Fr. Edward P. Meehan, C.M.

By Patrick F. Meehan
Extracted from "Laois Yearbook" 1983

Very Rev. Edward Peter Meehan was the third son of Patrick Aloysius Meehan, M.P. and his wife Honora Keenan of Abbeyleix, was born in the family home in Maryborough on 11th July, 1882. He received his early education at the Presentation Convent and the Christian Brothers school in Portlaoise. At eleven years of age, he was sent to St. Vincent's College, Castleknock, where he scored first place in almost every subject. His performance as Hamlet in the school play was acclaimed by critics from all over the United Kingdom as one of the best interpretations ever given of Shakespeare's prince.

In 1900 as senior prefect, he welcomed Queen Victoria to the collage on behalf of the pupils. The following year he entered the Vincension Noviate at Blackrock and was ordained a priest in 1907. His first appointment was to the chair of Dogmatic Theology in Blackrock. He later became Dean of St. Vincent's College, Castleknock, then bursar of St. Patricks Training College, Drumcondra. He next went to St. Mary's, Lanark in Scotland, where, for some years he laboured strenuously in the missionary field. He was recalled to fill the Master of Noviceship in Blackrock. In 1916 he was appointed President of his Alma Mater. In 1917 his paper on social questions at the Catholic Truth Society conference brought him to the attention of the Primate Cardinal Logue, who paid an eloquent tribute to his work. In 1919 the Cardinal requested the Holy Father to appoint Fr. Meehan co-adjutor Archbishop of Armagh, Comjure Successionist, and the Holy Father, Pope Benedict XV granted the request, but Fr. Meehan died suddenly after an operation on the 7th April, 1919, a few days before the Pauls arrived from Rome appointing him Archbishop. He was buried in the college cemetery in Castleknock. His publications include "St. Patrick, Our Apostle" and "The Social Question in Ireland".

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