Author Topic: Fr John Fahy (Read 1176 times)

John Grace · « **on:** August 28, 2012, 04:37:06 PM »

A book has been written about Fr John Fahy

http://www.columba.ie/Fr_John_Fahy_(1893_1969)/417/

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Fr John Fahy (1893-1969)
Radical Republican and Agrarian Activist
272pp
Paperback
272pp
ISBN 9781856077637

Fr John Fahy was ordained a priest of the diocese of Clonfert in St Brendan's, Loughrea, in 1919. He very quickly earned himself the reputation of being a 'rebel priest'. His close affiliation with Sinn Fein throughout the war of independence stayed with him all his life and led to many a confrontation with the authorities of both church and state. He also took a vigourous and uncompromising interest in the various agrarian disputes of his time.

He was a man of very strong opinions, opinions which he was not at all slow to voice, as forcefully and publicly as occasion permitted. The string of letters between himself and state authorities, and also with his bishop, add a depth of colour and credibility to this lively and convincing review of his life, his mission and his times.

Fr Fahy was included in Denis Carroll's famous book, Unusual Suspects, which gave accounts of many of the most radical priests in the history of the Irish church. This volume is the first full length biography of Fahy and is a labour of love for its author, Jim Madden, who knew and still knows and associates with many of the men and women who are named in the work, both as friends and critics of this fascinating character.

Jim Madden is a native of Banagher, county Offaly. He graduated with a BA and Higher Diploma in Education from University College Dublin where he also completed a Diploma in Career Guidance. He was awarded an M.Litt. by Trinity College Dublin. Jim has worked as a teacher, guidance counsellor and school principal. He has published widely on aspects of education and local history and has had a lifelong involvement in community affairs.

John Grace · « **Reply #1 on:** August 28, 2012, 04:38:38 PM »

In the 1950s Fr John Fahy composed the following.He could be writing about of the Ireland of today.

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Working Farmer’s Prayer

The response to each is Save Ireland, O Lord

From The Dail
From Ignorant Politicians
From Incapable Politicians
From Treasonable Politicians
From Fine Gael
From Fine Gael Toadies
From Fianna Fail
From Fianna Fail Toadies
From Fianna Fail ‘Yes men’
From Labour Mandarins
From the Mulcahy Gang
From the Hogan and Higgins Gang
From the De Valera Gang
From the Ryan Gang
From the Lemass Gang
From Childers and the Church Body
From Dillon’s Big Mouth
From English Invaders
From the Land Commission
From English Syndicates
From Real Estate Agents
From all Land Grapbers
From all Land Sharks
From Gombeen Men
From Graft
From Political Nepotism
From Jobbery
From High Salaries

From Big Mouths
From Long Necks
From Big Bellies
From Big Arses

From Wholesale Anglicisation
From Wholesale Demoralisation
From Plague of Talkers
From Plague of Parasites
From Death of Mechanisation
From Dictation of Tinkers and Corner Boys
From Upstarts and Chancers
From Game Fans and Gamblers
From Rackets and Racketeers
From Political Gangsters
From Radio Eireann
From the Sunday Press

Amen

John Grace · « **Reply #2 on:** August 28, 2012, 04:50:31 PM »

In his publication Lia Fáil he wrote "the smallholders would yet find their destiny in a Gaelic pastoral society of rural, Catholic, arcadian values cut off from the insidious modern world".

Lia Fáil was under the Patronage of Our Lady of Victories.

He also launched an 'Ireland For The Irish' Association in 1957.Among its aims was "to secure that all the lands and sources of wealth in Ireland be preserved for the Irish people". Another aim was to divide the land of Ireland amongst the young men of Ireland.

An aim was to make emigration illegal and recall Irish youth who had emigrated.

John Grace · « **Reply #3 on:** August 28, 2012, 04:54:55 PM »

In 1957 his work "The Sacrifice of the Mass, The Greatest Thing on Earth" was published."The book itself was devotional in nature and from a theological perspective it was orthodox in the extreme." This point is made in the book on Fr Fahy.

John Grace · « **Reply #4 on:** August 28, 2012, 04:56:29 PM »

It's a newly published book so perhaps Cath Info members at some point will read it and perhaps make some reviews of it. I can see it being a very popular book. I thought it deserved publicity.

Nadir · « **Reply #5 on:** August 29, 2012, 07:05:08 PM »

Thank you John. Will keep this in mind for future reading.
Love that litany.

John Grace · « **Reply #6 on:** August 31, 2012, 09:04:15 AM »

Fr John Fahy baptised an uncle of mine. In the photograph on the cover of the book is the Irish Wolf Hound.The dogs name was Bran.

The book is certainly going to be popular and might be a good book for one doing further research in university or just in general.