Société des Missions Africaines – Province d’Irlande

né le 24 février 1886 à Ballinguile dans le diocèse de Kildare & Leighlin, Irlande membre de la SMA le 25 octobre 1913 prêtre le 24 juin 1915 décédé le 20 août 1973

1903-1909 Frère de Saint-Patrick 1910-1911 enseignant au collège des Augustiniens à New Ross entre aux Missions Africaines 1914-1964 Wilton, professeur de sciences et de mathématiques 1964-1973 Wilton, retiré, confesseur, desservant de l’oratoire public décédé à Wilton, Irlande, le 20 août 1973, à l’âge de 87 ans

Patrick Harmon was born at Ballinguile, Kiltegan, Co Wicklow, in the parish of Hacketstown, in the diocese of Kildare and Leighlin, on 24 February 1886.
He died in St. Joseph's college, Wilton, Cork, on 20 August 1973.

One may speculate that had Pat Harmon (known to his colleagues and students as 'Pére') been born half a century later he would have joined St. Patrick's Missionary Society, which was established in his native village of Kiltegan in 1932. In the event, Pat was educated with the Patrician Brothers at St. Patrick's seminary, Tullow, Co Carlow (1898 1903) and, after matriculating in 1903, he joined the congregation, making his first profession on 30 August 1903. He was then appointed to St. Mary's Scholasticate and House of Residence, at Kingston, Galway. On 22nd April 1904 Pat was posted to the staff of St. Joseph's Intermediate and Civil Service Academy, in Mallow, Co Cork. On 11th November of the same year, however, he returned to Kingston because of the illness of another brother, resuming his teaching of science at Kingston.

Pat taught in Galway for six years before deciding that his vocation lay elsewhere. During his years with the Patrician Brothers he kept a diary which is now preserved in the archives of the Irish Province of the S.M.A. From this diary Pat emerges as a studious young man with a special aptitude for mathematics and science, who took every opportunity to improve his knowledge of these subjects. During his time with the Patricians he seems to have been in contact with a number of S.M.A. priests and students and seems to have been aware of the progress of the Irish branch. It is possible, however, that his references to the S.M.A. were included post factum in a re writing of the diary.

Among interesting items included is a reference to a tragedy in Wilton: 'Fr Hurst came as professor to Wilton early in September and two boys were drowned on his first walk with students, on 7 September 1902'. We learn that Pat attended the famous Gordon Bennett motor car race held on 2 July 1903. There are many references to Pat's brother, Hugh, who also joined the Patrician Brothers and was sent to their missions in India in September 1906. In August 1907 we see the first stirrings of a priestly vocation: 'I would not apply for final vows to great surprise of Tullow'; and in December 1908: 'I am very anxious now to go for the priesthood'. After a year teaching as a layman with the Augustinian Fathers, in the Good Counsel college, New Ross (1910 191l), Pat entered the S.M.A.'s philosophical seminary at Blackrock Road, Cork, in September 191l.

A year later, in 1912, when the Irish branch of the Society was erected as a Province and when theological studies were added in the Cork seminary, Pat commenced the final stage of his journey towards priesthood. At this time the Province had little more than a dozen priests, and few of its members were equipped for the work of education. It was against the background of this shortage that, even while yet a theological student, Pat was assigned to teach classes in the Province's apostolic school at Wilton. At that time Wilton prepared its students for leaving certificate or matriculation in a three year cycle. Pat was received into the Society on 25 October 1913 and was ordained a priest, along with four colleagues, at St. Joseph's church, Blackrock Road, by Bishop Daniel Cohalan, auxiliary bishop of Cork, on 24 June 1915.

Although the membership of the Province was now increasing, it was not surprising that after his ordination Pat should be retained to teach at Wilton. He was the only member of the Province with a teaching qualification in science, having obtained his certificate from the Royal college of science, Dublin, during his years with the Patrician Brothers. During his summer vacations, too, he had taken special courses in physics, chemistry and mathematics at U.C.C. and U.C.G. Later, between 1931 1933, Pat studied magnetism, electricity and botany at the Cork technical college. He was to teach science and mathematics in Wilton for 37 years, until 1951 when, having reached retiring age, he was no longer eligible under the Board of Education. In that same year the Sacred Heart college, at Ballinafad, became a 'full' secondary school, while Wilton became a hostel for newly ordained S.M.A. priests attending U.C.C., and also functioned as a tutorial college for 'late vocations'. Pat remained on in Wilton, tutoring the 'late vocations'. However with the transfer of 'late vocations' to Ballinafad (in June 1952) Pat's illustrious teaching career finally came to an end. Subsequently, when Wilton became a hostel for S.M.A. seminarians attending U.C.C., Pat was appointed confessor. He retired from this post in 1964 and continued to reside in Wilton until his death in August 1973.

Pat never went to West Africa or the Province's other overseas missions. However he was perhaps among the best known members of the Province, having put through his hands students for almost sixty years. Pat was respected by his pupils as a thorough, competent teacher. His confreres in the Society elected him delegate to the Provincial Assemblies of 1925, 1931 and 1946. His superiors placed him in charge of Wilton between June 1953 and July 1954. To people throughout Cork city, he was a familiar figure visiting the sick in hospitals, bearing the relic of the True Cross. To the people of the Wilton/Bishopstown area, he was revered as a holy man, who spent long hours in the confessional in St. Joseph's church. He was eighty seven years when he died.

He is buried in Wilton cemetery