Bartholomew Esmonde (1789–1862) was an Irish

Jesuit , image = Ihs-logo.svg , image_size = 175px , caption = ChristogramOfficial seal of the Jesuits , abbreviation = SJ , nickname = Jesuits , formation = , founders ...

priest, educator, and amateur architect. He was responsible for the design of

Saint Francis Xavier Church, Dublin Saint Francis Xavier Church, popularly known as Gardiner Street Church, is a Catholic church on Upper Gardiner Street near Mountjoy Square in Dublin, Ireland. The church is run by the Jesuits. History Designed by Father Bartholomew Esmonde S ...

. He briefly served as superior to the Irish Society of Jesus in 1820.

Life

Bartholomew Esmonde was born 12 December 1789, the second son of John Esmonde and Helen (née O'Callan) of

Sallins Sallins () is a town in County Kildare, Ireland, situated 3.5 km north of the town centre of Naas, from which it is separated by the M7 motorway (Ireland), M7 motorway. Sallins is the anglicised name of ''Na Solláin'' which means "the wil ...

County Kildare County Kildare ( ga, Contae Chill Dara) is a county in Ireland. It is in the province of Leinster and is part of the Eastern and Midland Region. It is named after the town of Kildare. Kildare County Council is the local authority for the county, ...

. His father John Esmonde (of the

Esmonde baronets The Esmonde Baronetcy, of Ballynastragh in the County of Wexford, is a title in the Baronetage of Ireland. It was created on 28 January 1629 for Thomas Esmonde. He raised a cavalry regiment for Charles I and commanded a regiment during the Siege ...

family, of Ballynastragh,

County Wexford County Wexford ( ga, Contae Loch Garman) is a county in Ireland. It is in the province of Leinster and is part of the Southern Region. Named after the town of Wexford, it was based on the historic Gaelic territory of Hy Kinsella (''Uí Ceinns ...

) was executed by hanging, following his role in the United Irishmen, 1798 Rebellion in Prosperous, County Kildare. His older brother was Sir Thomas Esmonde, 9th Baronet, MP for Wexford. He was educated at the Jesuit novitiate at

Stonyhurst College Stonyhurst College is a co-educational Catholic Church, Roman Catholic independent school, adhering to the Society of Jesus, Jesuit tradition, on the Stonyhurst, Stonyhurst Estate, Lancashire, England. It occupies a Grade I listed building. Th ...

, England and studied philosophy and theology in

Palermo Palermo ( , ; scn, Palermu , locally also or ) is a city in southern Italy, the capital (political), capital of both the autonomous area, autonomous region of Sicily and the Metropolitan City of Palermo, the city's surrounding metropolitan ...

, Italy. In conjunction with two of his brethren, Paul Ferley and Charles Aylmer, he compiled ''A short Explanation of the Principal Articles of the Catholic Faith'', and ''The Devout Christian's Daily Companion, being a Selection of Pious Exercises for the use of Catholics''. Esmonde returned to Ireland as Master of Novices at

Clongowes Wood College Clongowes Wood College SJ is a voluntary boarding school for boys near Clane, County Kildare, Ireland, founded by the Jesuits in 1814, which features prominently in James Joyce's semi-autobiographical novel ''A Portrait of the Artist as a Yo ...

and later served as Rector of Clongowes. He lived in Rome from 1842, where he did much of the design of the Gardiner St. church, and then Malta, returning to Ireland in 1850. Esmonde died on 15 December 1862. A portrait of him is in the Jesuits building in Gardner Street, also a monument to him in St. Michaels Church, Gorey, both commissioned and gifted by his brother, Sir Thomas Esmonde.St Michaels Catholic Church Gorey
www.buildingsofireland.ie

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Esmonde, Bartholomew 1789 births 1862 deaths People from County Kildare 19th-century Irish Jesuits Esmonde family