An Irishman's Diary - Patrice Flynn

During his lifetime, Patrice Flynn (1874-1970) acted as a pivotal link between France and Ireland. I have just written an 'Irishman's Diary' about him in the Irish Times newspaper. Read it here.

Photograph of Patrice Flynn, source BnF.

Born in Paris in 1874 to Irish-born parents, he joined the priesthood in France and was made bishop of a French diocese in 1932. Patrice and his elder brother Henri (who was also a priest), made many trips (both private and formal) back to Ireland over the years. They kept the ancient link between the two countries alive through their regular visits and through the contacts that they maintained with expatriates in both countries.

I wrote an article about Flynn's October 1916 propaganda mission to Ireland in the September/October 2016 edition of History Ireland magazine. During the First World War, the French Catholic Church sent several missions to other countries around the world to remind them of just what was at stake in the war and how France and her allies were suffering. I recently came across a newspaper article about another mission that a group of priests (including Flynn) made to New York in October 1918. It's from the Los Angeles Herald. Read the article here.