O'DONNELL AN!D THE SEE. QF RAPHOE As the original of this letter is in Italian, one may. legitimately surmise that the authoir of it was an Italian, possibly a ·Papal dignitary resident in Vienna, and possibly well known to Cardinal Castelli. If the latter supposition were really t'rue, then those who appealed to him to plead for Father Thally's appointment, would have done so with some confidence that his advocacy of their candidate would, like Count 0 Donel's patronage, cairry weight in Papal circles. The Franciscan's supporters were certainly active on his behalf. Yet the tone of this letter seems rather formal. OnE.· gets the 'impression, I think, that the author has been asked to use his influence in this matter of the nomination of a · ·Coadjutor to the Bi·shop of Raphoe, and unwilling to refuse this request, has penned a formal--certainly not a very enthusiastic-supporting plea. Would it be p!re·suming t90 much to see Francis.can influence behind both these appeals to Home? Dr. 0 Reilly's two predecessors in the See of Raphoe had been Friars Minor. The friars may well have suspected that Dr. Anthony Coyle, the Vicar General to whom Dr. 0 Reilly had 'committed the care of the diocese,' and who, it was probably felt, wou1d be his .personal choice as his successor, might not he particularly friendly towards them. The Irish !Franciscan house in Prague had kept Irish Friars in close touch with the de!)cendants of the exiled Irish nobility. The head of the Austrian line of 0 Donnells was, most likely, well known to them. It would have been an easy matter for them to secure his support for their candidate. The friars would . also have known others whose influence at Rome might tell in their favour. All this is conjecture; and yet it may not lack foundation in fact. Of Father Thally almost nothing is l\nown beyond the few facts given in the above letter. In 177·6 he •was appointed Guardian of Drogheda, and again in 1778. ln 1782, 1784, 1785, 1794 and 1796 he was nominated titular Guardian of Carrickfergus. He was aiso appointed titular Gua:cdian of Lisgool in 1790 and 1791. At Chapters held in 1779 and 1781 he was elected Custos. His baptismal name was Patrick, and his religious name, Francis.12 Of course it is hardly necessary to add that Father Thally was not appointed to the See of Raphoe. That honour fell to Dr. Coyle. APPENDIX (A) Monseigneur : Les soins de Votre Eminence pour la mission d'Irlande e.t les peines que vous v:oules bie.n vous donner pour cette He infortunee meritent les sentiments de la reconnaisance la plus sincere de tous ;(;eux qui s'interessent au 1bien etre de cc pais. Permettes done, Monseigneur, que je joigne ma voix a Celle de tant d'autres, que je vous en fasse mon remerciment le plu.s humble; et que Je fournisse a Votre Eminence une nouvelle occasion de biE:.n merite1· de cette Ile. Feu .Mons. Qi.Reilly Eveque de Raphoc .aiant e~e reduit depuis quelques ann annees a un etat de secondE. enfance par scs infirmltes commit le soin de son dioces~ a son Vicaire general. Les Pastcurs du Diocese aiant sujet de se plaindre de cet homme, m'ecrivirent avcc un Eveque voisin, . il y a un an, pour m'engager a m'interesse!" a faire nommer un Coadjuteur et me prierent de faire en so.rte que le choix tombat sur le Revd. Pere Patrice Tha11y de l'ordre de S. ----·------------- 11 For original and its sourCP. see Appendix B. 12 Chapter Acts. Information kindly supplied by Very Revd. Fr. Canicc Mooney, 0.F.M. 47G.
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