Father Patrick Lavelle (1825–1886) was a priest and Irishnationalist.
Lavelle was born in Mullagh, Murrisk, Co. Mayo, the son of Francis Lavelle a farmer. He was educated at the local hedge school and St Jarlath's College, Tuam. In 1844 he went to Maynooth College and was ordained a Catholic priest at St. Patrick's College, Maynooth, in 1851, and pursued postgraduate studies there as part of the Dunboyne Establishment.
He was appointed in 1854 as a professor of philosophy in the Irish College in Paris against the wishes of rector Rev. Dr. John Miley,[1] Lavelles radical politics would have been at odds with Miley who was supported by Cardinal Cullen, the other bishops supported lavelle.[2] Along with philosophy, he taught the Irish Language at the college. He left Paris in 1858 and returned to Ireland.[3]
He became nationally known in 1860 for his actions against proselytism in Toormakeady and its resultant evictions. He was nicknamed Patriot Priest Of Partry.[4] Lavelle also became known for his nationalism, declaring himself a 'traitor' to British rule in Ireland and delivering a famous lecture in July 1863 on the Catholic doctrine of the right of rebellion.[5] In 1861 he delivered a sermon at the funeral of Young Irelander Terence MacManus.[6]
References
^'John Miley and the Crisis at the Irish College, Paris, in the 1850s' by
Gerard Moran, Archivium Hibernicum, Vol. 50 (1996), pp. 113-126 (14 pages) Published by: Catholic Historical Society of Ireland.
