O'Driscoll, Denis

by Aoife Duignan

O'Driscoll, Denis (1600–50), Franciscan, archbishop of Brindisi, was the son of Tadhg O'Driscoll, who belonged to a minor branch of the O'Driscoll clan of Corca Laoidhe, Cork, and his wife Maighread, daughter of John, 8th knight of Kerry, and widow of Connor O'Mahony. O'Driscoll's father and uncles assisted the Spanish squadron under Don Pedro de Zubiaur, which landed at Castlehaven in December 1601, and they continued to campaign against the English after the battle of Kinsale. His uncle Dermot (qv) acted as interpreter for the Spaniards, and travelled to Spain with Don Juan del Águila (qv) to procure military aid.

O'Driscoll's immediate family arrived in Spain around 1602. He was educated at the University of Santiago de Compostela, and then joined the Friars Minor in the province of St James. He studied philosophy and theology at Salamanca, and was master of philosophers at Oviedo and professor of theology at Oriento. He held the posts of consultor of the holy office in Spain, crusade commissary, and consultor to the supreme council of the general inquisition. Renowned for his sermons, he received several invitations to preach in the royal chapel at Madrid. The archbishop of Siguenza requested O'Driscoll's appointment as co-adjutor to that see in 1634, and the Spanish king duly nominated him, though the appointment does not seem to have been made. According to remarks made in 1640 by Father Paul King (qv), reports were circulated in Madrid in 1635 of O'Driscoll's liberation from the Turks. He remained in Spain until 1639, when Philip IV nominated him to the see of Brindisi. The English ambassador in Spain expressed relief at the cleric's departure, as O'Driscoll's activities had caused him some concern. O'Driscoll resided at St Isidore's, the Roman house of the Irish Franciscans, while awaiting his consecration, which took place in April 1640.

On arriving at Brindisi in May 1640, O'Driscoll immediately devoted his energies to reviving the local seminary, and vindicating church rights to tithes on all royal customs. But he did not neglect his flock, as evidenced by commendations for his conscientiousness in carrying out visitations. He retained his reputation as a preacher and was invited by the viceroy, the duke of Medina, to preach at the funeral of the cardinal of Austria in 1642. Illness resulted in absence from his diocese for a time that year. O'Driscoll used his episcopal status for political purposes in Italy, acting as mediator alongside the bishop of Naples when Brindisi and Naples revolted against Spanish rule in 1647, and securing the gratitude of the then viceroy, Count D'Ognatte.

Although little evidence remains of his involvement with the catholic confederacy, O'Driscoll maintained interest in his native country, showing partiality to his fellow countrymen when making ecclesiastical appointments. It is impossible to define categorically his attitude towards the subsequent divisions within the confederacy. However, he was hostile to James Tuchet, earl of Castlehaven (qv), and a prominent member of the peace faction, whom he believed had seized lands that rightfully belonged to the O'Driscoll clan. This suggests that his sympathies were probably with the group headed by the papal nuncio, GianBattista Rinuccini (qv). Such speculation is reinforced by considering his role after the confederate split. Hugh O'Reilly (qv), archbishop of Armagh, Owen Roe O'Neill (qv), and Philip O'Reilly (qv), among others, approached him in May 1649, to act as their agent in Italy and present their case to the Roman curia. Ultimately, however, his term as intermediary was short-lived, as he died in August 1650.