Michael O'Riordan 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. Born in Killmurray, Co. Limerick in 1857 he attended the Diocesan School in Limerick, before going to Rome to study for the priesthood. He was ordained in 1883 and served as a priest in the Diocese of Westminster, before returning to Rome to study, an accomplished student he gained a Doctorate of Divinity, Doctorate of Canon Law and a PhD. He was appointed Professor at

St Munchin's College St. Munchin's College is a second-level education college located in Corbally, Limerick, Ireland. The school was founded in 1796. It is a Diocesan CollegeDiocese of Limerick > Education > Post Primary or minor seminary. College Crest The colle ...

, Limerick. He was appointed Rector of the Irish College in Rome in 1905. He was awarded an Honorary PhD from the University of Louvain. He was influential between the Irish Church and the Vatican and used his influence to dissuade the Vatican from condemning the 1916 Easter Rising His brother Denis Riordan was a tenant farmer. Monsignor O'Riordan died in 1919'Obituary - Michael O'Riordan' The Tablet, Saturday 6 September 1919. His papers are held in the Irish College in Rome. He was succeeded as Rector by

John O'Hagan John O'Hagan (born 19 March 1822 at Newry, County Down; died 10 November 1890 at Howth, County Dublin) was an Irish lawyer and writer. He was also an Irish Nationalist and Younger Irelander, and was a founding member of the first Irish conference ...

who had served as his Vice-Rector.

References

1857 births 1919 deaths 19th-century Irish Roman Catholic priests Clergy from County Limerick {{RC-clergy-stub