Ireland, John, Bl.

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IRELAND, JOHN, BL.

Priest, martyr; hanged, drawn, and quartered at Tyburn (London), March 7, 1544. Little is known of this seminary priest. He was chaplain of the Roper Chantry annexed to St. Dunstan's, in Canterbury (153536) before becoming vicar of Eltham, Kent, and thus the parish priest of St. Thomas More's daughter Margaret Roper of West Hall. For refusing to acknowledge the royal supremacy in spiritual matters, Ireland was indicted (Feb. 15, 1543) with BB. John larke, German gardiner, and John heywood (who recanted on the hurdle). The bodies of the martyrs were buried under the gallows. Ireland was beatified by Pope Leo XIII on Dec. 9, 1886.

Feast of the English Martyrs: May 4 (England)

See Also: england, scotland, and wales, martyrs of.

Bibliography: r. challoner, Memoirs of Missionary Priests, ed. j. h. pollen (rev. ed. London 1924; repr. Farnborough 1969). j. h. pollen, Acts of English Martyrs (London 1891).

[k. i. rabenstein]