in New Zealand Croke made several journeys to Australia from New Zealand visiting Sydney Melbourne and Bathurst where his sister Mother Mary Ignatius Croke had set up the Sisters of Mercy in 1866 5 in 1872 6 and Melbourne in 1875 on his way back to Ireland 7 8 His energies were devoted to saving the souls of the Irish immigrant rather than converting the Maori Croke supported separate Catholic schools and their right to state aid and voiced his opposition to secular education as Auckland s Catholic schools were threatened by the provincial council s Education Act 1872 which helped to create a free secular and compulsory education system However generally Croke s image was uncontroversial There was also little sign of the strongly Irish nationalist line he would adopt during his subsequent career in Ireland On 28 January 1874 after barely three years in office Croke departed for Europe on what was ostensibly a 12 month holiday and he did not return to New Zealand 9 Archbishop of Cashel EditCroke became a member of the Irish hierarchy when he was translated to be Archbishop of Cashel one of the four Catholic Irish archbishoprics Cashel amp Emly Dublin Armagh and Tuam in 1875 10 Archbishop Croke was a strong supporter of Irish nationalism aligning himself with the Irish National Land League during the Land War and with the chairman of the Irish Parliamentary Party Charles Stewart Parnell 11 In an 1887 interview he explained that he had opposed the League s No rent manifesto in 1881 preferring to stop payment of all taxes I opposed the No Rent Manifesto six years ago because apart from other reasons I thought it was inopportune and not likely to be generally acted on Had a manifesto against paying taxes been issued at the time I should certainly have supported it on principle I am precisely the same frame of mind just now 12 He also associated himself with the Temperance Movement of Fr Mathew and Gaelic League from its foundation in 1893 Within Catholicism he was a supporter of Gallicanism as opposed to the Ultramontanism favoured by the Archbishop of Dublin Cardinal Cullen citation needed His support of nationalism caused successive British governments and Lord Lieutenant of Ireland s governments in Dublin to be deeply suspicious of him as were some less politically aligned Irish bishops citation needed Following the scandal that erupted over Parnell s relationship with Kitty O Shea the separated wife of fellow MP Captain Willie O Shea Archbishop Croke withdrew from active participation in nationalist politics 13 He died at the Archbishop s Palace in Thurles on 22 July 1902 aged 78 In honour of Croke his successors as Archbishop of Cashel and Emly traditionally were asked to throw in the ball at the minor Gaelic football and All Ireland hurling finals This practice ceased after 1964 14 Croke Park the headquarters of the GAA named after Archbishop Croke References Edit Mark Tierney 1976 Croke of Cashel the life of Archbishop Thomas William Croke 1823 1902 Gill and MacMillan Dublin Wilfrid S J Schoenberg 1987 A History of the Catholic Church in the Pacific Northwest 1743 1983 The Pastoral Press Washington D C pp 140 142 ISBN 0 912405 25 2 a b M Tierney 1970 A Short Title Calendar of the Papers of Archbishop Thomas William Croke in Archbishop s House Thurles Part 1 1841 1885 Collectanea Hibernica 13 13 100 138 JSTOR 30004435 E R Simmons 1978 A Brief History of the Catholic Church in New Zealand Catholic Publications Centre Auckland p 72 The Late Archbishop Croke Freeman s Journal Vol LIII no 3317 New South Wales Australia 2 August 1902 p 17 Retrieved 12 January 2022 via National Library of Australia DIOCESE OF AUCKLAND Advocate Vol IV no 172 Victoria Australia 27 April 1872 p 6 Retrieved 12 January 2022 via National Library of Australia The most Rev Dr Croke Advocate Vol XXXIII no 1749 Victoria Australia 2 August 1902 p 12 Retrieved 12 January 2022 via National Library of Australia Did Aussie Rules Get There First Irish Daily Mail 25 October 2016 Sweetman Rory Croke Thomas William 1822 1823 1902 Dictionary of New Zealand Biography Ministry for Culture and Heritage Retrieved 5 April 2011 Archbishop Thomas William Croke Catholic Hierarchy Mark Tierney 1974 A Short Title Calendar of the Papers of Archbishop Thomas William Croke in Archbishop s House Thurles Part 3 1891 1902 Collectanea Hibernica 17 17 110 144 JSTOR 30004418 Freeman s Journal 17 February 1887 Brendan O Cathaoir 22 July 2002 An Irishman s Diary Irish Times Sean Moran 4 December 2015 GAA nostalgia continues to prove attractive to fans Irish Times Further reading EditThomas Meehan Thomas William Croke The Catholic Encyclopedia Vol 4 New York Robert Appleton Company 1908 1 E R Simmons In Cruce Salus A History of the Diocese of Auckland 1848 1980 Catholic Publication Centre Auckland 1982 External links Edit Herbermann Charles ed 1913 Thomas William Croke Catholic Encyclopedia New York Robert Appleton Company Catholic Church titlesPreceded byJean Baptiste Pompallier 2nd Bishop of Auckland1870 1874 Succeeded byWalter Steins SJPreceded byPatrick Leahy Archbishop of Cashel1875 1902 Succeeded byThomas Fennelly Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Thomas Croke amp oldid 1153415742, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
