MASS IN THE AUGUSTINIAN CHURCH
FOR THE MANCHESTER MARTYRS
William Allen, Michael
O'Brien and Michael Larkin were hanged on 23 November 1867 for the murder of a
policeman in Manchester. They were
members of the Irish Republican Brotherhood.
The Rev. James Anderson O.S.A. (1838-1903) was an enthusiastic supporter
of the Fenians which explains why the Mass was held in St. Augustine's. For more information on Father Anderson see:
"The Father Anderson Story" by James Flynn 2012.
DOWNPATRICK RECORDER 4 JANUARY 1868
"The month's memory
for the three Manchester victims, Allen, Larkin and O'Brien, was held in the
Augustinian Church, Dungarvan, on last Monday morning, at eight o'clock. Owing to the severity of the weather and a
misunderstanding as to the hour appointed, the attendance was not as large as
it otherwise would have been. The vacuum
thus created was, however, made up by her Majesty's Royals, who largely
attended throughout the entire ceremony, and seemed to pay the strictest
attention, or I would rather say devotion, to everything and everybody. The Rev. Mr. Quinlan, Adelaide, was
celebrant; the Rev. T.A. Anderson, O.S.A., and the Rev. N. Cesaretti, O.S.A.
assisting.
The church and altar were
draped in mourning... on the catafalque were strewn branches of box-wood and
other emblems of mourning. I may mention
that the first high Mass and office said in Ireland for these brave Irish
Patriots was celebrated in the Augustinian church, Dungarvan on the morning of
Monday 28th November 1867.
