It’s 350 years since St Oliver’s first school opened in Drogheda

THIS is another big year in the town’s celebration of St Oliver Plunkett, whose relic rests in St Peter’s.

350 years ago this summer, he set up a school - believed to be in Shop Street - and it was for both Catholics and Protestants. He was certainly a man ahead of his time.

Some years ago, I spotted this piece about how his head actually got to Drogheda.

It was in the care of the Dominican Sisters for centuries, indeed the sacred relic confided by Primate McMahon in 1721 to Catherine Plunkett.

‘Blessed Oliver, as is well known, bequeathed his body to his devoted fellow prisoner, the Benedictine, Father Croker. This holy priest, having been released from prison in 1683, brought the head to Rome in 1685,, and gave it to the Dominican, Cardinal Howard, who had been an intimate and personal friend of the holy martyr.

‘After Cardinal Howard’s death the sacred relic passed into the possession of the English Dominicans.at SS. John and Paul, in Rome, where it remained until Primate McMahon obtained it and brought it to Ireland in the early years of the 18th century. After a short time, however, the sacred treasure returned once again to St. Dominic’s children, when, in 1721, the Dominican Nuns made their foundation in Drogheda’.

Even the Pope heard about the development and through Cardinal Gasparri, Secretary of State to his Holiness, he sent his kind appreciation and congratulations in the following letter:— Segretaria di State di Sua Santita Dal Vaticano, November 21, 1919. Dear Revd. Mother—The Holy Father has heard with great pleasure of your intention to erect in your convent a suitable shrine, wherein the Head of the Blessed Oliver Plunket will be preserved. His Holiness congratulates you on being the possessors of this remarkable relic, of which you have been for two centuries the faithful guardians, and which you will henceforth; even more than in the past of guard as one the most precious relics of the Community and he trusts that its possession may be for the convent the source of many graces and blessings. The Holy Father graciously sends you and the Community the Apostolic Benediction, as a token of his paternal benevolence. With every best wish, I remain yours,’ sincerely in Christ, CARD. GASPARRI, To Rev. Mother Prioress, Siena Dominican Convent, Drogheda, Ireland.