Egan, Boetius

by Patrick M. Geoghegan

Egan, Boetius (1734–98), catholic archbishop of Tuam and founding trustee of St Patrick's College, Maynooth, was born at Dunblaney, near Tuam, Co. Galway. He was sent abroad to study for the priesthood, leaving behind two brothers who were brought up in Tuam. Educated at the Irish college in Bordeaux, France, he was ordained a priest and became a doctor of divinity. Neither the dates of these events nor very much else about his early career are known.

On his return to Ireland he was attached to the see of Achonry, where he impressed with his organisation and enthusiasm. In 1785 he was appointed bishop of Achonry. Two years later, in December 1787, he was transferred to Tuam, where he succeeded Philip Phillips (qv) as archbishop on 4 January 1788. In 1795 St Patrick's College, Maynooth, was established, and Egan was nominated as one of the twenty-one trustees. However, he played little active role in the development of the college.

One of his final public acts was the writing of an address to the viceroy, Earl Camden (qv), together with other members of the episcopate, and some catholic noblemen. This stressed their loyalty to the king and parliament, and their collective opposition to foreign invasion, no matter what changes it might bring. The address was presented to Camden in May 1798, but was written much earlier, as Egan did not live to see the outbreak of rebellion in Ireland. He died at Dunblaney in January 1798. He also wrote a treatise (since lost) on obsolete words.