Patrick Tyrrell facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Styles of Patrick Tyrrell, O.F.M.
Reference style	The Most Reverend
Spoken style	My Lord
Religious style	Bishop

Patrick Tyrrell (sometimes spelled Tyrell) was an important Irish church leader in the 1600s. He was a Franciscan friar, which is a type of monk. He became a bishop in the Roman Catholic Church and held several important roles in Ireland. He was also involved in the politics of his time as a supporter of King James II.

Who Was Patrick Tyrrell?

Patrick Tyrrell was a member of the Franciscan religious order. These are Catholic monks who follow the teachings of Saint Francis of Assisi. Tyrrell studied in Ireland and then in Spain at the University of Alcalá. He became a priest in Rome around 1652 or 1653. He continued his studies in Rome before teaching theology, which is the study of religious faith, in Naples. In 1665, he took on an important role as vice-secretary-general for the Franciscan Order.

Becoming a Bishop

On April 22, 1676, Pope Clement X chose Patrick Tyrrell to be the Bishop of the Diocese of Clogher. A "papal brief" is an official letter from the Pope. His papal brief for this role was dated May 13, 1676. He was then "consecrated" on June 14, 1676. This means he officially became a bishop in a special religious ceremony.

Later, on February 9 or March 21, 1678, Pope Innocent XI also made Tyrrell the "vicar apostolic" for the Diocese of Kilmore. A vicar apostolic is a church leader who manages a region that is not yet a full diocese.

Challenges and Important Roles

In the autumn of 1678, a time of trouble called the Popish Plot began. This was a false story about a Catholic plan to kill King Charles II. Because of this, Bishop Tyrrell had to go into hiding. He was arrested and put in prison, but he managed to escape. Some of the jailers helped him because they felt sorry for him. On October 21, 1680, he was arrested again. This time, he was accused of "high treason," which is a very serious crime against the government. However, he was later found not guilty.

When James II of England became king, Tyrrell traveled to London with another church leader, Dominic Maguire. They went to show their loyalty to the new king. From 1688 to 1689, Tyrrell was appointed Chief Secretary for Ireland. This was a very important political job, working under the Earl of Tyrconnell.

Later Life and Legacy

On January 24, 1689, Bishop Tyrrell was moved to lead the Diocese of Meath. This is called being "translated" in church terms. It is said that he held a special church service, called a Mass, with soldiers who supported King James II on the morning of the Battle of the Boyne. This was a very important battle in Irish history.

After the Williamite War in Ireland ended, Bishop Tyrrell decided to stay in Ireland. He continued to serve as bishop until he passed away in 1692.