PLUNKET, OLIVER, blessed, martyr. — Of a noble Irish family, born at Loughcrew (County Meath) in 1629, died in London on 11 July 1681.
He went to Rome in 1645 with Cardinal Legate P. F. Scarampi, completed his studies at the Irish College and at the Sapienza; ordained a priest in 1654 and unable to return to his homeland because of Cromwell’s persecution, he became professor of theology at the College of Propaganda Fide, consultor of the Congregation of the Index, and procurator of the Irish bishops. Elected Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of Ireland in 1669, he took possession of his see in 1670. His principal concern, amid severe difficulties of every kind, was the restoration of piety and discipline among the clergy
and the faithful, for which purpose he also held two provincial synods. The outbreak conspiracy (v.) and the uncertain conduct of Charles II forced him, from 1674 onward, to carry out his ministry in secret, until, as the persecution intensified, he was betrayed and arrested in Dublin in 1679, then transferred in 1680 to the prisons of London, where he was condemned on the false testimony of two apostate religious as guilty of high treason, that is, of false religion. He was hanged and quartered at Tyburn. His body, secretly transported to Hildesheim (Hanover) in 1685, was brought by Cardinal A. Gasquet to Downside Abbey in 1883. The martyr’s head is venerated at Drogheda. P. was beatified by Benedict XV on 23 May 1920. Feast day: 11 May.