Société des Missions Africaines –Province d'Irlande

Michael Brennan was born in Cork (his home address was: Riverstown, Glanmire, Co Cork), in the diocese of Cork, on 21 August 1950. Michael died as a result of a car accident on the Ado Iyin road, near Ado Ekiti, in the diocese of Ekiti, Nigeria, on 11 August 1976.

A native of Glanmire, Co Cork, Michael received his secondary education in Cork with the Christian Brothers at their renowned North Monastery school. He entered the Society's novitiate at Kilcolgan, Co Galway, in 1968 and pursued his seminary training at St. Patrick's college, Maynooth, Co Kildare. Michael was received as a permanent member of the Society on 14 April 1974. He was ordained a priest in St. Joseph's church, Wilton, Cork, by Bishop Patrick J. Kelly, retired bishop of Benin City diocese, on 14 June 1975. Ordained with him on that day was his close friend and colleague, Richard (Dick) Kelleher, who was to serve with him in Africa and who died at a relatively early age in 1992. The two other members of his class, ordained at separate locations, were Daniel Monaghan and Eugene McGinley.

After ordination Michael was assigned, along with Dick Kelleher, to Ekiti diocese, in south western Nigeria. Frs. Monaghan and McGinley were appointed to Ilorin diocese. Ado Ekiti, the seat of Ekiti diocese, had welcomed its first residential missionary in 1915. Ekiti was originally part of the vast vicariate of the Bight of Benin. From 1943 it was a mission district of the newly erected Ondo Ilorin vicariate, which in 1950 became the diocese of Ondo. In July 1972 Ekiti was detached from Ondo diocese and erected as a diocese under the leadership of a Nigerian, Michael Patrick Olatunji Fagun. When Michael came to Ekiti there was a catholic community of over 100,000 members and catechumens located in 12 parishes and served by a staff of eight priests. In October 1975 Michael began his tyrocinium, or period of induction, at Oro. For the next six months he studied the Ekiti dialect of Yoruba, learned about local customs and undertook supervised pastoral work. On the completion of his 'tyro', Michael took an examination in Yoruba and received faculties to hear confessions. He was then appointed to Ado Ekiti cathedral parish, where Owen McKenna was administrator.

Michael was just nine months in Nigeria when he died. He was travelling alone, about four o'clock in the afternoon, to attend the funeral of an old lady in the outstation of Iyin some miles from Ado Ekiti, when his car ran into some loose stones and somersaulted. He died almost immediately. Some local people observed the accident and sent for help. The doctor, nurses and ambulance from the local catholic hospital the Maria Assumpta hospital, Ado Ekiti were quickly on the scene, but there was nothing they could do. Michael had anointed the lady in Iyin on the previous day.

Michael was a son of the great Cork hurler, 'Micka' Brennan, who played on almost every Cork senior hurling team between 1932 1941. He also took part in Cork's glorious 'four in a row' All Ireland victories, playing in 1941, 1943 and being a substitute in 1944. Michael's mother had died in 1973. Michael himself had hurled while a student in Maynooth and, with other Corkmen, was known to have gone 'bowling' on the by roads of Maynooth. His maternal aunt was a religious in the Mercy Convent at Clonakilty, Co Cork.

A Requiem Mass was celebrated for the repose of Michael's soul in his own parish church at Glanmire where, a year earlier, he had said his first Mass. The chief concelebrant was Lawrence Carr, the Provincial, and Bishop William Field (retired bishop of Ondo diocese) presided. Over eighty priests, including some confreres from Ekiti who were on leave, concelebrated. The funeral Mass took place in the new cathedral at Ado Ekiti on 18 August. A report from Nigeria recorded that 'it was a very impressive ceremony with four bishops, about fifty priests (some of them came two hundred miles) and as many nuns, as well as a very large congregation'. His loss, a few days before he was due to celebrate his 26th birthday, was a great tragedy for his family, his Society and his diocese and was deeply felt by his wide circle of friends in Ireland and Nigeria. Some years after his death Michael's grave in Nigeria was visited by his sister Eleanor who was invited to come to Nigeria by his classmates.

Michael is buried in grounds of the cathedral, Ado Ekiti, Nigeria.