MacHale, John (1791–1881)

Irish cleric. He was lecturer in theology at Maynooth College. He controversially opposed the coeducation of Roman Catholics and Protestants. In 1820 he began a series of letters signed ‘Hierophilos’ directed against this. He was consecrated bishop in 1825 and, despite opposition, was made archbishop of Tuam in 1834.

He was born in Tobbernavine, County Mayo, and educated at Maynooth College. He openly opposed Newman when the cardinal came to Ireland, and he quarrelled with Archbishop Cullen over the Catholic University. His influence gradually waned as that of Cullen grew. He translated the Pentateuch into Irish, as part of an Irish Translation of the Holy Bible (1861). In 1841 he published an Irish translation of several of Moore's ‘Irish Melodies’. He also translated the Iliad into Irish verse (1844–71). In 1854 he published, in Irish, The Way of the Cross by St Alphonsus Liguori.