14 Facts About Colm Kiernan

Colm Padraic Kiernan was an Australian historian and writer.

In 1964, Colm Kiernan was appointed foundation Lecturer in History at the University of Wollongong, Australia.

Colm Kiernan received a classical education at boarding school in Clongowes, Ireland, the school which James Joyce describes in his writing A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man.

Colm Kiernan used to say the only thing he remembered from that occasion was that he was allowed to play on the Pope's Golden Telephone.

Colm Kiernan was a strong believer in Catholicism, and having been educated by the Jesuits, he understood the Church laws and decrees.

Colm Kiernan's faith was more an intellectual spiritual belief than a practical religiosity, but it was a very deep commitment from which he never wavered.

Colm Kiernan used to say that in boarding school he had attended enough Masses to last him the rest of his life.

When he was the Irish Ambassador to the United States, T J Kiernan recited this poem to the parents of John F Kennedy, Jr.

When his father was appointed as the first Irish Ambassador to Australia, in 1946, Colm Kiernan finished his schooling at St Patrick's College, Goulburn.

Colm Kiernan was the first PhD completion in the Arts Faculty for the University of New South Wales, Kensington.

Colm Kiernan was well versed in Irish, Scottish Gaelic, Latin, and old English and could translate many very difficult texts including those written by the Bronte sisters, of Irish descent, particularly Charlotte, who wrote in a mixture of Gaelic and old English.

Colm Kiernan spoke fluent Italian, Spanish, and French, loved language, literature, and poetry, and was passionate about all things Irish Australian.

Colm Kiernan married Susan Margaret Mayer, his second wife, on 11 June 1994, and they had a son together.

Colm Kiernan is survived by Susan, his four children and nine grandchildren.