A NEW CARDINAL FOR IRELAND

New Zealand Tablet, Volume LII, Issue 42, 4 November 1925, Page 33

A NEW CARDINAL FOR IRELAND

A cable, published in the daily papers on last Saturday, announced that at the next Consistory the Most Reverend Patrick O'Donnell, Archbishop of Armagh, Primate of All Ireland, would be created cardinal. Irishmen,,all over the world, will welcome this new honor done to their race, and those who know the Cardinal-elect, either personally or through his great reputation, will be pleased that the Red Hat is given to him. The Primate was born at Glenties, Co. Donegal, in 1856. He is a. member of one of the greatest of the old'lrish septs, and

the blood of men whose names arejbright on the pages of our history runs in his veins. Some time ago, the newspapers had a report that three Irish Cardinals were to be created r Most people who knew anything about the circumstances smiled incredulously, but many agreed that ihete would probably be one, and that the most likely churchman for the' honor was Mon.sign or O’Donnell. The Cardinal-elect is a man of distinguished bearing, tall and stately, with fine features,-, affable and eloquent. Don Carlos O’Donnell, a. scion of one of the Wild Geese, is a Spanish duke, and a kinsman of Dr. O’Donnell’s. The latter was educated at Maynooth, where he was afterwards a professor, and, later, Prefect of the Dunboyno Establishment. So conspicuous were his talents that he was chosen as Bishop of Raphoe in 1882, at the early age of 32. He has been Rector: of the Catholic University of Ireland, and a member of the governing body of the Catholic School of Medicine. He sat on a Royal Commission, dealing with Congestion in Ireland, in 1906. In 1915 he received the degree of LL.D. from the National University. A couple of years ago he became CoadjutorArchbishop of Armagh, with flic right of succession, and be lias ruled that See since the death of the venerable Cardinal Logue at the end of last year. Dr. 0 Donnell was for many years closely associated with the Home Rule movement, acting as I reasnror for the old Parliamentary Party up to the time of its downfall. He took no prominent part in the later movements, and while not identifying himself with any side was honored and respected by all as a true Irish patriot. In this way, his selection shows Rome’s traditional wisdom, as it cannot fail to be acceptable to nil parties in Ireland. His scholastic record, ml bis career as a bishop warrant us in foretelling that he will wear the Red Hat with honor and maintain with dignity the high standard of the distinguished Princes of the Church who have preceded him in Ireland. Ail multos an nos!