
The Reverend Colman E. O'Flaherty (24 April 1878 – 3 October 1918), was an
Irish
Irish may refer to:
Common meanings
* Someone or something of, from, or related to:
** Ireland, an island situated off the north-western coast of continental Europe
***Éire, Irish language name for the isle
** Northern Ireland, a constituent unit ...
-born American
Catholic
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the List of Christian denominations by number of members, largest Christian church, with 1.3 billion baptized Catholics Catholic Church by country, worldwide . It is am ...
military chaplain
A military chaplain ministers to military personnel and, in most cases, their families and civilians working for the military. In some cases they will also work with local civilians within a military area of operations.
Although the term '' ...
and a recipient of the
Distinguished Service Cross The Distinguished Service Cross (D.S.C.) is a military decoration for courage. Different versions exist for different countries.
*Distinguished Service Cross (Australia)
*Distinguished Service Cross (United Kingdom)
The Distinguished Service ...
during
World War I
World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was List of wars and anthropogenic disasters by death toll, one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, ...
.
Early life
O'Flaherty was born in
Carraroe
Carraroe (in Irish, and officially, , meaning 'the red quarter') is a village in County Galway, Ireland, in the Irish-speaking region (Gaeltacht) of Connemara. It is known for its traditional fishing boats, the Galway Hookers. Its population ...
,
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 ...
. He received his early education in Ireland and continued his studies at Lyons, France where he became fluent in French and at Montreal, Canada. He was ordained a
Roman Catholic priest
The priesthood is the office of the ministers of religion, who have been commissioned ("ordained") with the Holy orders of the Catholic Church. Technically, bishops are a priestly order as well; however, in layman's terms ''priest'' refers only ...
at
Sioux Falls
Sioux Falls () is the most populous city in the U.S. state of South Dakota and the 130th-most populous city in the United States. It is the county seat of Minnehaha County and also extends into Lincoln County to the south, which continues up ...
on 15 September 1901 and spent the next nine years at
Chamberlain and
Kimball Kimball may refer to:
People
*Kimball (surname)
*Kimball (given name)
Places Canada
* Kimball, Alberta
United States
* Kellogg, Iowa, formerly known as Kimball
* Kimball, Kansas
* Kimball, Minnesota
* Kimball, Nebraska, a city
* Kimball, South D ...
during which time he was responsible for the construction of seven church buildings including
Columbus College
Columbus State University is a public university in Columbus, Georgia. Founded as Columbus College in 1958, the university was established and is administered by the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia.
History
The university w ...
at Chamberlain. In 1910 he was appointed to take charge of the Holy Family Church at
Mitchell
Mitchell may refer to:
People
*Mitchell (surname)
*Mitchell (given name)
Places Australia
* Mitchell, Australian Capital Territory, a light-industrial estate
* Mitchell, New South Wales, a suburb of Bathurst
* Mitchell, Northern Territory ...
where he was instrumental in the development of Notre Dame Academy in Mitchell, South Dakota.
Military career
He joined the
American Expeditionary Force and was sent to France during
World War I
World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was List of wars and anthropogenic disasters by death toll, one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, ...
and served as an
Army chaplain
A military chaplain ministers to military personnel and, in most cases, their families and civilians working for the military. In some cases they will also work with local civilians within a military area of operations.
Although the term '' ...
with the 28th Infantry,
1st Infantry Division 1st Division may refer to:
Military
Airborne divisions
*1st Parachute Division (Germany)
*1st Airborne Division (United Kingdom)
*1st Airmobile Division (Ukraine)
*1st Guards Airborne Division
Armoured divisions
*1st Armoured Division (Australi ...
. He was killed in action by shellfire on 3 October 1918. He was posthumously awarded the
Distinguished Service Cross The Distinguished Service Cross (D.S.C.) is a military decoration for courage. Different versions exist for different countries.
*Distinguished Service Cross (Australia)
*Distinguished Service Cross (United Kingdom)
The Distinguished Service ...
, the citation of which read: ''For extraordinary heroism near
Very
Very may refer to:
* English's prevailing intensifier
Businesses
* The Very Group, a British retail/consumer finance corporation
** Very (online retailer), their main e-commerce brand
* VERY TV, a Thai television channel
Places
* Véry, a ...
,
France
France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. Its metropolitan ar ...
, Chaplin O'Flaherty displayed conspicuous gallantry in administering to the wounded under terrific fire, exposing himself at all times to reach their sides, and give them aid. In the performance of this work, he was killed.''
Notable family
He was the older brother of
Mayor of Galway
The office of Mayor of Galway is an honorific title used by the of Galway City Council. The council has jurisdiction throughout its administrative area of the city of Galway which is the largest city in the province of Connacht, in Ireland. The ...
Michael O'Flaherty
Professor Michael O'Flaherty is the current (September 2015) Director of the European Union Fundamental Rights Agency (FRA). The FRA is the EU's human rights advisory body, based in Vienna, Austria. An Irish human rights lawyer, O’Flaherty wa ...
(elected 1950) and uncle of
Mayor of Galway
The office of Mayor of Galway is an honorific title used by the of Galway City Council. The council has jurisdiction throughout its administrative area of the city of Galway which is the largest city in the province of Connacht, in Ireland. The ...
Patrick O'Flaherty (born 1928, elected 1964).
References
* ''Origin of the Surname O'Flaherty'', Anthony Matthews, Dublin, 1968, p. 40.
{{DEFAULTSORT:Oflaherty, Colman
19th-century Irish Roman Catholic priests
People from County Galway
1878 births
1918 deaths
Irish people of World War I
American military personnel killed in World War I
Recipients of the Distinguished Service Cross (United States)
World War I chaplains
United States Army chaplains
Irish emigrants to the United States (before 1923)
20th-century Irish Roman Catholic priests
20th-century American clergy
19th-century American clergy