Knights of Saint Columbanus

The Order of the Knights of Saint Columbanus is an Irish Catholic fraternal and service organization for lay men over twenty-one years of age.

The Order was founded in Belfast in 1915 by James K Cannon O'Neill. He was greatly influenced by the social teaching of the Church and particularly the encyclical "Rerum Novarum".

James K. O’Neill was a native of Ballypatrick, Ballycastle, Co. Antrim where he studied at the Classical School in Downpatrick. He enrolled in St. Malachy’s Diocesan College in February 1872 and entered the national seminary of St. Patrick's College, Maynooth in September 1875. In 1906 he was appointed parish priest of the Sacred Heart Parish, Oldpark Rd., Belfast.

The parish presented all the drab appendages of industrialisation at its worst. It offered a challenge to its new pastor who brought to it those qualities of intellect and vision, of earnestness, sympathy and sincerity which marked him out as the dedicated priest, the born leader and organiser who abhorred sectarian strife and who believed that Catholic social principals, properly and intelligently applied, would at once supply the remedy for existing social ills and permeate society with the charity of Christ. Father O’Neill’s interest in people expressed itself in a multi-faceted apostolate.

A keen student of the papal encyclicals, Father O’Neill, with the concurrence of Bishop John Tohill, circulated copies of [Pius X] ’s fundamental regulations for the Lay Apostolate among the conferences under his supervision. He arranged regular meetings at which lectures were given on the social teachings of Leo XIII and Pius X. A new conference proposed the study and promotion of catholic social principals among the remaining conferences of the St. Vincent de Paul Society in the Diocese of Down and Connor. This was the origin of the programme of study and education in social principles which continues to underpin all the endeavours of the Knights of St.Columbanus which he founded in 1915 to promote and foster the cause of the Catholic faith and Catholic education.

Fr. O’Neill (then Cannon) died on 18th March 1922 and is buried at the rear of the church in Ballyvoy, Co. Antrim. The Order pays tribute to him in May of every year by the celebration of Holy Mass in Ballyvoy which is attended by representatives of the Order from all the thirty-two counties of Ireland.

In placing the Order under the patronage of St. Columbanus, the founders were mindful of his missionary zeal in bringing the good news of salvation to all. The Knights were the response of Catholic Irishman to the call of the Pope for a society of Catholic laymen acting in close co-operation with their bishops in the work of the Apostolate.

Order makeup

Primary Councils-

There are the basic organizational units of the Knights. There are primary councils in all counties of Ireland. These units would operate either by parish, workplace, for example the Department of Health in The Custom House, C.I.E., The National Army or professional groups such as the Bar, the Medical councils the Pharmacists etc. They in their own turn make up and would send delegates to the Provincial Councils.

Provincial Areas - There are 12 Provincial Areas including Ulster, Munster, Connaught, Leinster and the Dublin Provincial Area.

The Provincial Cpouncils send deleghates to the Council of Directors, and its management team - a sub-committee of the Coucil of Directors entitled "The Supreme Executive" which controls and directs the twelve provincial areas.

The head of the organization is the Supreme knight- he is Head of the Order and is elected by the Supreme Council for a three year term; the next election is scheduled for 2008.

The current Supreme Knight is Architect Patrick Byrne, Belfast.

Supreme Chaplain- Spiritual companion of the Knights, currently Very Rev Joseph McKeever, PP, VF.

The Supreme Executive for 2005-2008 consists of the following men: Supreme Knight Paddy Byrne Area 2 Dep. Supreme Knight Séamus Mc Donald Area 4 Supreme Chaplain Rev. Joseph McKeever C.C. Area 4 Supreme Chancellor Bernard J. Burns Area 2 Supreme Secretary William F. Roe B.E. KCSG Area 11 Supreme Advocate Charles A Kelly, KCSS, KHS Area 7 Supreme Treasurer Christopher John Nolan KHS Area 1 Supreme Warden James Leahy Area 5 Supreme Registrar Barry Mac Mahon Area 8 L.P. Supreme Knight Charles McDonald KCSG Area 1

Prominent members

* Oliver J. Flanagan, KSG, Irish Fine Gael TD and former sometime Minister of Defence. His brother in law, Charles Benedict McDonald, KCSG, became Supreme Knight
* Feargal Quinn, KSG, two term member of Seanad Éireann, the upper House of Parliament of Ireland of Ireland
* Seán T. O'Kelly, Republic of Ireland, President of Ireland.
* Noel Purcell, prominent actor.

Involvement in Irish politics

The Knights have been regarded as being involved in many politically contentious issues both North and South of the Border.

Irish Oireachtas (Parliamentary) References to the Activities of the Knights

Dáil Éireann 10 June 1953 Dr Noel Browne T.D.:

Elections to Hospital Boards: "On the Catholic side it is done through the Knights of Columbanus and on the Protestant side it is done through the Freemasons. It is completely undemocratic."

Dáil Éireann 1 July 1953 Dr Noel Browne T.D.:

"What we should like to know is, in the event of a Multi-Party government being formed, which party would be the real government ? Would it be a Fine Gael government ? Would it be a Labour government ? Would it be a Labour Party policy - or would it be a Knight of Columbanus policy?"

Seanad Éireann 28 Nov 1956 Senator Professor Stanford:

"One of the things that is doing most damage to our nation at the moment is the existence of these conflicting secret societies [interpreted as meaning the Freemasons and the Knights] and I hope the Minister and the other Minister will do all in their power to prevent their gaining any control of the national economy, or the politics of the country."

Dáil Éireann 16 July 1969 Dr Noel Browne T.D

"In regard to the whole business of appointments [to the Universities] , I do not think there is much to choose between the two of them—the Knights of Columbanus predominantly in University College and the Freemasons in Trinity College— and the two of them going on together presumably sharing out the different jobs to suit themselves."

Dáil Éireann 18 Oct 1977 Dr Noel Browne T.D :

"There are still diehards of my generation within the profession but the new intake is not only extremely highly qualified but is better qualified because you cannot get into a consultant situation and then into a position as a consultant in a hospital unless you are extremely well qualified now because of the appointments system. It is no longer confined, as it was in the old days, to the Knights of Columbanus on the Catholic side and the Freemason Order on the other side."

Dáil Éireann 15 May 1985 Mr. Charles Haughey T.D. (Leader of Fianna Fail) :

"The Taoiseach also used his visit to America to attend this secret Bilderberg Conference, a group about which many people have grave doubts. It does not matter how the Taoiseach comes in here to shout, bluster and use personal abuse, because we have grave doubts about this organisation and its conferences. I have always had the impression that the Taoiseach had strong views about secret societies; yet he belongs or has belonged to a number of very powerful international bodies and groups whose aims and objectives, methods of operation and meetings are definitely secret and none more than this Bilderberg group. How can the Taoiseach justify attending a Bilderberg meeting? If it is wrong for a Taoiseach, and I believe it is, or a Minister to be a member of the Free Masonic Order, the Knights of Columbanus or Opus Dei, why is it all right for him to be a member of an arguably far more powerful secular secret society like the Bilderberg Conference?...If Deputies opposite would consider this thing calmly and objectively they would agree with me that it is not appropriate for the Taoiseach to continue to attend secret meetings which have a heavy NATO presence and with NATO subjects figuring in a major way on the agenda. How can the Taoiseach credibly object to NATO matters being discussed for instance in the European Council when he voluntarily attends this type of meeting.

Another aspect is the entitlement of this House to know precisely what took place and to have all the important relevant documents laid on the table of this House. By that I intend to judge the Taoiseach. If the Taoiseach does that and we have an opportunity to consider the documentation, all of us, in fairness, will have to review our accusation of secrecy about the Bilderberg conference. If those documents are not placed on the table of the House and if we are not given this vital information we will have to form our own opinions and confirm ourselves in our worst suspicions.

Apart from the NATO aspects the purpose of bodies like the Bilderberg group and the Tri-lateral commission is to foster an international élite and to promote the interests of huge multi-national corporations. I am absolutely certain that at that gathering with all those bankers and heads of huge multi-national corporations and others of that ilk, the position of the unemployed in my constituency of Coolock did not rate as a very high priority. It would have been far more appropriate if our Taoiseach were devoting himself in any international forum to this type of problem rather than these very dangerous subjects and discussions which take place at things like the Bilderberg Conference. I suspect that the Taoiseach remains a member of that organisation for some personal political reason. I understand that that type of organisation is prepared to support particular politicians in their objectives in their own countries. Will the Taoiseach say if anything like that was involved at this conference?...Can the Taoiseach expect some assistance in his own political career from these multinational friends, these international bankers?"

Dáil Éireann 15 May 1985 Proinsias De Rossa T.D (Leader of The Workers Party): (same debate)

The Taoiseach is treating this as if the only question involved was one of neutrality and whether this State would be a member of a military bloc, but there are greater implications in that the Bilderberg group as I understand it is involved with influencing the foreign policies of the countries which are represented on it.

.... [quoting the Irish Press:] “The object is not to `draw the attention' of the greater population to Bilderberg activity. Bilderberg's existence is often denied, even by foreign ministry officials. Apart from planted newspaper articles, no Bilderberg publications are available to the public. The extent of media blackout is remarkable; insight into how this is achieved comes from a confidential memo of the steering group meeting in preparation of the 1984 conference at Williamsburg.”

Dáil Éireann - Volume 369 - 22 October, 1986

Questions. Oral Answers. - Membership of Organisations.

Mr. Oliver J. Flanagan asked the Taoiseach if he has seen reports in the press to the effect that on his direction no member of the Government could be a member of Opus Dei or the Knights of St. Columbanus: and if he will state if this is so.

The Taoiseach Garret FitzGerald (Leader of Fine Gael and the Fine Gael-Irish Labour Party Coalition Government):I made no reference to these organisations in my discussions with Ministers prior to their appointment. I did, however, inform them that in my view membership of Government is incompatible with membership of any organisation, participation in which is by policy not a matter of public knowledge.

Mr. O.J. Flanagan: Is the Taoiseach aware that the Knights of St. Columbanus are not a secret organisation? In that context, does he consider it proper to be a member of the Bilderberg or the International Trilateral Commission which can be described as international secret oganisations?

The Taoiseach: I made it clear that I indicated to the Government that membership of an organisation, participation of which is by policy not a matter of public knowledge should be of concern to any Government. The public are entitled to know if a member of a government is a member of an organisation which by policy keep their membership secret. Certainly, members of the Government should not be members of such organisations. That, of course, is not true of either the Trilateral or Bilderberg Commission, both of whom publish their reports and membership every year. As to whether it is true of other organisations, I would have no direct knowledge as I have no involvement with them and never have had. Perhaps, other Deputies can do likewise.

Mr. O.J. Flanagan: May I take it from the Taoiseach's reply that he was not by any means referring to the two organisations mentioned in the question? If that is so, I fully accept his reply?

The Taoiseach: I do not know. I am not a member of either organisation and I never have been. I do not know what their rules are. My concern, quite simply, is to ensure that the business of Government is carried on in a manner that would command the confidence of the public. For that purpose, it is important that no member of the Government should be a member of an organisation, membership of which is by policy kept secret or not allowed to be public knowledge. That would be against the public interest. After that, it is a matter for people to decide whether in relation to any organisation it falls into that category. I cannot know. I do not know anything more about them.

Dáil Éireann 14 Nov 1991 Pat Rabbitte T.D :

[Hoping that soon will be dispelled:] "the suspected shadow of the Knights of Columbanus from the Customs House."

Dáil Éireann 27 Sept 1995 Declan Bree T.D :

".. the Knights of Columbanus, a patriarchal, sectarian, secretive and fundamentalist network of influential men who have exerted power and influence in all sectors of society. While some people might be under the impression that the Knights of Columbanus is a type of charitable organisation, this is not the case. ... Despite the fact that they wish to remain in the background where they can manipulate and influence the agenda in a subtle and simple manner..."

Other references to the role of the Knights in Irish politics

Fintan O'Toole and Kieran Rose

"The Evaluation of Gay and Lesbian Politics in Ireland" (Cork, 1994) p.29.

"A leading right-wing activist wrote in 1988 that members of the Knights of Columbanus occupy positions of influence in many walks of life and at the highest level. They are asked to be confidentially politically active"

'We also need to keep our eyes on hospital boards; ethics committees; school boards; parent's groups...trying to keep the right government in power, or at least the one which is the lesser evil... such a network (of activists) if well motivated and highly confidential could do wonders quietly without coming out openly as Knights. An organisation or a group is never more powerful than when it influences events without being itself regarded as the initiator.'"

Paddy Devlin autobiography "Straight Left" p.137-140

He relates some political maneuverings by the Knights (and it is often said the Catholic hierarchy) at the beginning of the troubles:"What I learned from a friendly Catholic lawyer was that Hume had been at a meeting in Donegal designed to form a Catholic national party. .. What surprised me was that none of our group [the group which later became the SDLP] were invited to come to the meeting or were even involved with it, which we had heard later, had been attended by middle class Catholics, mainly from Derry. I could smell that the Knights of Columbanus were involved."

Professor Tom Garvin, University College Dublin in McCormack "Blackwell Companion to Modern Irish Culture."(2001) p.524. :

[The Knights] "became a considerable political force after independence... At one stage many officials in the Revenue were in the organization."

In this piece Garvin also points out how President Sean T O'Kelly was a Knight much to the displeasure of DeValera.

Opposition to multi-denominational education

Professor Áine Hyland, Professor of Education, University College, Cork

From paper 'Multi-Denominational Schools in the Republic of Ireland 1975-1995" given at Conference Education and Religion organised by C.R.E.L.A. at the University of Nice. 21-22 June 1996

"Looking back on those years I can honestly say that they were among the most difficult years of my life. Those of us who had given a lot of thought to what we were doing and who could see the issue in a broader European and international perspective felt that there was nothing revolutionary about the request to have the option of multi-denominational education available in just one area of the country. But this was not how the rest of the population saw it, or so it seemed to us at the time. It was as if we were in some sense dangerous radical subversives about to undermine the structure of society. A pamphlet which was distributed in the Dalkey area called on the electorate to contact their members of parliament or to write to the Minister of Education registering their objection to the proposed school and it stated as follows :

Atheistic interest in the Dalkey School Project is clear. Ireland's system of education is denominational by Constitutional guarantee ... we submit that there is no need for such a school as this which can only be divisive. It can only be hostile to religion in an age when it was never more needed ... Dalkey could be a precedent for major trouble in other areas.

This pamphlet originated from an organisation called The Council for Social Concern with an address in Ely Place which was the headquarters of the Knights of St. Columbanus. Ten years later Emily O'Reilly wrote a book cataloguing the campaigns orchestrated by the Council for Social Concern against other liberal developments e.g. divorce, contraception, abortion etc. However, this was not clear to us at the time and personally I was puzzled and distressed by the nastiness of the campaign against the Dalkey School Project."

Lord Laird, the Knights and the water supply of Northern Ireland

The Belfast Telegraph 11 May 2006:

"Allegations that a cross-border body is being run by a Catholic organisation have been levelled by an Ulster Unionist politician. The claims about Waterways Ireland, which has its headquarters in Enniskillen, were raised in parliament by Lord Laird.He said members of staff within the public body believed it was "now being run" by the Knights of Columbanus, an Irish Catholic lay organisation."

The Irish News 12 May 2006:

"Lord Laird last night (Wednesday) explained why he made the allegations about the Catholic groups, saying that when he was making private enquiries about Waterways Ireland he kept being told: "It's to do with the knights." (He continued) "I thought at first they meant something that happened on a Thursday night but I soon learnt it was the Knights of Columbanus, although I know nothing about them or Opus Dei," he said."

ee also

* Knights of Columbus, founded in the United States in 1882

External links

* [http://www.knightsofstcolumbanus.ie/home.php Official web site of the Knights of Saint Columbanus]
* [http://www.iack.org International Alliance of Catholic Knights]
* [http://www.ck29.org/aboutus Drumbo & Carryduff Council of Knights of St Columbanus]