26 Facts About Miler Magrath

The Most Rev Miler Magrath was a senior-ranking Irish prelate born in the Gaelic of Fermanagh in Ulster, the northern province in Ireland.

Miler Magrath came from a family of hereditary historians to the O'Brien clan.

Miler Magrath entered the Franciscan Order and was ordained to the Catholic priesthood.

Miler Magrath served as a member of the Parliament of Ireland.

Archbishop Miler Magrath was probably born at or near the village of Pettigo in what is the south-east of County Donegal in Ulster.

In 1569, John Merriman was appointed the Protestant Bishop of Down and Connor: Miler Magrath held on to the Catholic See, before he was finally deprived of Down and Connor by Rome in 1580 for heresy and other matters; thus he had enjoyed dual appointments as both a Catholic and a Church of Ireland prelate for nine years.

In 1570, Miler Magrath was appointed by the Crown as the Protestant Bishop of Clogher, including the temporalities, and visited England, where he fell ill of a fever.

In 1572 Miler Magrath brought charges against Butler's elder brother, The 10th Earl of Ormonde, but they were given no credence.

Until the end of the Desmond Rebellions in 1583, Miler Magrath remained in his province, while assisting the English government on the one hand and intriguing with the Catholic rebels on the other.

However, Miler Magrath continued to court favour with the authorities, and in 1584 he did arrest the Catholic Bishop of Emly, Maurice MacBrien, who died two years later in custody in Dublin Castle.

In 1591 Miler Magrath visited England without leave, and grave charges were pressed against him in his absence.

Miler Magrath appears to have feared that his soul was in jeopardy, and with a view to repentance and reconciliation with Rome, took care that his cousin would not be captured, while at the same time feeding information to the Crown about his whereabouts.

In 1599, Miler Magrath was taken prisoner by Con, son of his kinsman Hugh, 2nd Earl of Tyrone.

Miler Magrath promised that he would return to Catholicism, except that he had to see to his children, and Con released him on conditions: a money payment, with O'Meara's son to act as surety in person.

In 1600, Miler Magrath went to London and convinced Robert Cecil of his loyalty, although appearing a turbulent person, and was granted a pension.

Miler Magrath returned to Ireland with the English-backed pretender to the earldom of Desmond.

Miler Magrath claimed poverty owing to the war, but Cecil soon complained that he was allowing the Anglican Church of Ireland to lie like "an hogsty" and sought Sir George Carew to remonstrate with him over this neglect.

Under James I, Miler Magrath's holding of four bishoprics and seventy spiritualities was criticised by Sir John Davies, then attorney-general of Ireland.

In 1607, the Archbishop of Dublin, Thomas Jones, criticised his spiritual administration, and Miler Magrath resigned Waterford and Lismore six months later.

Miler Magrath was ultimately compelled to accept the Sees of Killala and Achonry in Connacht, which were of little worth: in 1610, he complained he had not received their possession, and the full grant was not made until 1611.

Miler Magrath moved to Ulster, and had William Knight appointed his co-adjutor at Cashel; Knight soon left the country after disgracing himself by drunken behaviour in public.

The Lord Deputy, Sir Arthur Chichester, had a poor opinion of Miler Magrath, describing him as "stout and wilful", but held back for fear of his influence amongst the Ulster Irish, and Stafford too spoke of his oppressions.

Miler Magrath's last known involvement in public life was on his attendance at Parliament in Dublin in 1613.

Miler Magrath died ten years later, in his 100th year, after 52 years as a bishop.

Miler Magrath has remained a figure of controversy in Irish history.

Miler Magrath married a Roman Catholic, Aine Ni Meara, daughter of John O'Meara of Lisany, in County Tipperary; and had issue, Turlough, Redmond, James, Brian, Marcus, Mary, Cicely, Anne, and Ellis.