Daniel Cohalan (Bishop of Cork)
Encyclopedia
The Most Reverend
Daniel Cohalan (1858–1952) was an Irish
Roman Catholic clergyman who served as Bishop of Cork
from 1916 to 1952.
in County Cork
, Ireland
on 14 July 1858. After graduating at St Patrick's College, Maynooth
, Cohalan was ordained a priest
at St Mary and St. Anne's Cathedral, Cork
on 25 July 1882. His first pastoral
appointment was a curate
at Kilbrittain
, County Cork from October 1883 to January 1884. He briefly resumed his post-graduate studies at St Finbarr's Seminary (now College), Cork
from January to November 1884. His second curacy was at Tracton
, County Cork from November 1884 to September 1896. Cohalan returned to St. Patrick's College, Maynooth as a professor
of Theology
from 7 September 1896 to 7 June 1914.
of Cork and Titular Bishop
of Vaga on 25 May 1914. Cohalan was consecrated
bishop
at St Mary and St. Anne's Cathedral, Cork on 7 June 1914 by John Harty, Archbishop of Cashel-Emly
. Two years later, he was appointed Diocesan
Bishop of Cork
on 29 August 1916.
Dr. Cohalan was an outspoken critic during the Irish War of Independence
, condemning acts of violence on both sides. In particular he denounced the policy of reprisals. In July 1920, he pronounced an interdict on the killers of an RIC
sergeant, shot dead in the church porch in Bandon
. He declared that anyone killing from ambush would be excommunicated. In turn, his life was threatened by the IRA
. In August 1928, he condemned the British government which had allowed Terence McSwiney to die on hunger-strike in 1920.
He died in office at Bon Secours Hospital, Cork on 24 August 1952, aged 94 years old. Originally buried at St Finbarr's College, Farranferris, he was reinterred in the ground of St Mary and St. Anne's Cathedral, Cork in 1996.
His nephew of the same name, Daniel Cohalan
, was Bishop of Waterford and Lismore
from 1943 to 1965.
Most Reverend
The Most Reverend is a style applied to certain religious figures.*In the Roman Catholic Church , all bishops are styled "The Most Reverend", as well as monsignors of the rank of protonotary apostolic de numero.*In the Roman Catholic Church , archbishops are styled "The...
Daniel Cohalan (1858–1952) was an Irish
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
Roman Catholic clergyman who served as Bishop of Cork
Bishop of Cork
The Bishop of Cork was a separate episcopal title which took its name after the city of Cork in southern Ireland. The title is now united with other bishoprics...
from 1916 to 1952.
Early life
He was born in KilmichaelKilmichael, County Cork
Kilmichael is a village in County Cork, Republic of Ireland.The village is located on the R587 regional road between Macroom and Dunmanway.It was the scene of the famous Kilmichael Ambush....
in County Cork
County Cork
County Cork is a county in Ireland. It is located in the South-West Region and is also part of the province of Munster. It is named after the city of Cork . Cork County Council is the local authority for the county...
, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
on 14 July 1858. After graduating at St Patrick's College, Maynooth
St Patrick's College, Maynooth
St Patrick's College, Maynooth is the "National Seminary for Ireland" , and a Pontifical University, located in the village of Maynooth, 15 miles from Dublin, Ireland. The college and seminary are often referred to as Maynooth College. The college was officially established as the Royal College...
, Cohalan was ordained a priest
Priesthood (Catholic Church)
The ministerial orders of the Catholic Church include the orders of bishops, deacons and presbyters, which in Latin is sacerdos. The ordained priesthood and common priesthood are different in function and essence....
at St Mary and St. Anne's Cathedral, Cork
Cork (city)
Cork is the second largest city in the Republic of Ireland and the island of Ireland's third most populous city. It is the principal city and administrative centre of County Cork and the largest city in the province of Munster. Cork has a population of 119,418, while the addition of the suburban...
on 25 July 1882. His first pastoral
Pastoral care
Pastoral care is the ministry of care and counseling provided by pastors, chaplains and other religious leaders to members of their church or congregation, or to persons of all faiths and none within institutional settings. This can range anywhere from home visitation to formal counseling provided...
appointment was a curate
Curate
A curate is a person who is invested with the care or cure of souls of a parish. In this sense "curate" correctly means a parish priest but in English-speaking countries a curate is an assistant to the parish priest...
at Kilbrittain
Kilbrittain
Kilbrittain or Killbrittain is the name of a village, townland and parish in County Cork, Ireland. The village lies about southwest of Bandon, and near Clonakilty and Kinsale. The coastal route around the edge of the parish is the R600...
, County Cork from October 1883 to January 1884. He briefly resumed his post-graduate studies at St Finbarr's Seminary (now College), Cork
Cork (city)
Cork is the second largest city in the Republic of Ireland and the island of Ireland's third most populous city. It is the principal city and administrative centre of County Cork and the largest city in the province of Munster. Cork has a population of 119,418, while the addition of the suburban...
from January to November 1884. His second curacy was at Tracton
Tracton
Tracton is a southeast County Cork parish, lying roughly 7 kilometres south of Carrigaline. It is named after Tracton abbey a Roman Catholic monastery that was in the area in medieval times. The parish GAA team were Intermediate County hurling Champions in 1991. Irish Republican Diarmuid Lynch was...
, County Cork from November 1884 to September 1896. Cohalan returned to St. Patrick's College, Maynooth as a professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
of Theology
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
from 7 September 1896 to 7 June 1914.
Episcopal career
He was appointed Auxiliary BishopAuxiliary bishop
An auxiliary bishop, in the Roman Catholic Church, is an additional bishop assigned to a diocese because the diocesan bishop is unable to perform his functions, the diocese is so extensive that it requires more than one bishop to administer, or the diocese is attached to a royal or imperial office...
of Cork and Titular Bishop
Titular bishop
A titular bishop in various churches is a bishop who is not in charge of a diocese.By definition a bishop is an "overseer" of a community of the faithful, so when a priest is ordained a bishop the tradition of the Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches is that he be ordained for a specific place...
of Vaga on 25 May 1914. Cohalan was consecrated
Consecration
Consecration is the solemn dedication to a special purpose or service, usually religious. The word "consecration" literally means "to associate with the sacred". Persons, places, or things can be consecrated, and the term is used in various ways by different groups...
bishop
Bishop (Catholic Church)
In the Catholic Church, a bishop is an ordained minister who holds the fullness of the sacrament of Holy Orders and is responsible for teaching the Catholic faith and ruling the Church....
at St Mary and St. Anne's Cathedral, Cork on 7 June 1914 by John Harty, Archbishop of Cashel-Emly
Archbishop of Cashel
The Archbishop of Cashel is an archiepiscopal title which takes its name after the town of Cashel, County Tipperary in Ireland. The title is still in use in the Roman Catholic Church, but in the Church of Ireland it was downgraded to a bishopric in 1838....
. Two years later, he was appointed Diocesan
Diocesan bishop
A diocesan bishop — in general — is a bishop in charge of a diocese. These are to be distinguished from suffragan bishops, assistant bishops, coadjutor bishops, auxiliary bishops, metropolitans, and primates....
Bishop of Cork
Bishop of Cork
The Bishop of Cork was a separate episcopal title which took its name after the city of Cork in southern Ireland. The title is now united with other bishoprics...
on 29 August 1916.
Dr. Cohalan was an outspoken critic during the Irish War of Independence
Irish War of Independence
The Irish War of Independence , Anglo-Irish War, Black and Tan War, or Tan War was a guerrilla war mounted by the Irish Republican Army against the British government and its forces in Ireland. It began in January 1919, following the Irish Republic's declaration of independence. Both sides agreed...
, condemning acts of violence on both sides. In particular he denounced the policy of reprisals. In July 1920, he pronounced an interdict on the killers of an RIC
Royal Irish Constabulary
The armed Royal Irish Constabulary was Ireland's major police force for most of the nineteenth and the early twentieth centuries. A separate civic police force, the unarmed Dublin Metropolitan Police controlled the capital, and the cities of Derry and Belfast, originally with their own police...
sergeant, shot dead in the church porch in Bandon
Bandon, County Cork
Bandon is a town in County Cork, Ireland. With a population of 5,822 as of census 2006, Bandon lies on the River Bandon between two hills. The name in Irish means "Bridge of the Bandon", a reference to the origin of the town as a crossing-point on the river. In 2004 Bandon celebrated its...
. He declared that anyone killing from ambush would be excommunicated. In turn, his life was threatened by the IRA
Irish Republican Army
The Irish Republican Army was an Irish republican revolutionary military organisation. It was descended from the Irish Volunteers, an organisation established on 25 November 1913 that staged the Easter Rising in April 1916...
. In August 1928, he condemned the British government which had allowed Terence McSwiney to die on hunger-strike in 1920.
He died in office at Bon Secours Hospital, Cork on 24 August 1952, aged 94 years old. Originally buried at St Finbarr's College, Farranferris, he was reinterred in the ground of St Mary and St. Anne's Cathedral, Cork in 1996.
His nephew of the same name, Daniel Cohalan
Daniel Cohalan (Bishop of Waterford and Lismore)
The Most Reverend Daniel Cohalan was an Irish Roman Catholic clergyman who served as Bishop of Waterford and Lismore from 1943 to 1965.-Early life and education:He was born in Kilmichael in County Cork, Ireland on...
, was Bishop of Waterford and Lismore
Bishop of Waterford and Lismore
The Bishop of Waterford and Lismore is an episcopal title which takes its name after the city of Waterford and town of Lismore in the Republic of Ireland. The title was used by the Church of Ireland until 1838, and is still used by the Catholic Church....
from 1943 to 1965.