Plans are under way in Mountrath, Co Laois, to commemorate Bishop Daniel Delany, who was a native of the town and was the founder of both the Patrician Brothers and the Brigidine Sisters.Mountrath Development Association wants to erect a plaque to the famous cleric and has solicited the Laois Partnership to help finance the project to honour Delany, who was born in the Paddock outside the town in 1747.
He served as bishop of Kildare and Leighlin between 1788 and 1814 and in that time was deeply interested in education, especially of the poor of the diocese.
But he operated in the era of the Penal Laws and had to counter religious persecution in his bid to extend education beyond the wealthy classes.
One of his first initiatives was to send six female catechists to his native Mountrath who set up a school for all denominations but this had to be disbanded because of sectarian attacks.
However, Delany was not disheartened and later on, was instrumental in re-forming the order of St Brigid Sisters and in gathering a group of young men who in 1808 formed the Brothers of St Patrick – or Patricians – which went on to form several schools.
Both organisations, which Bishop Delany created, went on to radically increase the educational opportunities for young people throughout the diocese and further afield.
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