Canon John Hayes

Very Rev. John Canon Hayes (1887–1957), founder of Muintir na Tíre, was born in 1887, in a Land League hut at Murroe, Co Limerick. Five of his brothers and sisters died of malnutrition and disease before he reached seven years of age.

He was educated by the Jesuits at Crescent College, Limerick and thereafter studied for the priesthood in St Patrick’s College, Thurles. In 1907 he went to the Irish College in Paris where he was ordained in 1913. From 1915 to 1924 Fr Hayes worked in Liverpool before returning home to serve as curate in Castleiney and later in Tipperary Town.

He came to national prominence with the foundation in 1937 of Muintir na Tíre, a national organisation promoting community development in Ireland. Through its core principles of neighbourliness, self-help and self-reliance, Muintir na Tíre has promoted and supported the concept of active community participation and championed the idea of community development in both Ireland and Europe. Today it has 1,220 active branches across Ireland.

He was appointed parish priest of Bansha & Kilmoyler in 1946. Due largely to his endeavours, a factory - Bansha Rural Industries - was started and enjoyed some success producing preservatives for the Irish home market. At that time also, Bansha was to the forefront in developing many Muintir na Tíre initiatives and for a time in the 1950s enjoyed the soubriquet of The Model Parish.

He spearheaded many initiatives including Rural Electrification, the Parish Plan for Agriculture and the setting up of small industry in rural areas in an attempt to stop emigration.

Canon Hayes died in February, 1957 in a Tipperary nursing home following a minor operation. His funeral in Bansha was a national occasion, attended by leaders of Church and State. He was buried at the rear of the Church of the Annunciation, Bansha where his grave is marked by a statue of the Blessed Virgin, Mary.