Cornelius Mahoney

Life
?1600-?1660 [also Cornelius, or Connor, or Constantine Mahoney]; b. Co. Cork, d. prob. Portugal; work, Disputatio Apolegetica de Jure Regni Hiberniae pro Cath. Hib. versus Haereticos Anglos (Lisbon 1645); argues that no heretic monarch enjoys right of allegiance from Catholic people, a thesis reviled by the Confederation of Kilkenny who burned it and declared its possession a penal offence; ODNB, Connor, Cornelius, or Constantie, called Cornelius a Sancto Patricio (fl.1650), Irish SJ; Disputatio Apologetica de Jure Regni Hiberniae pro Catholicis Hibernis adversus haereticos Anglos (1645), urging Irish to elect a Catholic king themselves. DIW ODNB

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Commentary
Joseph Th. Leerssen, Mere Irish & Fior-Ghael: Studies in the Idea of Irish Nationality, Its Development and Literary Expression Prior to the Nineteenth Century (Amsterdam & Philadelphia: John Benjamins Pub. Co. 1986), remarks and quotations concerning the Jesuit Cornelius O’Mahoney, b. Co Cork; author of Disputatio apologetica et manifestativa de iure regni Hiberniae Catholicism Hibernis adversos haereticos Anglos (Lisbon [with impressum disguising it as Frankfurt] 1645). Mahoney argues that England never had any title to Ireland, and if so, forfeits it on grounds of heresy; hence his motive in writing, ‘nec Angli mirari debent quod Catholicus Hibernicus pro iure Catholicorum Hibernorum contra iniuriam haetericorum Anglorum pugnem [nor should the English marvel I, an Irish Catholic, do battle for the right of the Catholic Irish against the injustice of a heretical English’] [295-96]. The book ends with an exhortation, ‘Agite ergo Catholici Hiberni, & felicem finem imponite operi, quod incaepistis, & nolite timere haereticos adversios, timete, & amate Deum, eius praecepta servate, & fidem defendite, & ipse vobis retribuet & immarcosibilem gloriae coronam, quam mihi, & vobis praestare dignetur.’ [‘Onwards then, ye Catholics, crown with success the work you have undertaken, and do not hear your heretical adversaries, but fear and love God, serve his precepts and defend the faith, and he shall reward you and may deign to vouchsafe all of us the undiminishing crown of glory’]. O’Mahoney urges the reinstating of a high-kingship, preferably Gaelic [‘vernaculum seu naturalem Hibernum’] - anticipating Gaelocentric nationalism - thus going against the Confederation’s claim of loyal support to Charles I, and was accordingly banned by Rinuccini’s party. (Leerssen, op. cit., p.296.)

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References
Dictionary of National Biography contains an article on ‘Connor Mahony; also Cornelius, or Constantine; also Cornelius a Sancto Patricio (fl.1650)’; called a Jesuit and author of Disputatio Apologetica de Jure Regni Hiberniae pro Catholicis Hiberniis adversus haereticos Anglos (1645), urging the election of an Roman Catholic king.

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