John O'Molony (1617–1702) facts for kids

John O'Molony (born 1617 – died 3 September 1702) was an Irish Roman Catholic church leader. He served as the Bishop of Killaloe starting in 1671 and later as the Bishop of Limerick during a time of war in Ireland. He supported Jacobitism, which meant he backed King James II. John O'Molony spent a lot of his life in France, living there in exile during his final years.

Early Life and Studies

John O'Molony was born in 1617 in Kiltannon, County Clare, Ireland. His parents were Thomas O'Molony and Anne McMahon. From the age of 13, he was raised by his uncle, who was also named John O'Molony and was a bishop.

In 1642, John O'Molony became a priest. Later that year, he went to the University of Paris in France. He studied hard and earned a master's degree and a doctorate in theology. This meant he became a Doctor of Divinity at the famous College of Sorbonne.

While in Paris during the 1640s and 1650s, O'Molony got involved in some religious and political arguments. These often involved Irish students at the university. He also often visited the court of Henrietta Maria, who was the exiled Queen of England. He even attended the court of Louis XIV, the King of France. In 1658, he was first suggested to become the Bishop of Killaloe, with support from important Irish Catholic families. By 1667, he was given a special church position called a canonry in Rouen, France.

Becoming a Bishop in Ireland

On March 6, 1671, John O'Molony was officially made the Bishop of Killaloe. He returned to Ireland in August of that year. In late 1673, other Irish bishops asked him to help set up a college in another country where Irish students could study theology (the study of religion). O'Molony moved back to France to ask for help from a powerful French minister named Jean-Baptiste Colbert. His efforts worked! In 1677, the Irish College in Paris received an official permission from King Louis XIV to open.

In 1677, O'Molony came back to Ireland, supported by James, Duke of York. Soon, people suspected O'Molony was involved in something called the Popish Plot. This was a false story about a Catholic plan against the King. To stay safe, O'Molony moved to a quiet area in Connaught in 1679. There was even a reward of £150 offered for his capture. In June 1681, he secretly left Ireland and went back to France.

Serving as Bishop of Limerick

When James II became king in 1685, O'Molony was able to return to Ireland. On May 1, 1687, he took part in an important ceremony in London. In 1687, he was put in charge of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Limerick. The next year, King James II recommended him to Pope Innocent XI, and O'Molony became the Bishop of Limerick.

In 1689, he spoke out against a decision made by James's Patriot Parliament. He was upset that they did not get rid of an old law called Poynings' Law. He stayed in Limerick during the first Siege of Limerick in 1690. After the siege ended, he left the city for France. He was part of a group sent by King James II to ask France for more help in the war. John O'Molony never returned to Ireland after that.

Throughout the 1690s, O'Molony lived in France and received money from the French king. The English government thought he might be involved in plans to help King James II regain his throne. In 1691, he signed a letter from Irish bishops to the Pope, asking for support for James II.

John O'Molony died in 1702 in Issy-les-Moulineaux, near Paris. He was buried in a college in Paris called the Collège des Lombards. In his will, he left money to help build a new Irish college in Paris. He also left money to support students at the Collège des Lombards and to provide scholarships for Irish students at another school called the Lycée Louis-le-Grand.