Irish Catholic Martyrs - Investigations

Investigations

There was a long delay in starting the investigation into their causes. Further complicating the investigation is that the records of these martyrs were destroyed, or not compiled, due to the danger of keeping such evidence. After Catholic Emancipation in 1829, the cause for Oliver Plunkett was re-visited. As a result, a series of publications on the whole period of persecutions was made.

The first to complete the process was Oliver Plunkett, Archbishop of Armagh, canonized in 1975 by Pope Paul VI. Plunkett was certainly targeted by the administration and unfairly tried.

Seventeen martyrs were beatified by Pope John Paul II on September 27, 1992. They are known as Dermot O'Hurley, Margaret Bermingham Ball, Francis Taylor and their fourteen companions. Among them are:

• Patrick O'Hely, bishop (d. August 31, 1579)
• Wexford Martyrs (d. July 5, 1581) – Patrick Cavanagh, Matthew Lambert, and fellow sailors found guilty of aiding in the escape of Viscount Baltinglass
• Conor O'Devany, bishop (d. February 11, 1612) with Patrick O'Loughran, priest
• Terence Albert O'Brien, bishop (d. October 31, 1651)
• William Tirry, priest (d. May 12, 1654)

None were included subsequently on the List of saints canonised by Pope John Paul II.

Various churches have been dedicated to the martyrs, including:

• Church of the Irish Martyrs, Ballyraine, Letterkenny
• Church of the Irish Martyrs, Ballycane, Naas
• Church of the Irish Martyrs, Cromwell, Otago, New Zealand.