Beginning in medieval times and particularly in the 17th century when Catholicism suffered and education for the people was outlawed in Ireland, the Irish monks and scholars established “Colleges” in various countries in Europe. Spain, France, Portugal, the Netherlands, and Belgium in particular are documented locations. The Dominicans had formed a close relationship with the University of Louvain and the College of Holy Cross in Belgium and that is where they were sent to become priests. There must have been costs involved, so only families with a bit of money could afford to do this, so it was an even greater honor because of that to have an educated, ordained priest among the relatives.
The Dominicans established themselves in Ohio and then in Kentucky, where Catholic Marylanders were migrating because of the rich farmland. The following priests were important founders for the Order, and were also Meaghers, born in the Nenagh and Roscrae areas of Ireland on the border of County Offaly and Tipperary like our ancestors, Stephen and Margaret Egan Meagher:
Dennis Joseph Meagher, O.P., born 1829 to John and Sally Meagher, Nenagh. Ordained in 1859 at St. Joseph’s Seminary in Somerset, Ohio, he was sent in 1861 to build the novitiate at St. Rose Priory in Kentucky. In 1866 he was assigned to the parish of St. Louis Bertrand in Louisville, where he fundraised to build the gothic cathedral church now in place. He moved on to establish St. Vincent Ferrer parish in New York City. He became Provincial of the Dominican Order and elected to live at St. Louis Bertrand for those years. In later years he returned to St. Vincent Ferrer in New York, NY to live. He died August 13, 1896 in NY at St. Vincent’s Hospital and is buried in the Dominican plot at Calvary Cemetery in Long Island City, NY., of Timothy
James Raymond Meagher, was born July 1840 in Roscrae of Timothy and Nellie Ryan Meagher. He came with his family to the U.S. through New Orleans, ordained at St. Joseph’s in Somerset, Ohio in 1866. He was at St. Louis Bertrand from 1876 to 1879 and then on to Memphis, and then to St. Vincent Ferrer in New York. In 1889 he died suddenly on a visit to Philadelphia and is buried at St. Rose Cemetery, in Springfield, Kentucky.
(James) Raymond Meagher, was born in Boston, Mass. Dec.24,1872, son of William and Mary Meagher of Roscrea; joined the Dominicans in 1887 and was sent to the University of Louvain in Belgium for his education and ordination. In the Dominican historical logs, he is listed as a cousin of the older James Raymond Meagher. He became the legendary Provincial and builder of the Dominican Order for the St. Joseph Province and a founder of Providence College in Providence, R.I. He built many churches and parishes, established a mission in China and myriad other activities. He led the Dominican Order from his office at St. Vincent Ferrer in New York and planned and completed the construction of the present gothic church at 68th and Lexington Avenue. He was there from 1913 until 1930 as the Provincial of the Order. Attached see the obituary speech given by his fellow Dominican Rev. Ignatius Smith, O.P. at his funeral on October 22, 1954.