Hugh Reily
Encyclopedia
Hugh Reily, also known as Hugh Reilly or Hugh O’Reilly (c.1630 – 1695) was M.P. for Cavan Borough in the Patriot Parliament
of 1689 and a famous political author. His Irish name was Aodh O’Raghallaigh and his ancestors were the Lords of East Breifne and Chiefs of the O’Reilly clan. Reilly was a close relative of John O’Reilly of Caulfield, Laragh Parish, Co. Cavan who was an ancestor of John Charles McQuaid
, Archbishop of Dublin.
Hugh Reilly was born in County Cavan
, Ireland
about 1630 and studied at the Irish Bar where he qualified as a barrister about 1650. Hugh Reilly was legal advisor to Saint Oliver Plunkett
, Archbishop of Armagh during his trial in 1681, after Plunkett's previous advisor Sir Nicholas Plunkett
died. Plunkett said about Reilly “he took many risks for me”.
On 22nd May 1686 Reilly was appointed Master in Chancery. He lived in the parish of Laragh
, County Cavan and in 1689 was elected from there, along with Philip Og O'Reilly
, as an M.P. to represent the Borough of Cavan in the Dublin Patriot Parliament
of King James II
. In the 1689 Irish Jacobite Government he was appointed as Clerk of the Privy Council (Hugh Riley) on 5th March 1689.
After the defeat of King James II by King William III, Reilly fled to France with the king. In 1690 James II appointed him Lord Chancellor of Ireland
at St. Germains, but it was a titular title only as James then had no power to so appoint. Hugh Reilly was attainted in 1691 by King William III and his land in County Cavan was confiscated. In 1695 he published Ireland's Case briefly stated; a second edition, appeared in 1720. It gives an account of the conduct and misfortunes of the Roman Catholics in Ireland from the reign of Elizabeth to that of James II, and complains of the neglect they suffered under Charles II
. The statements throughout are general, and few dates or particular facts are given. The last speech of Oliver Plunket is added. It is said that James II, offended by the tone of Reilly's book, dismissed him from his service. Harris in his edition of Ware’s Works, (Ware, Sir James, Works: Walter Harris. Dublin 1764, vol. 2, p. 259), states- "King James was so offended at Reilly’s free treatment of him, that he took away his small salary, and turned him out of his titular office of Lord Chancellor of Ireland; the loss of which lay so heavy upon his spirits that he died soon after, about the year 1694. It is said King James restored him to his pension a short time before his death and I have been assured that he shewed his book to King James before he put it under the press, who had the perusal of it for three weeks, and upon returning it, told the author there was too much truth in it; but did not forbid him to make it public—yet, when it appeared abroad, he treated him as before related." He is believed to have died in 1695.
The Impartial History of Ireland (London, 1754) is a reprint of Reilly's Ireland's Case, and it was again issued under the same title at Dublin in 1787, and as the Genuine History of Ireland at Dublin in 1799 and in 1837. Burke
's speech at the Bristol election of 1780 is printed with the edition of 1787, and a memoir of Daniel O'Connell
with that of 1837. The form, paper, and type of the book show that it was bought by the populace in Ireland; its popularity was due to no special merit, but to the fact that it was long almost the only printed argument in favour of Irish Roman Catholics.
Patriot Parliament
The Patriot Parliament is the name given to the session of the Irish Parliament called by King James II of Ireland during the War of the Two Kings in 1689. The parliament met in one session, from 7 May 1689 to 20 July 1689, and was the only session of the Irish Parliament under King James II.The...
of 1689 and a famous political author. His Irish name was Aodh O’Raghallaigh and his ancestors were the Lords of East Breifne and Chiefs of the O’Reilly clan. Reilly was a close relative of John O’Reilly of Caulfield, Laragh Parish, Co. Cavan who was an ancestor of John Charles McQuaid
John Charles McQuaid
John Charles McQuaid, C.S.Sp. was the Catholic Archbishop of Dublin and Primate of Ireland between December 1940 and February 1972.- Early life 1895-1914:...
, Archbishop of Dublin.
Hugh Reilly was born in County Cavan
County Cavan
County Cavan is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Border Region and is also located in the province of Ulster. It is named after the town of Cavan. Cavan 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...
about 1630 and studied at the Irish Bar where he qualified as a barrister about 1650. Hugh Reilly was legal advisor to Saint Oliver Plunkett
Oliver Plunkett
Saint Oliver Plunkett was the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland....
, Archbishop of Armagh during his trial in 1681, after Plunkett's previous advisor Sir Nicholas Plunkett
Nicholas Plunkett
Sir Nicholas Plunkett was the son of Christopher Plunkett, Lord Killeen, and Jane Dillon. At the age of twenty Plunkett traveled to London to receive training as a lawyer at Gray's Inn in London, and later at King's Inn in Dublin...
died. Plunkett said about Reilly “he took many risks for me”.
On 22nd May 1686 Reilly was appointed Master in Chancery. He lived in the parish of Laragh
Laragh
-Villages in Ireland:* Laragh, County Wicklow* Laragh, County Cavan* Laragh, County Monaghan...
, County Cavan and in 1689 was elected from there, along with Philip Og O'Reilly
Philip Og O'Reilly
Philip Og O’Reilly was an M.P. for Cavan Borough in the Irish parliament of 1689.-Early Life:His name in Gaelic was Phillip Óg O’Raghallaigh. His ancestry was Phillip Óg mac Aodh Buidhe mac Maol Mordha Ruadh mac Phillip Dubh mac Aodh Conallach O’Raghallaigh, of whom the latter two ancestors were...
, as an M.P. to represent the Borough of Cavan in the Dublin Patriot Parliament
Patriot Parliament
The Patriot Parliament is the name given to the session of the Irish Parliament called by King James II of Ireland during the War of the Two Kings in 1689. The parliament met in one session, from 7 May 1689 to 20 July 1689, and was the only session of the Irish Parliament under King James II.The...
of King James II
James II of England
James II & VII was King of England and King of Ireland as James II and King of Scotland as James VII, from 6 February 1685. He was the last Catholic monarch to reign over the Kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland...
. In the 1689 Irish Jacobite Government he was appointed as Clerk of the Privy Council (Hugh Riley) on 5th March 1689.
After the defeat of King James II by King William III, Reilly fled to France with the king. In 1690 James II appointed him Lord Chancellor of Ireland
Lord Chancellor of Ireland
The office of Lord Chancellor of Ireland was the highest judicial office in Ireland until the establishment of the Irish Free State in 1922. From 1721 to 1801 it was also the highest political office of the Irish Parliament.-13th century:...
at St. Germains, but it was a titular title only as James then had no power to so appoint. Hugh Reilly was attainted in 1691 by King William III and his land in County Cavan was confiscated. In 1695 he published Ireland's Case briefly stated; a second edition, appeared in 1720. It gives an account of the conduct and misfortunes of the Roman Catholics in Ireland from the reign of Elizabeth to that of James II, and complains of the neglect they suffered under Charles II
Charles II of England
Charles II was monarch of the three kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland.Charles II's father, King Charles I, was executed at Whitehall on 30 January 1649, at the climax of the English Civil War...
. The statements throughout are general, and few dates or particular facts are given. The last speech of Oliver Plunket is added. It is said that James II, offended by the tone of Reilly's book, dismissed him from his service. Harris in his edition of Ware’s Works, (Ware, Sir James, Works: Walter Harris. Dublin 1764, vol. 2, p. 259), states- "King James was so offended at Reilly’s free treatment of him, that he took away his small salary, and turned him out of his titular office of Lord Chancellor of Ireland; the loss of which lay so heavy upon his spirits that he died soon after, about the year 1694. It is said King James restored him to his pension a short time before his death and I have been assured that he shewed his book to King James before he put it under the press, who had the perusal of it for three weeks, and upon returning it, told the author there was too much truth in it; but did not forbid him to make it public—yet, when it appeared abroad, he treated him as before related." He is believed to have died in 1695.
The Impartial History of Ireland (London, 1754) is a reprint of Reilly's Ireland's Case, and it was again issued under the same title at Dublin in 1787, and as the Genuine History of Ireland at Dublin in 1799 and in 1837. Burke
Edmund Burke
Edmund Burke PC was an Irish statesman, author, orator, political theorist and philosopher who, after moving to England, served for many years in the House of Commons of Great Britain as a member of the Whig party....
's speech at the Bristol election of 1780 is printed with the edition of 1787, and a memoir of Daniel O'Connell
Daniel O'Connell
Daniel O'Connell Daniel O'Connell Daniel O'Connell (6 August 1775 – 15 May 1847; often referred to as The Liberator, or The Emancipator, was an Irish political leader in the first half of the 19th century...
with that of 1837. The form, paper, and type of the book show that it was bought by the populace in Ireland; its popularity was due to no special merit, but to the fact that it was long almost the only printed argument in favour of Irish Roman Catholics.