Eoghan O’Growney

On this day in 1863 the Irish-language revivalist and priest, Fr Eoghan O’Growney was born in county Meat. He made the headlines during his lifetime for his activities in promoting the Gaelic League and the Irish language, but he also made headlines in death. Did anyone ever have as many funerals as O’Growney? O’Growney died in 1899 in Los Angelas where he had moved for health reasons and was buried there. However, in 1903 nationalist and Irish language movements decided to bring him home for burial. As the coffin went from Los Angelas across country it was greeted by Irish communities and ‘funeral masses’ offered for him. The Drogheda Independent in 1903 provided this account of how much the news of the repatriation of his remains meant in Ireland:

THE announcement which we are enabled to make to-day—that the remains of the late Father O'Growney, the pioneer of the Gaelic Revival Movement, will reach this Country on this day week, and will be accorded the honour of a public funeral on Sunday, the 27th instant —is one that will prove especially gratifying to our Meath readers. Wherever the Gaelic League and the Irish Language Movement have won adherents, there the name of the talented and self-sacrificing Meath Priest—Father O'Growney —is known, revered and honoured. How much that feeling prevails in his native county is evidenced by the strong support which the Gaelic Revival Movement has received throughout the length and breadth of Royal Meath, whose people were proud while he lived to claim Father O'Growney as one of their own ; and who, now that he has gone to receive the reward of a life of priestly and patriotic virtue, cherish his memory as that of one very dear to them. That being so, the Meath representation at the public funeral to be accorded to the remains of this great Irishman on to-morrow week, in the Capital of his native Land, will no doubt be worthy of Meath and one of Meath's most noble sons. It is not, we feel certain, necessary to bespeak the enthusiasm of Meathians on such an occasion ; or to urge the reasons which must compel them to give unmistakeable manifestation thereof on the occasion of their Country's tribute of respect to the memory of one whose life was an ¦example of devotion to the twin causes of Faith and Fatherland. Forced into an unwilling exile in search of health for a constitution impaired by his labours for the spread of the old tongue of the Gael, Father O'Growney breathed up his pure spirit on the Pacific slopes some years ago. His last thoughts were with the Land he loved so well and for whose welfare he had sacrificed, it may be said, his life. It was not given him to breathe his last amid the scenes where he loved to linger; but the movement to lay his remains to rest in Holy Ireland was one, we feel certain, that, had lie a voice in the matter, would win his gratified approval. He deserved well of his Motherland, and the demonstration of respect to be offered to his memory next week should be such as beseems the character which his countrymen have earned for grateful memories and loyal love for those who have lived and died for Ireland.

For more information search the pages of the Irish Newspaper Archives (www.irishnewsarchives.com )