Ireland, John

▪ American archbishop

born Sept. 11, 1838, Burnchurch, County Kilkenny, Ire.

died Sept. 25, 1918, St. Paul, Minn., U.S.

      first archbishop of St. Paul; head of the liberal Roman Catholic clergy who promoted the integration of predominantly immigrant parishes into the life of the U.S. church (and society as a whole)—in opposition to the separatist tendency of many ethnic groups to preserve their European-style churches, with priests of their own nationalities.

      Ireland emigrated to the United States in 1849 with his parents, who settled at St. Paul, Minnesota Territory. Later educated in France, he was ordained priest at St. Paul in 1861. In 1862 he was chaplain for the 5th Minnesota Volunteer Infantry during the American Civil War. Ireland was rector of St. Paul Cathedral when he was appointed bishop-coadjutor in 1875. He subsequently became bishop (1884) and archbishop (1888). Ireland's liberal views also gave him a wide influence and reputation outside of the church. Many Europeans considered him the chief Catholic intellectual leader in the U.S. His ideas on social reform and the relation of the church to a democratic society were prophetic. Through the Catholic Colonization Bureau, he encouraged the founding of Catholic colonies in the northwest. In 1889 he helped establish the Catholic University of America, in Washington, D.C., and founded (1894) St. Paul Seminary. He published The Church and Modern Society in 1896.

Additional Reading

Marvin R. O'Connell, John Ireland and the American Catholic Church (1988).

▪ British composer

born August 13, 1879, Bowdon, Cheshire, Eng.

died June 12, 1962, Washington, Sussex

      English composer known for his songs and his programmatic orchestral works.

      Ireland studied at the Royal College of Music in London, where he later taught composition. He was much drawn to the mysticism and fantasy in the writings of Arthur Machen; some of his compositions, such as The Forgotten Rite (1913; for orchestra), were inspired by Machen. His songs, which include settings of poems of Shakespeare, A.E. Housman, and Rupert Brooke, are noted for their subtle evocation of mood. His works include A London Overture, the piano suite Sarnia (1940–41), a piano concerto, and the London Pieces (1917–20), for piano.

▪ Scottish writer

also called  Johannes de Irlandia 

born c. 1435

died c. 1500

      Scottish writer, theologian, and diplomatist, whose treatise The Meroure of Wyssdome is the earliest extant example of original Scots prose.

      Ireland left the University of St. Andrews without taking a degree and attended the University of Paris (licentiate, 1460). He lived in France until 1483–84, becoming a doctor of theology and being sent on several diplomatic missions by Louis XI. On Louis's death he returned to Scotland and became private chaplain to James III. He was rector of Yarrow and sat in the Scottish parliament. When James died in 1488, he continued as chaplain to the young James IV, and wrote for his edification, in 1490, the work which is his chief claim to fame, The Meroure of Wyssdome, a hortatory and pious treatise on the value of wisdom to temporal rulers.

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