John William Kirwan (died 29 December 1849) was the first President of

Queen's College, Galway The University of Galway ( ga, Ollscoil na Gaillimhe) is a public research university located in the city of Galway, Ireland. A tertiary education and research institution, the university was awarded the full five QS stars for excellence in 201 ...

. Kirwan was a member of one of

The Tribes of Galway The Tribes of Galway ( ga, Treibheanna na Gaillimhe) were 14 merchant families who dominated the political, commercial and social life of the city of Galway in western Ireland between the mid-13th and late 19th centuries. They were the families ...

, and was noted by contemporaries as an outstanding preacher.

Biography

He was appointed parish priest of Kilcummin (

Oughterard Oughterard () is a small town on the banks of the Owenriff River close to the western shore of Lough Corrib in Connemara, County Galway, Ireland. The population of the town in 2016 was 1,318. It is located about northwest of Galway on the N5 ...

in 1827, from about which time he had been canvassing for office in a proposed Queen's College for

Galway Galway ( ; ga, Gaillimh, ) is a City status in Ireland, city in the West Region, Ireland, West of Ireland, in the Provinces of Ireland, province of Connacht, which is the county town of County Galway. It lies on the River Corrib between Lo ...

. This was a highly emotive issue in Ireland, as it was felt that the

Catholic The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with 1.3 billion baptized Catholics worldwide . It is among the world's oldest and largest international institutions, and has played a ...

population could not, and should not, propagate a system of education not endorsed by their

clergy Clergy are formal leaders within established religions. Their roles and functions vary in different religious traditions, but usually involve presiding over specific rituals and teaching their religion's doctrines and practices. Some of the ter ...

. However, when the bill was eventually passed in 1845, Kirwin immediately travelled to

London London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a majo ...

to argue his case with

Sir Robert Peel Sir Robert Peel, 2nd Baronet, (5 February 1788 – 2 July 1850) was a British Conservative statesman who served twice as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom (1834–1835 and 1841–1846) simultaneously serving as Chancellor of the Exchequer ...

, who was sufficiently impressed to nominate him. To the shock of much of his community and friends, he was appointed President in October or November 1845. While there was support, it was outweighed by the venom of his critics. Nevertheless, he began with the chairman of the board of works and the commissioner for buildings to inspect sites. A site was selected outside the town, between the Corrib and the Newcastle road; once purchased, construction began. Meanwhile, personal attacks continued, such as those from the editor of the Catholic weekly, ''

The Tablet ''The Tablet'' is a Catholic international weekly review published in London. Brendan Walsh, previously literary editor and then acting editor, was appointed editor in July 2017. History ''The Tablet'' was launched in 1840 by a Quaker convert ...

'', while the

Holy See The Holy See ( lat, Sancta Sedes, ; it, Santa Sede ), also called the See of Rome, Petrine See or Apostolic See, is the jurisdiction of the Pope in his role as the bishop of Rome. It includes the apostolic episcopal see of the Diocese of Rome ...

still maintained its opposition to the colleges. At one point in late 1848 Kirwan was distressed enough by events to offer his resignation, but was dissuaded, apparently by the then

Archbishop of Armagh In Christian denominations, an archbishop is a bishop of higher rank or office. In most cases, such as the Catholic Church, there are many archbishops who either have jurisdiction over an ecclesiastical province in addition to their own archdio ...

William Crolly William Crolly (8 June 1780 – 8 April 1849) was the Bishop of Down and Connor from 1825 to 1835, and the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Armagh from 1835 to 1849. Early life and education A native of Ballykilbeg near Downpatrick, Crolly w ...

, who was a staunch supporter of the scheme. Nevertheless, the strain took a toll on his health, and he was obliged to spend some months out of the public eye. Problems had emerged with the College's construction, as it became apparent that he would not be completed in time for the formal opening. Matters turned tragic on 22 October 1849 when the contractor, Francis Burke, killed himself in Kirwan's home in

Salthill Salthill () is a seaside area in the City of Galway in the west of Ireland. Lying within the townland of Lenaboy (''an Léana Buí''), it attracts many tourists all year round. There is a 2 km long promenade, locally known as ''the Pro ...

. Nevertheless, the College opened on 30 October 1849. But Kirwan's precarious health worsened, and he died on 24 December 1849. He was buried in the parish church of Oughterard. A portrait of Kirwan hangs in the board-room of the

National University of Ireland, Galway The University of Galway ( ga, Ollscoil na Gaillimhe) is a public research university located in the city of Galway, Ireland. A tertiary education and research institution, the university was awarded the full five QS stars for excellence in 201 ...

References

* ''The Appointment of Revd J.W. Kirwan as First President of Queen's College, Galway, and his Years in Office: 1845-1849'', James Mitchell, Journal of the Galway Archaeological and Historical Society, Volume 51, 1999, pp. 1–23. * ''The Parish church of St. Mary, Oughterard: The Background to Its Construction, with an Account of the Dispute Concerning Title to its Site'', James Mitchell, J.G.A.& H.S., Volume 54, 2002, pp. 35–54 {{DEFAULTSORT:Kirwan, John William 1849 deaths Christian clergy from County Galway People associated with the University of Galway 19th-century Irish Roman Catholic priests Year of birth missing