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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