Henry O'Keane (3 February 1763 – 6 July 1817) was an Irish catholic priest and

French French (french: français(e), link=no) may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to France ** French language, which originated in France, and its various dialects and accents ** French people, a nation and ethnic group identified with Franc ...

army officer. O'Keane was born at

Kilcummin Kilcummin () is a beachhead and civil parish on the northern coast of County Mayo in Ireland. Traditionally a fishing community, the Kilcummin area is sparsely populated. The "Tír Sáile - North Mayo Sculpture Trail" and "Tour d'Humbert" tour ...

, Killala,

County Mayo County Mayo (; ga, Contae Mhaigh Eo, meaning "Plain of the Taxus baccata, yew trees") is a Counties of Ireland, county in Republic of Ireland, Ireland. In the West Region, Ireland, West of Ireland, in the Provinces of Ireland, province of Conn ...

, one of at least three sons to a cowherd on the Tyrawley estate. He learned Latin at a hedge school and was ordained for the diocese of Killala. He went to France where he studied

philosophy Philosophy (from , ) is the systematized study of general and fundamental questions, such as those about existence, reason, knowledge, values, mind, and language. Such questions are often posed as problems to be studied or resolved. Some ...

and theology at the Irish College in

Nantes Nantes (, , ; Gallo: or ; ) is a city in Loire-Atlantique on the Loire, from the Atlantic coast. The city is the sixth largest in France, with a population of 314,138 in Nantes proper and a metropolitan area of nearly 1 million inhabita ...

. He stayed in France, and at the time of the French Revolution was a ''curé'' near the town. He took the constitutional oath of the clergy in 1791, joining the French army around that time. O'Keane became a captain in the 65th regiment, and a member of the staff of Jean Joseph Amable Humbert, for whom he served as a local liaison when the French landed at Killala on 22 August 1798 (he spoke Irish and French better than English). Church of Ireland Bishop Joseph Stock praised his actions during the rebellion, stating that ''"his language breathed nothing but mildness and liberality, and indeed his behaviour was suitable, for he exerted himself on all occasions to protect the loyalists and frequently with the greatest effect."'' He remained at Ballina after Humbert left for Castlebar, and in the aftermath of the defeat at

Ballinamuck Ballinamuck () is a village in north County Longford, Ireland. It was the scene of the Battle of Ballinamuck, where a French army aiding the United Irishmen rebellion of 1798 was defeated. The French soldiers were eventually repatriated. The Iri ...

, he and Peter Barrett led an unsuccessful attack on Castlebar on 12 September. On 22 September they engaged a British force from Sligo attempting to take Ballina. The Franco-Irish retreated to Killala, where after heavy fighting, they dispersed or surrendered on 23 September. O'Keane surrendered and was tried for high treason as a British military subject at Castlebar. He was convicted and sentenced to transportation, later commuted to banishment. Bishop Stock gave evidence in his favour. He returned to France, apparently having ''"carried off from Dublin another man's wife"'', serving in Germany and Portugal. He was one of the first to be admitted, on 1 October 1807, to the Legion d'Honneur. Following the restoration of the

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, he retired. He died unmarried on rue Traversière in the town of Auxerre in 1817.

References

* ''O'Keane, Henry'', C.J. Woods, in ''Dictionary of Irish Biography'', p. 582, Cambridge, 2009. {{DEFAULTSORT:OKeane, Henry 1763 births 1817 deaths 1798 French campaign in Ireland 18th-century Irish people 19th-century Irish people Irish expatriates in France Irish soldiers in the French Army Military personnel from County Mayo Christian clergy from County Mayo People from Killala