Peadar Livingstone

 

Historians in the service of their dioceses often hewed to a line of enquiry restricted to the structly ecclesiastical. Not so Peadar Livingstone, who, in addition to advancing the programme of the diocesan historical society, extended his studies into two major works on the two counties associated with the diocese of Clogher, Fermanagh and Monaghan.

 

Peadar Lauri Livingstone was born in Castleblayney, Co. Monaghan, on June 28 1932, one of two children, both boys, of Pauline (nee Brennan), a native of Corrygarry townland near the town, and James, a native of Armagh who ran a jeweller's shop in the main street. 

He attended national primary school in Castleblayney, and entered St. Macartan's diocesan boarding school in 1945. In the Intermediate Examinations of 1948 he came fourth in Ireland in overall results, an achievement only overshadowed by the performance of his friend Seán Clerkin, who came first (Seán would go on to accompany him in their early years as students as Maynooth College, and a fellow priest in the diocese of Clogher).

Peadar already had an interest in local history when he entered Maynooth College in 1950, but the subject would not be offered in the university curriculum there for another three years. In its absence he chose Celtic Studies, a course delivered principally by the legendary scholar Fr. Donnacha Ó Floinn. Peadar graduated with first-class honours in 1953, in a class that also included Thomas Finan, James McMahon and Seán Swayne, all future professors at Maynooth. 

In the same year, the Clogher Historical Society was founded by Fr. Patrick Mulligan (1912-91), then principal of St. Tiernach's Secondary School in Clones, and a future bishop (1970-79) of the diocese. Peadar would become involved in its activities from its inception.

Peadar went on to study theology for four years up to his ordination for priestly service in the diocese of Clogher in 1957. During that time he consolidated his interest and engagement in local history research, and, in conjunction with Fr. Mulligan, also became involved in delivering summer courses in Irish at Loch an Iuir in Donegal, where he would eventually become principal (1957-73) of the seasonal school there, increasing its enrolment from 40 to 400 over the period.

From 1955 onwards he became a regular contributor to the Clogher Historical Society Journal.

After his ordination in 1957 he was appointed to the staff of St. Michael's in Enniskillen, which was undergoing a transition, under Fr. Mulligan as President, from overcrowded facilities at the East Bridge in the town to a new building in Drumclay. He continued his involvement with Clogher Historical Society, becoming its secretary in 1963. His early contributions to the Clogher Historical Society journal included a study of the parish and townlands of Muckno (1966) and the early years of Castleblayney Poor Law Union.

The bishop at the time was Dr. Eugene O'Callaghan, a native of Donegal who had been educated at St Macartan's in Monaghan and ordained in 1913 for service in the archdiocese of Armagh. He would supervise the development of Fr. Livingstone's ministry, and support his research into local history, until 1969, when the bishop retired and was succeeded by Fr. Mulligan.

The Fermanagh Story; a Documented History of the County Fermanagh from the Earliest Times to the Present Day, which ran to 570 pages, was produced by Fr. Livingstone at his own expense in the same year. Some of the material for the volumes had appeared originally in serial form in local newspapers, based on notes he had used in teaching the students of St. Michael's. Fr. Livingstone also contributed a regular column of commentary to the Fermanagh Herald on a wide range of issues, including current affairs and social developments, under the pen-name Erne Sense.

During his friend's episcopate Fr. Livingstone continued at St. Michael's, acting mainly as a career guidance teacher. After a brief spell as President of the college, he was given a pastoral appointment to Broomfield in Donaghmoyne parish in 1979, following the appointment of a fellow-Celtic scholar, Joseph Duffy, as successor to Bishop Mulligan. Bishop Duffy had taught Irish and French at St. Macartan's College in Monaghan for twelve years, and had been curate in Enniskillen parish for seven years before his appointment. He would have an active involvement in Clogher Historical Society throughout his episcopate and in retirement.

In his new pastoral charge, Fr. Livingstone began a major fund-raising drive to support the renovation of two churches and several schools in the parish and the provision of a new church and parish hall.

He continued his researches and in 1980 The Monaghan Story appeared, published by the Clogher Historical Society, and encompassing almost 700 pages

In 1986 he was appointed C.C. Clogher and adviser to the regional marriage tribunal in Armagh, handling applications for anulment from the Clogher diocese. He died in 1987 at the age of fifty-four.

 

Material based on an interview by Bernie Murphy carried out in 1986.

*Fr. Clerkin died in 2016 as pastor emeritus of Tydavnet