Patrick Lavelle

Father Patrick Lavelle (1825–1886) was a priest and Irish nationalist. Lavelle was born in Mullagh, Murrisk, Co. Mayo, the son of Francis Lavelle a farmer. He was educated at the local hedge school and St Jarlath's College, Tuam. In 1844 he went to Maynooth College and was ordained a Catholic priest at St. Patrick's College, Maynooth, in 1851, and pursued postgraduate studies there as part of the Dunboyne Establishment. He was appointed in 1854 as a professor of philosophy in the Irish College in Paris against the wishes of rector Rev. Dr. John Miley,[1] Lavelles radical politics would have been at odds with Miley who was supported by Cardinal Cullen, the other bishops supported lavelle.[2] Along with philosophy, he taught the Irish Language at the college. He left Paris in 1858 and returned to Ireland.[3]

He became nationally known in 1860 for his actions against proselytism in Toormakeady and its resultant evictions. He was nicknamed Patriot Priest Of Partry.[4]