Lady Morgan
Lady Morgan, in her Wild Irish Girl, speaking of Father John,
chaplain of the Prince of Coolavin, says:--Father John was modelled on
the character of the Dean of Sligo, Dr. Flynn, one of those learned,
liberal, and accomplished gentlemen of the Irish Catholic hierarchy of
that day, whom foreign travel and education, and consequent intercourse
with European society and opinions, sent back to Ireland for its
advantage and illustration, thus turning the penalties of its shallow
and jealous government into a national benefit. At the head of this
distinguished order stood the illustrious Father O'Leary, the Catholic
Dean Swift of his time, the champion of peace, and the eloquent preacher
of Christian charity. His noble works live to attest his fitness to
counsel his country for her good, while his brilliant wit kept up her
reputation for that splendid gift which penal statutes can neither give
nor take away.