Famous Maynooth Scholar.
He was friendly with a Lord Mayor of Dublin named Casey and the Clements family had copies of correspondence between the two. The sole remaining letter is now held by Adrienne O'Neill and a copy is held by me (Redmond O'Hanlon). It was written from Maynooth on June 20 1860 to Mick (Mick Casey?) and it refers to John, a priest (a nephew?) who is being appointed to a position in Maynooth College. It also refers to Dr Cullen (later Archbishop of Dublin?).It also refers to Anne leaving Rathfarnham convent just before her profession. Finally John O'Hanlon speaks of having to go to a warmer climate in France or Spain to get rid of his bronchitis.
(2, p8))In 1913, when he first started to write his reminiscences, Dr McDonald could claim in his opening pages that 'I am now the oldest member - reckoning by length of service - of the College staff; the only remnant of that old order that passed away with the disendowment. I saw Dr. O'Hanlon in the flesh...'
(2, p65) - see pictures.
The following is from pages 442- in Ref. (1):
- ".. he was appointed to that high office (Prefect of the Dunboyne) in 1843 and retained it until his death in 1871. During those 28 years nearly all the distinguished students of the College who afterwards rose to the highest places in the Irish Church, passed through his classes in theology, Ecclesiastical History and Canon Law; and all, without exception, bore testimony to his profound and various learning, as well as to the great and lasting advantage which they derived from his lectures. No other member of the College Staff, during all those years, was more influential within the college, and better known to those without, than Dr. O'Hanlon. His opinion was highly valued on all disputed questions; and we may assume it as certain that he was consulted oftener in cases of difficulty, both by bishops and priests, than any other theologian that ever taught at Maynooth. Even before he became Prefect of the Dunboyne, he had been, for fifteen years, Professor of Dogmatic and Moral Theology, so that if we include the years of his student life he spent no less than fifty years in the Study of the Divine Science. It is no wonder that, with his great natural ability, he became, indeed, a Doctor Eximius, whose opinion was held to be the very first in the Schools of Ireland.
According to one account (received through Canon Howley of Callan, from Doctor O'Hanlon's sister who was alive but very old in 1895) John O'Hanlon, the son of Michael O'Hanlon and Ellen Bluett, was born in Jame's Street Kilkenny in 1803. But Dr McCarthy, the late Bishop of Kerry stated that Dr O'Hanlon himself told him that he was born in the townland of Curraghduff, parish of Freshford, Co. Kilkenny. At the age of five years he was sent to a school in the city of Kilkenny, in which, to use his own words, 'Mrs Molly Mara had supreme rule.' At that time the family had come to reside in Kilkenny but shortly afterwards they removed to Dublin and young O'Hanlon was, for some time, plced under the care of a master, in Dublin. After some time, his parents having returned to Kilkenny, he came with them and was now placed under the tuition of a certain Mr M'Donnell who, it appears, was a portrait painter, as well as a schoolmaster This is, doubtless, the teacher who, according to his sister's accounts, handed over young O'Hanlon to his parents, ~.. as knowing more now than the honest pedagogue himself.' Perhaps he was the Professor at Burrell's Hall Academy to which young O'Hanlon was also sent although he himself made no reference to the fact in his conversation with Dr McCarthy.
At the age of sixteen he entered the College of Kilkenny, that is in 1819, where his first superior the Rev. Mr Reynolds, but afterwards Dr Kelly of Waterford to whose acquirements and ability Dr O'Hanlon bore the highest testimony. The very day on which Dr Kelly was consecrated Bishop of Richmond in Virginia, was that on which young O'Hanlon left Kilkenny for Maynooth College bringing with him more than the usual amount of learning and the very highest reputation for ability. He matriculated for the Rhetoric class in Maynooth on the 21st of August 1820 which shows that he was not much more than twelve months in the College of Kilkenny, that is, if he were born in 1803 - a date, however, about which his sister was by no means certain.
The 'Records' do not show that young O'Hanlon was highly distinguished during the earlier years of his course. In his first year's theology (1824) he got first 'accessit' both in Scripture and dogmatic Theology; but then the classes were very large. During the later years of his course, however, he carried all before him and gave ample proof of that eminent ability which he afterwards so well utilized to the advantage of the entire Irish Church.
In 1828, considerable changes were made in the Theological staff and a Concursus was held for the vacant chairs. The candidates were Carew, O'Hanlon and O'Keane, (afterwards Bishop of Cloyne). The Trustees, having heard the reports of the judges read, and duly considered the same, appointed The Rev. Patrick Carew to the Second Chair and the Rev. John Hanlon (sic) to the Third Chair of Dogmatic and Moral Theology on the 30th of August.
Dr O'Hanlon taught his chair of Theology with signal success down to the year 1843 when Dr M'Nally became Coadjutor Bishop of Clogher. Thereupon Dr Renehan, the Vice-President, and Dr O'Hanlon, became candidates for the Prefectship of the Dunboyne. The Trustees, however, having decided by vote that the offices of Vice-President and Prefect of the Dunboyne were incompatible, and Dr Renehan being unwilling to resign the former office, Dr O'Hanlon was appointed to the office of prefect of the Dunboyne Establishment, 16th of November, 1843.
There are some points worth noting in Dr O'Hanlon's examination before the Commissioners in 1853. He thought it desirable that the study of the Eastern languages - Chaldaic, Syriac and Arabic, as well as Hebrew - should be included in the course for the Dunboyne students, if not as a matter of necessity, at least as a branch of learning which some of them might be free to cultivate. He also said that he would be most desirous to see a professor of Greek appointed for the Theological students, did he not apprehend that such a multiplication of Professors and of classes might interfere with the Theological studies when he regarded as the most important and essential.
A short time before, 'Bailly' was removed from the list of class-booksand 'Scavini' was substituted by the trustees. When asked why, he answered: 'Because Bailly was placed on the Index.' Asked why this was done, Dr O'Hanlon repliedthat he had no official or positive knowledge on the subject but his opinion was that Bailly was condemned 'because he was a decided Gallician and it is perfectly certain that Gallician doctrines - at least in their full extent - are not acceptable to the Pope, Besides, Bailly's teaching on the subject of marriage in which he contends that marriage amongst Christians may exist as a valid contract, without being a Sacrament, is also distasteful to Rome.'

Freeman’s Journal, 16th November 1871
Yesterday the mortal remains of the Very Rev. Dr. O’Hanlon, the late reverend Prefect of the Dunboyne Establishment in St. Patrick’s College, Maynooth, were consigned to their last resting place in the cemetery of the great institution which he had so long adorned, and amid the prayers and sorrow of hundreds who knew and loved him during life. It is no exaggeration to say that the deceased had a larger and more extensive acquaintance among his brethren in the priesthood than perhaps any other man in Ireland. For nearly half a century he had held an honoured seat among the professors of Maynooth; during that time the vast majority of the present clergy of Ireland sat as his feet as students, and the heartiness and geniality of his nature induced him, while a wonderful memory of individuals – a characteristic singularly common among high intellects – enabled him to take every opportunity of recalling old memories and renewing old friendships. Joining the most profound knowledge of the greatest of sciences a warm heart and playful as a child’s, he was loved as widely as he was known, and hence it was that, notwithstanding the early hour, the inconvenient trains, and the inclement weather, large contingents of clergy from all the neighbouring dioceses yesterday attended at Maynooth, to pay the last tribute of respect to the memory of the lamented dead. The body of the deceased, enclosed in a handsome oak coffin, has since his death lain in state in the room occupied by him during his life, and the solemn and melancholy ceremony of yesterday opened with the transfer of the coffin from the room to the college chapel. Accompanying the coffin were the ecclesiastics present walking in procession. In the immediate neighbourhood of the coffin were their lordships the Most Rev. Dr. Nulty, Lord Bishop of Meath, and the Most Rev. Dr. Walshe, Lord Bishop of Kildare.

Then came a great assembly of clergy robed in surplice and soutane. Among those present we recognised the following:- The President and staff of Maynooth, namely, the Very Rev. C. W. Russell D.D., President ; Rev. R. Ffrench Whitehead, Vice-President; Rev, J. O’Kane, Dean; Rev. Fathers Quinn, Hammond and Hughes, Junior Deans; Rev. T. Farrelly D.D. and the following Professors – the Rev Frs. P. A. Murray D.D., G. Crolly D.D., G. Molloy D.D., W. J. Walsh, D.M’Carthy D.D, Denis Gargan D.D., F. Lennon, R. Hackett, C. M’Cauley, E. O’Brien, H. O’Rourke, and J. Tulley. The other Very Rev. and Rev. Fathers present were- Canon Burke P.P., T. Geoghan P.P., P. M’Manus P.P., E. O’Rourke P.P., Father Pius Provincial Passionists, F. Doran P.P., J. Whittle P.P., Hugh Behan R.C.A., Canon Lee P.P., Canon M’Mahon P.P., J. Hughes P.P., Walsh S.J., E. O’Reilly S.J., Carberry S.J., Mullally All Hallows, M’Carthy All Hallows, M. O’Callaghan C.M., J. M’Donnell V.G., T. O’Shea P.P., M. Nolan P.P., M. Murphy St. Patrick’s Carlow, Dr. Dixon C. M., Jno Kelly P.P., Dr. Higgins St. Finian’s Navan, M. M’Elroy V.G. P.P., T. Cassidy P.P., E. Corcoran S.J., Stephen Farrell S.J., T. Molloy S.J., Dr. Hughes P.P., M. Gogarty R.C.A., Very Rev. Dr. Kavanagh, President of Carlow College, Rev. Mr. Robinson C.C. Kilcock, Rev. Mr. O’Keefe C.C. St. Paul’s, Arran Quay, J. Flanagan C.C., M. Higgins C.C., Hampson C.C., O’Hanlon C.C., Ryan C.C., O’Reilly C.C., M’Evoy C.C., Hickey C.C., J. O’Hanlon C.C., Higgins C.C., Dixon C.C., Egan C.C., Flanagan C.C., Mullally C.C., T. O’Reilly C.C., E. Matthews C.C., Hickey C.C., Carroll C.C., Maguire C.C., McEvey C.C., Gough C.C., Downing C.C., Tighe C.C.

After the clergy came the students of the college, five hundred in number, those who had received holy orders wearing the surplice or soutane, the other students the soutane only. In the chapel were a number of the friends and relatives of the deceased, including his nephew Mr J. O’Hanlan, Mr O.C. Murphy, J.P., F. Colgan J.P., M.U. Manamara, P. Brennan, - O’Shaughnessy, E. O’Reilly, D. Dunne, Andrew Esq.., Graiguenamara, O’Donnell Esq., Graiguenamara, Wm. Murphy etc. When the coffin had been placed on the catafalque and the ecclesiastics had taken their seats in the chapel the rites of the church were then proceeded with. The solemn office for the dead having been chanted, the requiem mass was offered up by the Rev. M. J. Walsh, Maynooth, acting as celebrant, the Rev Mr. Doyle, diocese of Ferns, deacon, and the Rev. Mr. Callerey, diocese of Meath, sub-deacon. At the conclusion of Mass the absolution was given by the Most Rev. Dr. Nulty. The coffin of the deceased was then borne from the chapel and the melancholy funeral cortege formed. At its head were the two prelates, the Most Rev. Dr. Nulty in full canonicals, then came the priests and then the students. A spectacle at once more touching and imposing it would be impossible to imagine than that presented by the procession, as with slow and stately steps it swept through the beautiful grounds of the college, consisting as it did of nearly six hundred persons, marching slowly in unison with the sad cadences of the hymns of the church. The most unimaginative person could scarcely avoid being moved by the spectacle presented to him, and the scene was one seldom to be witnessed in Ireland, recalling to many the memories of the great ecclesiastical spectacles of Rome before the hand of the spoiler had been laid on the sacred city.

The procession proceeded by a circuitous path from the chapel to the cemetery, where lie the professors and students who have died in the College since its foundation. The little cemetery is a model of careful and decorous attention although, unfortunately, a recent storm has defaced one of its principal monuments. Here a grave had been prepared, and the coffin – which we have omitted to state had during the procession been borne on the shoulders of students – was lowered into its last resting place, the Bishop of Meath intoning the burial service, sprinkling the coffin with holy water, and performing the touching and significant offices which the Church prescribes. A great number of the inhabitants of the town and surrounding district, who had attended the Office and High Mass also, were present at the grave to pay the last tribute of respect to the revered and lamented deceased. There were present at the grave of the good man eminent prelates by whom he was known and loved, a host of priests who had learned from him the immortal truths of their faith, the body of students for whom he had always been so deeply concerned, and the people of the town, in whose midst he had passed fifty useful, happy and blameless years. The type and example of a true priest at once wise and innocent, learned and kindly, dignified and genial Dr. O’Hanlon was mourned at his grave yesterday by sincere mourners, as through his life he had been loved by friends faithful, true and many.

Research: (1)Maynooth College: its Centenary History
Browne & Nolan 1895, pp 442-446 (2)Reminiscences of a Maynooth Professor Walter McDonald, Mercier Press 1967

The following are three excerpts from ‘The History and Antiquities of the Diocese of Ossory’ by The Rev. William Carrigan, C.C., Sealy, Bryers & Walker, Middle Abbey Street, Dublin, 1905

Vol. 1, p228 '...there is the following entry in the Baptismal Register of Durrow:

"The Right Rev. Doctor Kinsella died Friday 12th December 1845. His Month's Memory was held in St. Jame's Chapel, the 14th of January 1846. The election of Candidates to fill the vacant See took place on Thursday, the 15th day of January, 1846.

The Revd. Edmd. Walsh, P.P., V.F., 14 votes.

The Revd. John O'hanlon, Prof, 13 votes.

The Revd. Edmd Aylward, C.C., 5 votes.

The selection of the clergy was ratified at Rome....."'

Vol. 2, p257 '...CURRAGHDUFF (the Black Marsh). - The townland possesses no antiquarian remains; it is remarkable, nevertheless, for having given birth to one of the greatest of Irish Theologians, the Very Rev. John O'Hanlon, D.D., Maynooth College, who died in 1871, aged 69 years.'

Vol. 4, p361 '...Dr. O'Hanlon, one of the greatest of Irish Theologians, was born in Curraghduff, parish of Freshford, in the year 1800 or 1801.Soon after his birth his parents removed to Kilkenny city, where they resided for some years. The removed thence to Dublin, only, however, to return again, after a short stay, to Kilkenny where they passed the remainder of their lives.

Their son, who was destined to become such an ornament not only to Maynooth College, but to the entire Irish church, received his early education in Kilkenny and Dublin; and entered the college of Burrell's Hall, Kilkenny, "at the age of sixteen," on the 13th Jan., 1817. He passed from Burrell's Hall to Maynooth College for the Class of Rhetoric, Aug. 25th, 1820...............Dr. O'Hanlon died in Maynooth College, Nov. 13th , 1871, and is buried in the College Cemetery, where his monument (erected by his fellow-diocesan, and present successor as Prefect of the Dunboyne, the very Rev. Walter M'Donald, D.D.), a fine Celtic cross of Kilkenny limestone.....'

The following is from The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume XI. Published 1911. New York: Robert Appleton Company.

'In the penal times Ossory suffered much, but its faith survived, and when toleration came it was ruled by an exceptional man, De Burgo (1759-86). Equally capable was his successor, Troy (1777-86), subsequently Archbishop of Dublin. To understand his praise of George III, his friendship with the viceroy and with Luttrell, son of the infamous Lord Carhampton, we must make allowance for the times in which he lived. He acted from no personal motive, but for the good of the Church, for he was zealous in propagating the Faith and enforcing discipline. He was among the first of the Irish bishops to take advantage of the relaxation of the penal laws and set up a college for his diocese by the purchase of Burrell's Hall, Kilkenny. Two of its first staff became his successors, Dr. Dunne (1787-89) and Dr. Lanigan (1789-1812). Under the latter the college at Burrell's Hall was transferred to more suitable premises and its curriculum extended. It was not until the episcopate of Dr. Kinsella that a diocesan college worthy of Ossory was founded. In 1836 the foundation stone of St. Kieran's College, Kilkenny, was laid and two years later the college was opened for students.........Other famous men are: James Butler, Archbishop of Cashel, author of "Butler's Catechism"; Dr. Minogue, Bishop of Sacramento; Dr. Ireland, Archbishop of St. Paul; Dr. O'Reilly, Archbishop of Adelaide; Dr. John O'Donovan; Dr. Kelly, for many years professor of ecclesiastical history at Maynooth; Dr. O'Hanlon, theological professor in the same college; Dr. MacDonald, his successor; and Dr. Carrigan, whose "History of Ossory" is the most complete history of any Irish diocese....'