Item 88 - Reason and Tradition

Eamonn O’Mahony was born in Middleton, County Cork, on 30 August 1934, the son of James and Máire O’Mahony (née Tobin). He received his secondary education at the Seraphic College in Rochestown and entered the Capuchin novitiate on 3 October 1952. He took Brendan as his religious name upon joining the Order. He undertook his early academic studies in University College Cork, where he obtained a BA (1956), followed by an MA in 1957, both with first class honours. He then went to Ard Mhuire Friary near Creeslough in County Donegal for his theological studies and was ordained to the priesthood on 24 September 1960. From there he proceeded to the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome where he was awarded a Licentiate in Sacred Theology (STL) two years later. From there he went to the University of Louvain in Belgium, where he obtained a PhD ‘Summa cum Laude’ in 1964. On his return to Ireland, he was appointed to the Chair of Philosophy in University College Cork, a professorship, his uncle, Fr. James O’Mahony OFM Cap., had occupied before him. There followed thirty-four years of busy academic work, during which scores of students destined for the priesthood in numerous congregations and orders received their grounding in philosophical studies. After several years as a member of the Provincial Definitory (Council), he was elected Irish Capuchin Provincial Minister in 1976, and was re-elected in 1979. In the latter year, under his guidance, the Western American Capuchin Province came into being in California and Oregon. In Ireland, he oversaw the opening of the Capuchin friary in Carlow in 1977. In 1982, the friars also took charge of Gurranabraher parish in the Diocese of Cork and Ross. He continued in his role as philosophy professor in University College Cork until his retirement in 1999. He died in Holy Trinity Capuchin Friary on Father Mathew Quay in Cork on 14 September 2020. He was buried in the cemetery adjacent to Rochestown Friary in County Cork.

Baptismal name: Eamonn O’Mahony
Religious name: Fr. Brendan O’Mahony OFM Cap.
Date of birth: 30 Aug. 1934
Place of birth: Midelton, County Cork (Diocese of Cloyne)
Name of father: James O'Mahony (Séamus Ó Mathúna)
Name of mother: Máire O’Mahony (née Tobin)
Date of reception into the Capuchin Order: 3 Oct. 1952
Date of first profession: 4 Oct. 1953
Date of final profession: 4 Oct. 1956
Date of ordination (as priest): 24 Sept. 1960
Educational attainments: BA, 1st class hons., UCC (1956); MA, 1st class hons, UCC (1957); Licentiate in Sacred Theology, Pontifical Gregorian University, Rome (1962); PhD, Catholic University of Louvain (1964)
Leadership positions: Provincial Definitor (Councillor), 1967-70, 1970-3; Provincial Minister, 1976-82
Date of death: 14 Sept. 2020
Place of death: Holy Trinity Capuchin Friary, Cork
Place of burial: Cemetery, Rochestown Capuchin Friary, County Cork