Société des Missions Africaines –Province d'Irlande

né le 16 octobre 1913 à Gortbrack dans le diocèse de Killaloe, Irlande membre de la SMA le 29 juin 1937 prêtre le 22 décembre 1940 décédé le 8 janvier 1967

1941-1943 Galway, collège de l'Université 1943-1958 missionnaire au Nigeria vicariat de Asaba-Benin 1958-1965 Dromantine, professeur 1965-1967 malade, en retraite décédé à Cork, Irlande, le 8 janvier 1967, à l'âge de 54 ans

Andrew O'Rourke was born at Gortbrack, Miltown Malby, Co Clare, in the diocese of Killaloe, on 16 October 1913. He died in the Bon Secours hospital, Cork, on 8 January 1967.

Andrew (Andy) studied at the Sacred Heart college, Ballinafad, Co Mayo (Jan June, 193l) and at St. Joseph's college, Wilton, Cork (193l 1935) before joining the S.M.A. novitiate and house of philosophy, at Kilcolgan, Co Galway, in the autumn of 1935. He studied theology in the Society's seminary, at Dromantine, Co Down, from September 1937 194l. Andy was received as a member of the Society on 29 June 1937 and was ordained a priest, along with eighteen colleagues, at St. Colman's cathedral, Newry, on 22 December 1940. The ordaining prelate was Bishop Edward Mulhern of Dromore diocese.

Andy was a student in Wilton at a time when there was a great demand for university trained graduates from the missions. Accordingly, having matriculated in Wilton in 1934, he was one of a group from his class who remained on in Cork for a further year while attending U.C.C. Subsequently, during his time in Kilcolgan, he completed his degree, attending lectures at U.C.G. He achieved outstanding results obtaining a first class honours degree in philosophy and education (1937), and being awarded a university scholarship. After ordination Andy took up his scholarship from U.C.G., studying first for a higher diploma in education which he obtained in 1942, and subsequently taking an honours Masters degree, awarded in 1943 on the basis of a thesis which was entitled: 'Psychological Factors Governing the Education and Culture of Primitive Peoples'. During this period he resided at Kilcolgan, and lectured on education to the students as part of the university course which they were taking at U.C.G.

In November 1943 Andy went to the Asaba Benin vicariate, in western Nigeria. In the early decades of this vicariate's existence (it had been established in 19l8 under Bishop Thomas Broderick) the emphasis had been on the elementary school, the cradle of new catholic communities. Now the emphasis was on the development of secondary education, for which the people were clamouring and which would prepare Nigeria for the post war movement towards independence. Andy, with his unparalleled academic record and teaching experience, was eminently suited for such work. During his time in the vicariate (which became the diocese of Benin City in 1950) he was to be founder principal of one of the most respected institutions of learning in that region, the Immaculate Conception secondary college in Benin City; he was also principal of St. Patrick's secondary college, Asaba, which was established in 1943. From July 1955 he occupied the influential post of education adviser for the Western Region of Nigeria (residing in Ibadan), responsible for the formulation and implementation of education policy.

Andy did not enjoy good health and he was withdrawn from Africa by his superiors in the summer of 1958. He was re assigned to the Society's seminary, at Dromantine. There he taught a new generation of S.M.A. priests until ill health forced him to retire in October 1965. He spent his retirement, which was relatively short lived, at Blackrock Road.

He is buried in Wilton cemetery.