Nicholas Phelan was born in Graiguenamanagh, a small town on the border between Counties Carlow and Kilkenny, on 16 June 1874. He joined the Capuchins at the age of sixteen, took Benedict as his religious name, and was professed in 1891. He was ordained a priest in Holy Trinity church in Cork in January 1899. Following his ordination, he was appointed Master of Novices and spent five years ministering in Cork. In 1904 he was transferred to the Capuchin Friary on Church Street in Dublin. He worked in the capital for the next forty years and was the principal organiser of the choir in St. Mary of the Angels on Church Street for most of this time. He served as Provincial Secretary from 1910 to 1913. He was appointed vicar in 1919 and was guardian (local superior) of the Capuchin community on Church Street from 1922 to 1925. He acted as spiritual director of the Sacred Heart Sodality for many years and was also director of the local Third Order of St. Francis confraternity. He was well-known as a mission and retreat giver throughout Ireland but particularly in almost all the parishes in County Dublin. At the time of his death (on 19 July 1947) he was a member of the Capuchin community in Kilkenny. He died in a nursing home at 7 Mount Street Crescent in Dublin following a long period of illness and was buried in Glasnevin cemetery in the city.

Baptismal name: Nicholas Phelan Name in religion: Benedict Date of birth: 16 June 1874 Place of birth: Graiguenamanagh, County Kilkenny (Diocese of Kildare of Leighlin) Name of father: John Phelan Name of mother: Mary Phelan Date of reception into the Capuchin Order: 23 June 1890 Date of first profession: 15 Aug. 1891 Date of final profession: 11 Oct. 1896 Date of ordination: 8 Jan. 1899 Date of death: 19 July 1947 Place of death: Dublin Place of burial: Glasnevin Cemetery, Dublin