Rev Fr Paddy Sharkey, Liscannor

[siobhanfoody]

It's my grandfather's 90th birthday on August 10th and he's always wanted to track down a copy of some correspondence on a Fr Paddy Sharkey and I'm hoping you may be able to point me in the right direction.

My granny's uncle, a Fr Paddy Sharkey, like the rest of his family in Strokestown, was heavily involved in the War of Independence and the Civil War. Fr Paddy was in Boston during the 1920s and was involved with a group called the A.A.R.I.R. (American Association for Recognition of the Irish Republic). He met Eamon de Valera in America and introduced him to his cousin, Fr Wheelright.

Fr Paddy was recalled to Ireland but the then Bishop of Elphin refused to give him a curacy on a account of his involvement in politics. However, the Bishop of Killaloe gave him a curacy near Liscannor, Co Clare. While Fr Paddy was saying Mass there, the Black & Tans and British Army surrounded the church and two men who ran out were shot dead. Fr Paddy came out and told the people to go home but he was put up against a wall and told he was insulting an "officer of the King". He replied: "You may be an officer of a lay king but I am an officer of a Heavenly King." The British officer dismissed his party and the story went that he afterwards sought instructions in the Catholic faith.

Fr Paddy appealed the decision of the Elphin bishop to Rome and was requested to forward an explanation of Sinn Féin and Irish Republicanism. He did this with the result that the Elphin bishop was to appoint him to curacy in Highwood and pay him what he would have earned there during the time he was in Clare. Fr Paddy refused to accept any money. It is this correspondence that my grandfather believes is in the archives at Maynooth College. However, I have contacted them and they are unable to locate it and thought you may be of assistance or may know of someone who might know more about it?

Fr Paddy later became C.C. in Boyle; P.P. in Magherarow and P.P. Ballinameen. He was also the author of several books and religious publications, including 'The Heart of Ireland', 'The Moytura Record' and 'Mary of The Gael'. Fr Paddy died in 1954 and I attach a copy of his obituary which appeared in the Irish Independent on December 21 of that year.

I'd be really grateful for any help you could give me to trace the letters or simply point me in the right direction. Fr Paddy Sharkey is briefly mentioned in the book, 'The War of Independence in West Clare/ by Rita Marrinan. I've also tracked down references to his letters in the Hagan Collection at the Irish Pontifical College in Rome (also attached). However, the archives there are effectively closed at the moment.

Kind regards,
Siobhan Foody
siobhanfoody@gmail.com

[Paddy Casey]

......... It is this correspondence that my grandfather believes is in the archives at Maynooth College. However, I have contacted them and they are unable to locate it and thought you may be of assistance or may know of someone who might know more about it?

Hi Siobhan,

In August 2010 in connection with a search related to Fr Laurence Brown of Tubber I contacted Maynooth and Cora in the President's Office told me that this information would normally be recorded but the records relating to Fr.Laurence Browne would have been destroyed, together with all their other records, in a fire in 1940 (see posting at http://www.ourlibrary.ca/phpbb2/viewtop ... ooth#p2970 ). In your case I suppose it depends whether that correspondence was filed there before or after 1940. But if they were unable to locate it for you I suppose that is moot.

Paddy

[siobhanfoody]

Thanks very much for that info Paddy.