Freeman's Journal/1887/The late Very Rev. Canon O'Rourke, P.P., V.F., Maynooth

THE LATE VERY REV. CANON O'ROURKE, P.P., V.F., MAYNOOTH

On yesterday the remains of the Very Rev Canon O'Rourke were consigned to their last resting place in the quiet and ancient cemetery of Laragh Bryan, Maynooth.

At an early hour the parochial church was filled with his faithful people, who had come to offer, with the clergy, the last prayers for their lamented pastor, who had ministered to them for so many years and so well. The Solemn Requiem Service began at eleven o'clock. After the chanting of the Office for the Dead, High Mass was celebrated by the Rev Daniel Downing, Cathedral, the deacons being the Rev W Cleary, Maynooth, the Rev W Duggan, Leixlip; the master of ceremonies, Rev J Hickey, Lucan. In the unavoidable absence of his Grace the Archbishop, the Right Rev Monsignor Kennedy presided in the choir. Amongst the clergy present were:

The Very Rev Dr Brown, President, Maynooth; Very Rev Canon Keogh P.P., VF; Very Rev Canons Leahy, Dillon, Flanagan; Rev J Moore, PP; Dean O'Lean, Maynooth; Very Rev H Conlan, Adm; Rev J Hickey, Rev J Waters, SJ; Rev J Ryan, OMI; Rev J M McGuckie, OMI; Rev J Brennan, Rev M Ivers, Rev R White, Rev J Fannelly, Rev B Smith, Rev J O'Dnnell, Father Botrel, French College, Rev P Clarke, Rev R Siadon.

Canon O'Rourke had reached his 78th year, over forty of which he spent in the sacred ministry. He was a man of solid and tender piety. In the instruction of his people in the labour of the confessional, and in very pastoral duty he was through all his priesthood untiring. the beautiful and accurate prayer book known as the "Lamp of the Soul," which he compiled years ago and published at Duffy's, gives ample evidence of his power to break the bread of knowledge to his people. His thoughtful and generous and constant charity was fully known but only to few. His affectionate heart was open to every genuine tale of distress, and in the matter of erecting a little memorial over a forgotten grave, or secretly helping on a struggling family or community, or aiding some poor friendless youth, none was ever a truer friend than he.

He had been for seventeen years one of the curates of Kingstown, and for 17 years parish priest of Maynooth. Besides his parochial duties he was an active literary labourer. In early life before he entered Maynooth as a student in that celebrated place of education for the Church, he published anonymously a small work called "Holly and Ivy" which retains its place to this day, many copies being continually called for and supplied to the United States of America. It was Canon O'Rourke that wrote the Centenary Life of O'Connell about the year 1875. He also wrote a History of the Great Irish Famine, a subject that is said to have occurred to him while engaged upon his first small work, "Holly and Ivy." Perhaps he will be better known in future times by this work on the Great Famine of 1847 than even by his "Battle of the Faith." Many have treated of this latter subject, but Canon O'Rourke is the only author who has given a connected account of the Famine, one of the most terrible inflictions a country ever underwent, and one that has revolutionised the social state.

Canon O'Rourke was a frequent contributor to the Irish Ecclesiastical Record and other periodicals.