Wednesday, October 8, 2014

Fr John Heuston's brother was another John Heuston

The Irish Government and many agencies in the State are planning celebrations to recall the events of 1916.

Fr John Michael Heuston was a Dominican priest. He was the brother of John Heuston, who was a signatory to the 1916 Proclamation.

Fr John was given special permission, while a young Dominican in Tallaght, to visit his condemned brother in Kilmainham gaol.

It was a custom in the Order that men, on receiving the Dominican habit, were given a new name. So, Fr 'John' Heuston was in fact the brother of John or Sean Heuston.

It would be a lovely act for the Irish Dominicans to mark the 100th anniversary of the Rising with a fitting commemoration to the Heuston family. Why not a scholarship to a young person who now lives in the area where the Heustons spent their childhood?

When CIE commissioned the Sean Heuston bust at Heuston Station, they called on Fr John for assistance.

1 comment:

A Ramble about Tallaght said...

Hi Michael, That is very interesting. But I should note, Sean Heuston was not a signatory to the 1916 proclamation.

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