Michael J. Curran (1880-1960) was an Irish priest who served as Rector of the

Pontifical Irish College The Pontifical Irish College is a Roman Catholic seminary for the training and education of priests, in Rome. The College is located at #1, Via dei Santi Quattro, and serves as a residence for clerical students from all over the world. Designated ...

, Rome.

Early life

Michael Joseph Curran was born on 8 May 1860 at North Circular Road, Dublin City,

County Dublin "Action to match our speech" , image_map = Island_of_Ireland_location_map_Dublin.svg , map_alt = map showing County Dublin as a small area of darker green on the east coast within the lighter green background of ...

Ireland Ireland ( ; ga, Éire ; Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic Ocean, in Northwestern Europe, north-western Europe. It is separated from Great Britain to its east by the North Channel (Grea ...

. His parents were Patrick Joseph Curran (1851-1924) and Mary Elizabeth Curran (formerly McGahan) (1848-1935). His brother was Constantine Peter Curran the Lawyer, socialite and writer, and friend of Tom Kettle and

James Joyce James Augustine Aloysius Joyce (2 February 1882 – 13 January 1941) was an Irish novelist, poet, and literary critic. He contributed to the modernist avant-garde movement and is regarded as one of the most influential and important writers of ...

(who names him once in

Ulysses Ulysses is one form of the Roman name for Odysseus, a hero in ancient Greek literature. Ulysses may also refer to: People * Ulysses (given name), including a list of people with this name Places in the United States * Ulysses, Kansas * Ulysse ...

Education and early ministry

Curran, a native of Dublin, studied for the priesthood at Clonliffe College, Dublin before going to the Irish College in Rome. In December 1906 he became secretary to Archbishop William Walsh of Dublin and served in this role for thirteen years including such pivotal moments as the 1913

Dublin lock-out The Dublin lock-out was a major industrial dispute between approximately 20,000 workers and 300 employers that took place in Ireland's capital and largest city, Dublin. The dispute, lasting from 26 August 1913 to 18 January 1914, is often vie ...

and the

Easter Rising The Easter Rising ( ga, Éirí Amach na Cásca), also known as the Easter Rebellion, was an armed insurrection in Ireland during Easter Week in April 1916. The Rising was launched by Irish republicans against British rule in Ireland with the a ...

. In December 1919 he took up his post in Rome. During his time in Clonliffe he would have correspondence and dealings with many significant figures at the time, including helping hide Éamon de Valera on the college grounds in 1919.

Rector in Rome

In 1919 Curran was appointed Vice Rector and succeeded as Rector in 1930 serving until 1939. Papers from Monsignor Curran are held in the archive of the Irish College Rome, some in Clonliffe College from his time as Diocesan Secretary and some in the Military Archives in Cathal Brugha Barracks in Dublin from his statements on the Rising and War of Independence.

Return to Dublin

Curran became Parish Priest of Aughrim St in 1939 and served there until his death on 9 February 1960.Memorial Card
DeValera Papers UCD-OFM Partnership Monsignor Michael Curran was elected President of the Oliver Plunkett Union in 1955.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Curran, Michael 1960 deaths Alumni of Clonliffe College 20th-century Irish Roman Catholic priests 1880 births