Conor O'Devany

Who they were

Conor O'Devany, a Franciscan of Donegal, was named Bishop of Down and Connor in Rome and consecrated on 2 February 1583. He was imprisoned in Dublin Castle from 1588 to 1590, though no capital crime could be proved against him.

In 1611, almost eighty, he was seized while administering confirmation. Convicted of high treason by a packed jury, he was drawn to the gallows through crowds of Catholics begging his blessing, and executed at Dublin on 11 February 1612.

The miracles

As a martyr he was raised to the altars without a miracle.

Why that counted as sanctity

An aged bishop who died for the Faith rather than deny it.

Connected on this site

• Patrick O'Loughran Blessed
  “Under interrogation, O'Loughran admitted that he had given sacraments to exiled members of the Gaelic nobility of Ireland, and that he had assisted the Irish bishop, Blessed Conor O'Devany.” — Wikipedia