Bermingham, Francis

by Patrick M. Geoghegan

Bermingham, Francis (c.1602–c.1672), Franciscan priest, was born in Athenry, Co. Galway. Educated on the Continent, he joined the Franciscan order, where he was known as Franciscus a Galvia (Francis of Galway). In 1636 he left Spain to complete his studies at St Isidore's in Rome, and in 1639 was sent to Milan, where he taught philosophy and theology at the friary of Sant' Angelo.

On 31 December 1646 nine Connacht laymen and the Rev. John Lynch (qv), archdeacon of Tuam, Co. Galway, recommended Bermingham for the archbishopric of Tuam. His candidacy was unsuccessful, however, and it remained his lifelong ambition to become a bishop. He was titular provincial of Scotland (the Scottish province no longer in existence) until 1648, when he was elected definitor general of the order at the intermediate general chapter, succeeding another Irishman, Boetius McEgan (qv).

Residing at the friary of the Aracoeli, Rome, he sided with Fr Paul King (qv) in the attempts to remove Luke Wadding (qv) from St Isidore's. As part of these efforts, Bermingham made various allegations and complaints against Wadding, who thereafter considered him one of his enemies. It seems Bermingham's intention was to become guardian of the college, at least as far as many of the Isidorian friars were concerned, and they had little time for him. In 1656 he published the first volume of his Summa theologica, a work of Scotist theology that examined the Holy Trinity. The book was dedicated to Pope Alexander VII, but although Bermingham claimed repeatedly to be involved in completing it, a second volume was never published.

In 1662 he succeeded Marus Matthews as the second guardian of the Capranìca friary, thirty-five miles north of Rome. In 1668 he was again recommended for the Tuam bishopric, but the petition failed and as a consolation his supporters attempted to secure him the see of Elphin or Clonfert. Bermingham's health was failing, however, and this, together with question marks over his temperament, stood against him. In May 1671 his name was again on a list of candidates for promotion at a special meeting of propaganda, but he received unfavourable reports from some fellow Irish clergy and Franciscans.

Bermingham was an intelligent, religious man, but his critics alleged that he had too great an opinion of himself. It was also maintained that he did not follow the common life, either as a student or a superior, and his ambition was regularly held against him, as was his friendship with some of the supporters of Peter Walsh (qv), even though he did not support Walsh's teachings. He appears to have died shortly after his final attempt to secure a mitre.