Saint Oliver Plunkett
Saint Oliver Plunkett (born November 1, 1629 AD in Loughcrew, County Meath, Ireland; died July 1, 1681 AD in Tyburn, London, England) was the Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland who was executed at Tyburn on July 1, 1681 — the last Catholic to be martyred in England for the faith. He was accused on fabricated charges of plotting a French invasion of Ireland during the hysteria of the "Popish Plot." His head is preserved at Saint Peter's Church, Drogheda, Ireland. He was canonized by Pope Paul VI in 1975. His feast day is July 1.
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| Saint Oliver Plunkett | |
|---|---|
| Feast Day | July 01 |
| Profession | Archbishop of Armagh; Primate of All Ireland; martyr; missionary under penal conditions |
| Rel. Affiliation | Catholic Church; Archdiocese of Armagh; Irish Catholicism; English martyrs; Tyburn martyrs; Penal Era Irish Church |
| Patronage | Ireland; Archdiocese of Armagh; those falsely accused; Ireland under oppression; martyrs of the British Isles; Drogheda |
| Attributes | Archbishop's vestments and cross; the crown of martyrdom; the rope (hanging); his preserved head in a golden reliquary; Irish harp; Drogheda |
| Birthplace | Loughcrew, County Meath, Ireland |
| Death Place | Tyburn, London, England |
| Cause of Death | Martyrdom; hanged, drawn, and quartered at Tyburn on July 1, 1681, on fabricated charges of high treason; he was accused of plotting a French invasion of Ireland and conspiring against the Crown — charges manufactured by perjured witnesses during the "Popish Plot" hysteria; he was the last Catholic martyr executed in England for the faith |
| Primary Shrine | Saint Peter's Church, Drogheda, County Louth, Ireland — his head in a golden reliquary; the most visited Catholic shrine in Ireland; also contains a relic of the True Cross and the door of the cell where he was imprisoned; active pilgrimage site; feast observed July 1 with solemn Mass and exposition of the relic |
| Liturgical Class | Optional Memorial (Roman Rite); July 1; Feast in Ireland |
| Historic Class | Not in 1962 calendar (canonized 1975) |
Biography
Oliver Plunkett was born on November 1, 1629, at Loughcrew, County Meath, into a noble Irish Catholic family. He went to Rome for his education, studied at the Irish College, was ordained priest in 1654, and remained in Rome as a theologian and professor for many years.
In 1669 he was appointed Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland. Under the Penal Laws, Catholic episcopal activity was technically illegal in Ireland. He traveled in disguise, confirmed over 48,000 people, ordained priests, and labored to rebuild the Irish Church. He also worked to suppress agrarian violence being blamed on Catholics.
In 1678 the "Popish Plot" hysteria — manufactured by Titus Oates — swept England. Plunkett was arrested in Ireland in 1678, accused of conspiring to bring French troops to Ireland to support a Catholic uprising. Irish juries refused to convict him. He was transferred to England, tried at the Old Bailey in London on perjured testimony, and condemned.
He was hanged, drawn, and quartered at Tyburn on July 1, 1681 — the last Catholic to be martyred in England for the faith. From the scaffold he forgave his accusers and proclaimed his innocence.
His head, retrieved after the execution, is preserved at Saint Peter's Church, Drogheda — the most visited Catholic shrine in Ireland.
Pope Benedict XV beatified him in 1920. Pope Paul VI canonized him on October 12, 1975.
Significant locations
Legend
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Parishes
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| This map created from a Cargo query () |
| Parish | Diocese | City | AdministrativeSubdivision | Country | ParishWebsite |
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| Parish | Diocese | City | AdministrativeSubdivision | Country | ParishWebsite |
| St. Oliver Plunkett (Archdiocese of Atlanta) | Diocese of Metropolitan Archdiocese of Atlanta | Snellville, GA | Georgia | United States |
Media
| Media | Length | AuthorCreator |
|---|---|---|
| July 1 Saint Oliver Plunkett | Under 5 minutes | Breski1 |
| July 2 Saint Oliver Plunkett | Under 5 minutes | Breski1 |
| Saint Oliver Plunkett - Patron Saint of Peace | 5–15 minutes | Catholic Saints |
| Prayer to St. Oliver Plunkett | Under 5 minutes | Joy of Heaven |
| The Untold Story of the Archbishop Executed at Tyburn | St. Oliver Plunkett ✝️ | Under 5 minutes | The One Minute Catholic |
Shrines
Dynamic shrines
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Known shrines
- Saint Peter's Church, Drogheda — his head relic; principal shrine; most visited Catholic shrine in Ireland.
- Downside Abbey, England — body relics.
- Tyburn Convent, London — near the site of his martyrdom.
Feast day
July 1
Veneration
Saint Oliver Plunkett was the last Catholic martyred in England for the faith. His head is preserved at Drogheda, Ireland's most visited Catholic shrine. He was canonized by Pope Paul VI in 1975. His feast is July 1.
Prayers
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