My ancestors - Hourigan - Contents

Canon Michael Hourigan

Canon Michael Hourigan,
bapt 2 Dec 1860.
Became a priest. He was educ St.Patrick's College, Thurles, 1878-1887.
Ordained in Thurles, 1887. (Or maybe 1886.)

On mission in the Archdiocese of Birmingham from 1887 to 1900.
In 1888 he was appointed chaplain to the Catholic chapel at Foxcote House, Ilmington, Warwickshire. See map.
Foxcote House was home of Philip John Canning Howard, from the family of Howard of Corby, descendant of Thomas Howard, 4th Duke of Norfolk. The family of Howard, Duke of Norfolk was one of the leading English Catholic families for centuries.
The Catholic chapel at Foxcote House was used by the Howard family and by local Catholics.
Fr. Michael married his sister Catherine in 1897.
Letter of 1899 says he is still in England.

Fr. Michael came back to Ireland in 1900.
Curate at Boherlahan, 1900-1901.
Curate at Galbally, Co.Limerick, 1901-1916.
At death of mother 1904 he is C.C. (Curate) at Galbally.
Listed as Curate at Galbally in [Thom's, 1905, p.1036].
At death of Mary Ryan 1906 he is listed as C.C., Galbally.
Listed as of Galbally at mar of Aileen Lane in 1912.
Listed as Curate at Galbally in [Thom's, 1914, p.1036].

P.P. of Clerihan, Co.Tipperary, 1916 to 1919. Appointed Aug 1916.
Listed at funeral of brother-in-law James Nolan of Newcastle, Dec 1916. Incorrectly listed as P.P. of Galbally. Should be as P.P. of Clerihan.
Listed as P.P. of Clerihan in [Thom's, 1919, p.812].

P.P. of Upperchurch, Co.Tipperary, 1919 to 1947. Appointed Jan 1919.
Listed as P.P. of Upperchurch in [Thom's, 1923, p.812].
He built at great expense the new Upperchurch church. Foundation stone 1926. Church consecrated 1932. See street view.
Became a Canon 1930.
He married his nephew James 1932.
He died 29 Jan 1947.
He was bur in the church grounds at Upperchurch.

Left to right: Canon Michael Hourigan, unknown, Fr. Dan Hourigan.
See larger and full size.

The Catholic chapel at Foxcote House.
From pp.180-181 of Historical notes on English Catholic Missions, Bernard W. Kelly, 1907.

Extract from [Thom's, 1914, p.1036].
This shows there was a Michael Hourigan, P.P. of Knockany, who is NOT our Michael Hourigan, who was then a Curate at Galbally.

References

Michael Hourigan in list of parish priests of Upperchurch, from unknown source.

After returning to Ireland, Fr. Michael stayed in touch with the Howard family in the 1920s and 1930s.
- He got some of the family (maybe the Duke of Norfolk) to help fund the new church at Upperchurch (foundation stone 1926).
- Through them he met Evelyn Waugh (born 1903, converted to Catholicism 1930).
- It is said that the character of Father Mackay in Brideshead Revisited (1945) is based on Fr. Michael.