
Terence Albert O’Brien (1600 – 31 October 1651), born in Limerick, was a prominent figure during the Irish Confederate Wars. As a Roman Catholic bishop of Emly, O’Brien actively supported Confederate Ireland and fought for Catholic interests. He treated the wounded and provided support to Confederate soldiers throughout the conflict.
O’Brien vehemently opposed peace treaties that did not safeguard Catholic interests. He signed declarations against the Confederate’s truce with Inchiquin in 1648 and the Protestant royalist leader Ormond in 1650, who was deemed unfit to lead Catholic troops due to his failure to resist the Cromwellian conquest of Ireland.
During the siege of Limerick in 1651, O’Brien urged resistance, which angered the Ormondists and Parliamentarians. Following the city’s surrender, O’Brien, along with Major General Purcell and Father Wolf, faced a court martial and was sentenced to execution by General Henry Ireton.
On 27 September 1992, Terence Albert O’Brien and sixteen other Irish Catholic Martyrs, including Dermot O’Hurley, were beatified by Pope John Paul II, honouring their sacrifices and dedication to their faith.
Limerick Gazette