David Moriarty

For the sound engineer, see David H. Moriarty.

David Moriarty (1814–1877) was an Irish Roman Catholic bishop and pulpit orator.

Biography

Moriarty was born in Ardfert, in County Kerry on 18 August 1814, the son of David Moriarty, and Bridget Stokes. He received his early education in a classical school of his native Diocese of Ardfert and Aghadoe, and later was sent to Boulogne-sur-Mer in northern France. From there he passed to Maynooth College, and after a distinguished course in theology was elected to the Dunboyne establishment, where he spent two years.

While yet a young priest he was chosen by the episcopal management of the Irish College in Paris, as vice-president of that institution; which position he occupied for about four years. So satisfactory was his work that, on the death of Father Hand, he was appointed President of All Hallows missionary college in Dublin, and for years guided, fashioned, and made effective the discipline and teaching of that well known institution. It was during this time he gave evidence of the noble oratory, so chaste, elevated, various and convincing, that has come to be associated with his name.

In 1854 he was appointed coadjutor, with the right of succession, to the bishopric of Ardfert and Aghadoe, as titular Bishop of Antigonia: and two years later succeeded to his native see. His work as bishop is testified to by several churches and schools, a diocesan college St. Brendan's, Killarney in 1860 and many conventual establishments. He found time to conduct retreats for priests and his addresses which have come down to us under the title "Allocutions to the Clergy" are characterized by profound thought, expressed in an elevated and oratorical style.

In his political views he ran counter to much of the popular feeling of the time, and was a notable opponent of the Fenian organization, which he denounced strongly, particularly following the uprising in 1867 in his diocese where in an infamous sermon he attacked the Fenian leadership brandishing them criminals, swindlers and God's heaviest curse Still, he was a great Irish patriot of the type of Daniel O'Connell, for whom he had a great admiration.

His principal works are: "Allocutions to the Clergy" and two volumes of sermons.

He died on 1 October 1877.

References

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