CULLEN, PAUL. - Cardinal, born 29 April 1803 at Prospect in the county of Kildare, Ireland, died 24 October 1878 at Dublin. He applied himself to the study of Oriental languages, particularly Hebrew. Ordained priest in 1829, he became in 1832 rector of the Irish College in Rome. The revolutionary movements of 1848 found him when he was rector of the Urban College of Propaganda Fide, and during the period of the Roman Republic he placed himself under the protection of America. In 1849 he was named Primate of Armagh and as papal legate presided, in August 1850, over the Synod of Thurles.
A true patriot, he took an active interest in the public affairs of his country, participating in the Irish movements of 1850–52. But the deep disappointment caused him by the impatience of Mac Hale and the consequences of the disagreement that opened with the latter led him to withdraw from active politics to the point of forbidding his clergy to engage in politics. He was a vigorous opponent of Fenianism, the secret revolutionary organization founded in America by J. O’Mahony. In 1857 he was appointed Archbishop of Dublin, where he founded the Catholic University, and in 1866 he was created cardinal by Pius IX, who held him in great affection. He took part in the Vatican Council.