View source for Knights of Saint Columbanus

{{Short description|Irish fraternal organization}}
{{Distinguish|Knights of St Columba|Knights of Columbus}}
{{Infobox organization
| image               = KSC Crest.png
| caption             = Crest of the Knights of St Columbanus
| native_name         = Ridirí Naomh Cholumba
| native_name_lang = ga
| named_after         = [[Saint Columbanus]]
| map                 = Map of Ireland in Europe.svg
| map_size            = 250
| map_caption         = Area served by the Knights of St Columbanus
| leader_title        = Motto
| leader_name         = ''Instaurare omnia in Christo'' <br /> (Restore all things in Christ)
| formation           = {{start date and age|df=yes|1915|04|10}}
| founder             = [[James O'Neill (priest)|Canon James Kearney O'Neill]]
| founding_location   = [[Belfast]]
| type                = Catholic [[fraternal organisation]]
| focus               = Charity, Unity, Fraternity
| headquarters        = Ely House, Ely Place, [[Dublin]]
| coords              = {{coord|53.337500|-6.253822|region:IE}}
| region_served       = [[Island of Ireland]]
| leader_title2       = Supreme Knight
| leader_name2        = Brendan McCann
| leader_name3        = Father Brendan Kilcoyne
| leader_title3       = Supreme Chaplain
| affiliations        = [[International Alliance of Catholic Knights]]
| name                = Knights of Saint Columbanus
| size                = 200px
| abbreviation        = '''KOSC'''
| website             = [https://www.knightsofstcolumbanus.ie/ knightsofcolumbanus.ie]
}}
The [[Order (organization)|Order]] of the '''Knights of Saint Columbanus''' ({{Langx|ga|Ridirí Naomh Cholumba}}<ref>{{Cite web|last=Riain|first=Eoin Ó|date=2010-05-18|title=Diarmuid Ó Máirtín, Cad dúirt sé?|url=http://smaointefanacha.blogspot.com/2010/05/diarmuid-o-mairtin-cad-duirt-se.html|access-date=2020-07-17|website=An Codú}}</ref>) is an Irish national Catholic [[fraternal organisation]]. Founded by [[James O'Neill (priest)|Canon James K. O'Neill]] in [[Belfast]], Ireland in 1915, it was named in honour of the Irish saint [[Columbanus]]. Initially established as a mutual benefit society for [[working class]] Catholics, it has developed into a fraternal benefit society dedicated to providing charitable services to all areas of the Irish community.<ref name="KSC" />

There are 68 councils across all 32 counties on the [[Ireland|island of Ireland]]. Membership in the order is open to all practising Catholic men and their families aged 18 and over. There is a youth division of the order open to younger men ages 16 and up called the '''Associate Knights of St Columbanus'''. The Order is a founding member of the [[International Alliance of Catholic Knights]].<ref name="KSC" />

Widely described as a secret society,<ref>{{Cite news|title=It's time daylight was shed upon these knights of the Catholic faith|language=en-GB|work=belfasttelegraph|url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/opinion/columnists/nelson-mccausland/its-time-daylight-was-shed-upon-these-knights-of-the-catholic-faith-31480556.html|access-date=2022-02-12|issn=0307-1235}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=Masterton|first=Graham|url=|title=Taken for Dead|date=2014-12-15|publisher=Head of Zeus|isbn=978-1-78185-679-6|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Quinn pledges to be 'new broom' as education chief|url=https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/quinn-pledges-to-be-new-broom-as-education-chief-26712807.html|access-date=2022-02-12|website=independent|date=12 March 2011 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Cormaic|first=Ruadhán Mac|title=Cameron dead pig claims put spotlight on student rituals|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/cameron-dead-pig-claims-put-spotlight-on-student-rituals-1.2367270|access-date=2022-02-12|newspaper=The Irish Times|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Reporter|first=Mary Regan Political|date=2009-06-12|title=Taoiseach makes 'long overdue' state apology|url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/arid-20093898.html|access-date=2022-02-12|website=Irish Examiner|language=en}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web|title=Labour in Name Only|url=https://jacobinmag.com/2016/05/irish-labour-party-social-democracy-welfare-state-church|access-date=2022-02-12|website=jacobinmag.com|language=en-US}}</ref> the organisation rejects this assertion.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Fact or Fiction – The Order of Knights of St. Columbanus|url=https://www.knightsofstcolumbanus.ie/?page_id=2681|access-date=2022-02-12|language=en-GB}}</ref> The Knights of St. Columbanus has also had influence in government, business and trade unions.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Kelly|first=Stephen|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mI9GDQAAQBAJ&q=knights+of+st+columbanus+government|title=A Failed Political Entity: Charles Haughey and the Northern Ireland Question, 1945-1992|date=2016-10-10|publisher=Merrion Press|isbn=978-1-78537-102-8|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=Gallagher|first=Michael|url=|title=The Irish Labour Party in Transition, 1957-82|date=1982|publisher=Manchester University Press|isbn=978-0-7190-0866-5|language=en}}</ref>  It has been described in ''Church, State and Social Science in Ireland'' as "the Irish organisation most durably associated with combating Catholic economic subordination," as it sought, after formation, to break through the hegemony of a Protestant minority in public institutions and commerce.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Murray |first=Peter |url=https://www.google.ie/books/edition/Church_State_and_Social_Science_in_Irela/XRLZyAEACAAJ?hl=en |title=Church, State and Social Science in Ireland: Knowledge Institutions and the Rebalancing of Power, 1937-73 |last2=Feeney |first2=Maria |date=2017 |publisher=Manchester University Press |isbn=978-1-5261-0078-8 |language=en}}</ref> It is headquartered at a Georgian clubhouse in Ely Place, Dublin.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Smith |first=Cornelius F. |url=https://archive.org/details/whigsongreen00smit/mode/2up?q=%22Knights+of+St.+Columbanus%22 |title=Whigs on the green |date=1990 |publisher=Dublin : Gill and Macmillan |others=Internet Archive |isbn=978-0-7171-1820-5}}</ref>

== History ==
=== Formation ===
[[File:Canon James Kearney O'Neill.jpg|thumb|[[James O'Neill (priest)|Canon James Kearney O'Neill]], founder of the Knights of St Columbanus]]
[[James O'Neill (priest)|Fr. James Kearney O'Neill]], of [[Ballycastle, County Antrim]], founded the Order of the Knights of St Columbanus in 1915 "to cherish fraternal charity and to develop practical Catholicity among its members, to promote and foster the cause of the Catholic faith and Catholic education".<ref name="book">Rogers, F. (2012). Canon James Kearney O'Neill (1857-1922): Founder of the Knights of St Columbanus. 1st ed. Belfast.</ref>

O'Neill was influenced heavily by social teachings of the Church, in particular the [[Papal encyclical]] ''[[Rerum Novarum]]''.<ref name="KSC">{{Cite web|url=https://www.knightsofstcolumbanus.ie/?page_id=1618|title=History of the Order – The Order of Knights of St. Columbanus}}</ref> This key encyclical, issued by [[Pope Leo XIII]] in 1891, addressed the exploitation of industrial workers and encouraged membership in [[labour unions]], while rejecting the extreme solutions offered by both [[socialism]] and [[laissez faire]] [[capitalism]].<ref>''Rerum novarum'', §3</ref> O'Neill witnessed such injustices first-hand in his role as parish priest of Sacred Heart Parish in [[industrialization|industrialized]], [[turn of the century]] [[Belfast]].<ref name="KSC" /> By 1920, following the [[Partition of Ireland]], events such as the shipyard expulsions in East Belfast, where Catholic workers were forcibly removed from the yards, began a two-year spate of attacks, predominantly affecting Catholic civilians in the city. Estimates suggest that between 1920 and 1922, over 500 people lost their lives with 1,100 people injured and 650 homes and businesses destroyed.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Lynch|first=Robert|date=April 2008|title=The People's Protectors? The Irish Republican Army and the "Belfast Pogrom," 1920–1922|journal=Journal of British Studies|volume=47|issue=2|pages=375–391|doi=10.1086/526757|s2cid=154670488}}</ref> Catholics hanged in effigy from buildings were also seen during this time. These events are widely known as the 'Belfast [[Pogrom]]s'. Additionally, all local government representatives were from Protestant, [[Unionism in Ireland|unionist]] backgrounds at this time, therefore the needs of the Catholic nationalist population could not be addressed.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/exhibition/belfast/main.html|title=What was Belfast like in the early 20th century?|website=www.census.nationalarchives.ie}}</ref> In the face of these situations, an organisation which sought to serve the Catholic population in [[Belfast]] was direly needed.{{Citation needed|date=June 2021}}

Working with [[John Tohill|Bishop John Tohill]], O'Neill arranged regular meetings at which the social teachings of [[Pope Leo XIII]] and [[Pope Pius X]] were discussed. This marked the beginning of the order as it is known today, by educating its members in social principles which can be applied to practical, real-life situations.<ref name="KSC" />

The order was placed under the patronage of [[St Columbanus]] for his missionary zeal in bringing the Good News to all, in addition to infamously standing up for what's right in the face of adversity, an issue faced by many of the early Knights.<ref name="KSC" />

The motto ''‘Instaurare omnia in Christo’'' meaning ‘To restore all things in Christ’ comes from [[Pope Pius X]]. As a keen follower of the pontiff, O’Neill adopted the same motto to which Pius X dedicated his pontificate in his first encyclical ''[[E Supremi]]''. In it, the dire need for Catholic action on the topics of education, respect for property, maintaining order, and justice in the social classes was expressed.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://catholicgentleman.com/2014/10/9-ways-restore-things-christ/|title=9 Ways to Restore All Things in Christ|first=SUNDAY EDITION-BigPulpit com|last=says|date=24 October 2014}}</ref>

The Order was first announced in ''[[The Irish Catholic]]'' on 10 April 1915. An order with similar views and motives to the Knights of St Columbanus, known as the Columban Knights, was merged with the KSC. Over a year later, four new primary councils had been established in Belfast with more following in [[Armagh]], [[Cork (city)|Cork]], [[Derry]], [[Dublin]], [[Lurgan]], [[Newry]] and [[Portadown]].<ref name="book" /> It is thought that these councils spread throughout the country through travelling businessmen associated with the Order.{{Citation needed|date=June 2021}}

To accomplish their goals, they maintained strict secrecy around their membership. Individuals identified one another through confidential passwords and distinctive handshakes. While the necessity for such secrecy faded in the South after 1921, it persisted in the North. The unified organisation morphed into a form of Catholic equivalent to Freemasonry. The ceremonial robes worn by its officers during meetings represented the order's authority and secretive nature.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |title=Knights Of Saint Columbanus |url=https://www.rte.ie/archives/2017/0331/864194-knights-of-saint-columbanus/ |access-date=2025-02-03 |website=RTÉ Archives |language=en}}</ref>

[[James O'Neill (priest)|Canon O'Neill]] died on 18 March 1922 and is buried at St Patrick's Church, [[Ballyvoy]], [[County Antrim]]. The Order celebrates an annual [[Mass (liturgy)|Mass]] at the church in his honour. It is attended by Knights from all counties on the [[Ireland|island of Ireland]].<ref name="KSC" />

In the mid-20th century, the organisation was involved in a movement of campaigns against [[Loan|moneylending]]. The emergence of hire purchase in Ireland was predominantly linked to equipping newly-formed households, and a 1946 report by the Knights of Columbanus highlighted that the absence of thrift among the youth, inadequate wages, and the lack of family allowances within the prevailing wage structure had compelled young couples beginning married life to acquire goods through the hire purchase system. The organisation expressed fears over the absence of legal safeguards for buyers, noting the financial strain this placed on impoverished Catholic families. However, it has also been noted that rhetoric in such campaigns carried an [[Antisemitism|anti-Semitic]] undertone, as many moneylenders, predominantly legal, were [[Jews|Jewish]].<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Holohan |first=Carole |last2=O'Connell |first2=Sean |last3=Savage |first3=Robert J. |date=November 2021 |title=Rediscovering poverty: moneylending in the Republic of Ireland in the 1960s |url=https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/irish-historical-studies/article/rediscovering-poverty-moneylending-in-the-republic-of-ireland-in-the-1960s/5A98F8AA95260CE26DBE96B0F94C9E13 |journal=Irish Historical Studies |language=en |volume=45 |issue=168 |pages=282–302 |doi=10.1017/ihs.2021.56 |issn=0021-1214}}</ref>

Between 1966 and 1969, as the supreme knight of the Knights of Columbanus, Vincent Grogan (a barrister and philanthropist) embraced a prominent public role, aiming to demystify the organisation by inviting non-members to attend its annual gatherings and abandoning the ceremonial robes traditionally worn at formal events. His progressive changes met with fierce resistance from traditionalists, creating significant friction within the order. Rather than diffusing the discord, Grogan heightened it by openly criticising Catholic Church authorities for their secrecy and reluctance to engage with the Knights. This confrontational approach reached its peak when he publicly criticised Archbishop [[John Charles McQuaid]] on television. In a frank radio interview, he acknowledged that some members exploited the order for personal gain, to advocate for censorship, and to shape government policy in line with Catholic ideals. However, he also argued that such opportunism was not unique to the Knights, but reflected broader tendencies within Irish society. Grogan’s background as a barrister equipped him with strong communication skills, allowing him to handle media scrutiny with composure and charm during challenging interviews.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |title=Vincent Benedict Grogan |url=https://www.dib.ie/biography/grogan-vincent-benedict-a3659 |access-date=2025-02-02 |website=www.dib.ie}}</ref>

In a 1967 feature by [[RTÉ]], the Knights are depicted as an organisation that was committed to opposing Communism, while simultaneously striving to achieve a Catholic conception of social justice for impoverished Catholics. Grogan remarked that their attitudes reflected the majority view of the laity in Ireland. Despite instigating change in the organisation, Grogan nonetheless remarked that "we are conservative."<ref name=":3" />

He leveraged the order as a platform to advance his philanthropic goals, championing causes related to social responsibility and the wellbeing of various marginalised groups, including emigrants, the impoverished, the travelling community, former prisoners, orphans, and the unemployed. His recurring message to the Knights, a notable departure from past practices, was clear: “let the Irish people know what you are doing or trying to do.” A vocal advocate for the reforms of the Second Vatican Council, he encouraged Catholics to embody Christian principles in everyday life and played a key role in founding the Irish Council of the Laity in 1968.<ref name=":4" />

=== In Politics ===
[[File:Éamon de Valera.jpg|thumb|205x205px|Despite its pervasive influence in civic society, the organisation was disliked by long-serving Taoiseach and President of Ireland, Eamon de Valera]]
Following [[Anglo-Irish Treaty|Irish independence]] in 1922, the Knights became more involved in Irish politics. At one stage, they had a significant presence in the [[Revenue Commissioners|Department of Revenue]]. Indeed, it is thought that former Irish President [[Seán T. O'Kelly]] was a member of the Knights of St. Columbanus, much to the displeasure of [[Éamon de Valera]].<ref>McCormack, ''Blackwell Companion to Modern Irish Culture'' (2001) p.&nbsp;524.</ref> De Valera publicly distanced himself from the organisation.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Jordan |first=Anthony J. |url=https://archive.org/details/eamondevalera1880000jord/mode/2up?q=%22Knights+of+St.+Columbanus%22 |title=Éamon DeValera, 1882-1975 : Irish : Catholic : visionary |date=2010 |publisher=Dublin : Westport Books |others=Internet Archive |isbn=978-0-9524447-9-4}}</ref> One occasion, he sought for colleagues to resign their membership.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/bwb_O7-BRR-187/mode/2up?q=%22Knights+of+St.+Columbanus%22 |title=The Years of the Great Test 1926-39: The Thomas Davis Lectures |date=1967-01-01 |publisher=Mercier Press |others=Internet Archive}}</ref> At the 1943 Fianna Fáil [[Ardfheis|Ard-Fheis]], he indirectly criticised the Knights of St. Columbanus, calling it "absurd" to maintain "an organization for the protection of Catholic interests" in a country where 93% of the population were Catholics.<ref>{{Cite book |last=O'Carroll |first=John P. |url=https://archive.org/details/devalerahistimes00jpoc/mode/2up?q=%22Knights+of+St.+Columbanus%22 |title=De Valera and his times |last2=Murphy |first2=John A. |last3=University College |first3=Cork Department of Irish History |last4=University College |first4=Cork Department of Social Theory and Institutions |date=1986 |publisher=Cork : Cork University Press |others=Internet Archive |isbn=978-0-902561-44-1}}</ref> The society also historically had links to leading figures in the Irish [[Labour Party (Ireland)|Labour Party]].<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web|title=Davin, William {{!}} Dictionary of Irish Biography|url=https://www.dib.ie/biography/davin-william-a2430|access-date=2022-02-12|website=www.dib.ie}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Corish, Brendan {{!}} Dictionary of Irish Biography|url=https://www.dib.ie/biography/corish-brendan-a2046|access-date=2022-02-12|website=www.dib.ie}}</ref> Long enthusiastic to improve the well-being of Catholics in business and corporate life, from the creation of the [[Irish Free State]], they played a key role in influencing legislation to create a Catholic social order.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Fuller |first=Louise |url=https://www.google.ie/books/edition/Irish_Catholicism_Since_1950/Ek4sAQAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&bsq=Irish+Catholicism+since+1950+:+the+undoing+of+a+culture&dq=Irish+Catholicism+since+1950+:+the+undoing+of+a+culture&printsec=frontcover |title=Irish Catholicism Since 1950: The Undoing of a Culture |date=2004 |publisher=Gill & Macmillan |isbn=978-0-7171-3757-2 |language=en}}</ref>

As part of the [[Catholic Action]] movement in the 1930s, a pamphlet published by the [[Catholic Truth Society of Ireland]] (CTSI) titled ''The Serried Ranks of Catholic Action'' highlighted the Knights of St. Columbanus as one of the primary organisations, using militaristic terms, that could prevent the supposed domination of anti-Christian ideologies such as [[paganism]] and [[Communist state|Communist]] activity.<ref>{{Cite web |last=EPOCH |date=2024-03-01 |title=Red Scares in the Irish Free State |url=https://www.epoch-magazine.com/post/the-red-scares-of-the-interwar-period-in-the-irish-free-state |access-date=2025-02-03 |website=Epochmagazine |language=en}}</ref>

The organisation was closely associated with the unusually influential Catholic Primate of Ireland and Archbishop of Dublin, [[John Charles McQuaid]]. On one occasion, a delegation from the College of Physicians, headed by its president, Dr. Howley, and comprising prominent officers of the Knights of St. Columbanus, visited to bestow upon him '[[House of Borgia|the Borgia ring]],' a valuable amethyst from the fifteenth century, purportedly worn by certain mediaeval Popes. On June 25, 1942, McQuaid informed a gathering of the Knights of St Columbanus that he had frequently encountered criticisms regarding their preoccupation with personal, social, and business progress, likening them to the Catholic equivalent of the [[Freemasonry|Masonic Order]]. He assured them that he would never acquiesce to what he regarded as such ambiguous charges. Under the direction of Dublin City's Chief Planner, Michael O'Brien, who was a fervent member of the Knights of St. Columbanus, McQuaid implemented an initiative to establish a significant Catholic suburban axis to counteract the central hegemony of Trinity College and the Protestant teaching hospitals. O'Brien facilitated McQuaid's rejection of a Dublin Corporation proposal to construct two-bedroom houses in a new development in Finglas, North Dublin, on the grounds that couples required larger residences to cater for the substantial families they were expected to bear as devout Catholics.<ref name=":2">{{Cite book |last=Cooney |first=John |url=https://www.google.ie/books/edition/John_Charles_McQuaid/zxMmAQAAIAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&bsq=John+Charles+McQuaid+:+ruler+of+Catholic+Ireland&dq=John+Charles+McQuaid+:+ruler+of+Catholic+Ireland&printsec=frontcover |title=John Charles McQuaid: Ruler of Catholic Ireland |date=1999 |publisher=O'Brien Press |isbn=978-0-86278-594-9 |language=en}}</ref>

In 1944, McQuaid, as Chairman of the Commission of Youth Unemployment, was livid when Minister for Supplies, [[Seán Lemass|Sean Lemass]] TD, suggested that, in order to handle report submissions from Protestants, that religious and spiritual welfare should be excluded from reports. McQuaid complained directly to [[Éamon de Valera|Eamon de Valera]] that, as Archbishop of Dublin, he should be allowed to make reference to Catholic social principles. When de Valera told him that it was a lay body in character, McQuaid tactically arranged for [[Taxing master|Taxing Master of the Courts]], Henry B. O'Hanlon, one of his allies through the Knights of St Columbanus, to visit de Valera and articulate to him that McQuaid had allegedly penned a communication resigning as the Commission's chairman. However, McQuaid had not actually done so, and he remained as chairman of the Commission, incorporating Catholic social teaching into the Commission's work.<ref name=":2" />

Similarly to McQuaid, Bishop [[Michael Browne (cardinal)|Michael Browne]] of Galway utilised the Knights of St. Columbanus in promoting the ubiquitous anti-communist fervour in Ireland during the 1940s.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Madden |first=Gerard |date=2014 |title=Bishop Michael Browne of Galway and Anti-Communism, 1937-1976 |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/24897247 |journal=Saothar |volume=39 |pages=21–31 |issn=0332-1169}}</ref>

In 1950, McQuaid joined a group of Irish trade unionists for a special audience with Pope Pius XII at [[Castel Gandolfo]]. While in Rome, he distributed money provided by the Knights of St. Columbanus to support impoverished children. In 1955, McQuaid mobilised influential supporters in the Knights of St. Columbanus to antagonise the [[Football Association of Ireland|FAI]] when [[Ireland national football team (1882–1950)|Ireland]] had agreed to host [[Yugoslavian Football Association|Yugoslavia]] (being a [[Yugoslavia|Communist country]]) in an international soccer match.<ref name=":2" />

McQuaid clandestinely censored music, films, plays, and novels, through the organisation. The economist Dermot J. O'Flynn, a Knights of St. Columbanus senior and Censorship Board nominee, was crucial to this. McQuaid later thanked O'Flynn for his fight against what they regarded as vulgar productions, and left him to speculate about what the Knights might achieve throughout the nation by their pursuit of an orderly and broad resistance. The State's censorship rules did not apply to theatre, but a pre-independence Act of the [[Westminster Parliament]] allowed the [[Garda Síochána|Gardaí]] to close an 'indecent' play, and prosecute the producer. [[Alan Simpson (theatre director)|Alan Simpson]] experienced this in 1957 when he staged [[Tennessee Williams]]' ''[[The Rose Tattoo]]'' at the 'Pike,' a tiny theatrical venue. It was believed that McQuaid started the case against Simpson for mentioning a contraceptive in a play. Dr. [[Noël Browne|Noel Browne]] said McQuaid also directed the [[Special Detective Unit|Special Branch]]. A significant impression on Browne and others remained that the Knights of St Columbanus planned the clampdown, with McQuaid's secret assent. McQuaid proudly informed the [[Papal Nuncio]] that Ireland was less affected by "modern deviations" than any other country in Europe or North America. This claim might have held some truth, considering the extensive efforts he made to eliminate such influences through lay associations, particularly the Knights of St. Columbanus.<ref name=":2" />

During the 1950s, when Dr. Noel Browne TD, a left-wing Minister for Health of the Clann na Poblachta party, sought to introduce the infamously controversial '[[Mother and Child Scheme]],' he faced significant opposition from McQuaid. The scheme, if implemented, would remove much control of healthcare provision from the Church in Ireland. Fine Gael's [[John A. Costello]], Taoiseach of the Inter-Party government at that time, later noted that some Labour Party TDs, had been pushed to support it by the Irish Trades Union Congress, however, Labour's parliamentary chairman, [[William Davin]] TD, an active member of the Knights, successfully countered this move. Previously, in June 1948, the Minister for Justice, [[Seán Mac Eoin|Seán MacEoin]] TD, who was a member of the Knights of St. Columbanus, assured its 'Supreme Council' that every effort would be made to prevent any escalating conflict between the Church and the State. McQuaid, himself a Knight, interpreted Noel Browne’s proposals in this context, along with his confidantes in the organisation, Dr. Stafford Johnson and Dr. Stephen McKenzie.<ref name=":2" /> During the first Inter-Party government, [[St Patrick's Pontifical University, Maynooth|St. Patrick's Pontifical University, Maynooth]] (Ireland's primary seminary), was running an annual deficit in its management accounts. John A. Costello, as Taoiseach (and also a member of the Knights), along with other members of cabinet who were also members, awarded the College a special annual grant.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Jordan |first=Anthony J. |url=https://www.google.ie/books/edition/John_A_Costello_1891_1976/kjV_GQAACAAJ?hl=en |title=John A. Costello, 1891-1976: Compromise Taoiseach |date=2007 |publisher=Westport Books |isbn=978-0-9524447-8-7 |language=en}}</ref>

McQuaid was also believed to have been the source of a phenomenon in which Catholic medical doctors (who were members), would swell the AGMs of non-Catholic hospitals, and assume control of voluntary boards. When Protestant physicians raised their grievances with McQuaid, he denied involvement.<ref name=":2" /> In 1949, one such notorious incident unfolded, characterised as a conflict between the Knights of St Columbanus and the Freemasons, both vying for influential positions for their members. The Knights, being a Catholic lay organisation devoted to serving Christ in all areas of daily life, including the workplace, secured a majority at the Protestant-run Meath Hospital's AGM. They defeated the existing management, and assumed control. Although the displaced board challenged the outcome in the High Court, their efforts failed. The government subsequently intervened, introducing a private bill that established a new system of representation on the management committee, acceptable to both parties.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Crawford |first=Heather K. |url=https://archive.org/details/outsideglowprote0000craw/mode/2up?q=%22Knights+of+St.+Columbanus%22 |title=Outside the glow : Protestants and Irishness in independent Ireland |date=2010 |publisher=Dublin : University College Dublin Press |others=Internet Archive |isbn=978-1-906359-44-7}}</ref>

In 1948, following the emergence of the Cold War and the likely prospect of a Communist victory in the Italian general election that year, Pope Pius warned of the perceived stark choice between Christianity and "Atheistic Communism." In an unprecedented move, McQuaid assisted in an intervention in Italian politics, and took part in an anti-communist fundraising drive. He received a cheque for IR£5,000 (IR£100,000 as of 1999) from the Knights of St. Columbanus, within 24 hours of requesting support. The Knights would later aid McQuaid in seeking to purge groups with [[Communist Party of the Soviet Union|Communist]] links, particularly the [[Socialist youth movement|Socialist Youth Movement]], as well as students' organisations (which were affiliated with the Communist-endorsed [[International Union of Students]]). McQuaid tasked the Knights with weakening such groups, whose aims, they claimed, were "to destroy the Christian faith."<ref name=":2" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=Defending the Faith |url=https://jacobin.com/2016/05/catholic-church-anticommunism-ireland-red-scare |access-date=2025-02-03 |website=jacobin.com |language=en-US}}</ref>

[[John Hume]], former [[SDLP]] and [[Credit union|credit union movement]] leader, suggested the idea of founding Derry Credit Union at a Knights of St. Columbanus branch meeting in May 1960. He was subsequently supported by the society in this initiative.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Drower |first=George |url=https://www.google.ie/books/edition/John_Hume/2FRRPgAACAAJ?hl=en |title=John Hume: Man of Peace |date=1996 |publisher=Vista |isbn=978-0-575-60084-3 |language=en}}</ref>

In the late 1960s, when Taoiseach [[Jack Lynch]] TD flouted the concept of developing a [[Pluralism (political philosophy)|pluralistic]] Ireland, he ducked from lifting a ban on contraception when McQuaid confronted him. The professional middle-classes who comprised part of the Knights' membership were especially dedicated on the behalf of McQuaid's "highly effective homespun intelligence system" to protecting a Catholic outlook within government and politics.<ref name=":2" />

Members also held some key positions on hospital boards in the country in the mid-20th century, alongside the mostly Protestant [[Freemasonry|Freemasons]].<ref>[[Dáil Éireann]] 10 June 1953</ref> By the 1970s, the Knights had become involved in the politics of tertiary level education, associated with [[University College Dublin]], while the [[Freemasonry|Freemasons]] were affiliated with [[Trinity College Dublin]].<ref>Dáil Éireann 16 July 1969</ref> The Knights had also been critical of the [[Dalkey School Project]] when it was first set up in 1979 as a [[multi-denominational]] school.<ref name="aine-hyland-multi-denom-ireland-1975-1995">[http://www.educatetogether.ie/reference_articles/Ref_Art_003.html Multi-Denominational Schools in the Republic of Ireland 1975-1995] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090106172040/http://www.educatetogether.ie/reference_articles/Ref_Art_003.html |date=6 January 2009 }}, Professor Áine Hyland, paper given at Conference Education and Religion organised by C.R.E.L.A. at the University of Nice. 21–22 June 1996, [[Educate Together]]</ref>

The former government minister, Fine Gael's [[Oliver J. Flanagan]] TD, who, by the mid-1980s, was one of the longest serving parliamentarians in the Western world, was a staunch member of the organisation, and regarded as a "thorn in the side of the more liberal elements within the Church and his own party."<ref>{{Cite book |last=Cairnduff |first=Maureen |url=https://archive.org/details/whoswhoinireland0000cair/mode/2up?q=%22Knights+of+St.+Columbanus%22 |title=Who's who in Ireland : "the influential 1,000" |date=1984 |publisher=Dun Laoghaire, Co. Dublin : Vesey Publications |others=Internet Archive |isbn=978-0-9510120-0-0}}</ref>

The Knights' involvement in these sectors has drawn criticism since the 1950s, mostly in the Irish parliament, [[Dáil Éireann]]. As a result, the number of individual members of the Knights who sit on hospital, education and government boards has been far less significant since the 1990s. The Order as a whole, however, maintains public stances on matters of politics and education. One recent example of this was the Order's opposition to the repeal of the [[Eighth Amendment of the Constitution of Ireland]] which legally permits abortions in the country under a broader range of circumstances.<ref name="KSC" /> The Order also maintains support for Catholic education in Ireland.<ref name="KSC" />

== Organisation ==
{{More citations needed section|date=June 2021}}
The Order follows a tripartite structure, with Supreme, Provincial and Primary levels. There are around 70 Primary Councils across the island of Ireland, each led by a Grand Knight. These councils normally operate at a town level and overall constitute the largest portion of the Order. Each Primary Council sends delegates to make up their Provincial Council, of which there are 12 across the island and each is led by a Provincial Grand Knight. Provincial Councils in turn send delegates to the Supreme Council. The Supreme Council has two levels: the Council of Directors, responsible for the running of the Order from a national perspective and the Supreme Executive, a sub-committee of the Council of Directors, controlling and directing the 12 Provincial Councils. Each level of organisation in the Order is responsible for governing the finances, faith development, charitable enterprises and recruitment of members at each lower level.<ref name="KSC" />

The Supreme Knight is the most senior member of the Order. He is elected for a three-year term by the Supreme Council at the Stated Annual Meeting, following elections by every Primary Council. The Stated Annual Meeting rotates around each Provincial Area year on year and is attended by representatives of every Primary Council in Ireland. Any amendments to the Constitution of the Order or other major changes occur at these meetings. Provincial Grand Knights are elected by the members of the Primary Councils in each Provincial Area for three-year terms. Primary Grand Knights too are elected by their local Primary Council for three-year terms.

Each level in the Order has the following assemblage of roles: Grand (or Supreme) Knight, Deputy Grand (or Supreme) Knight, Chaplain, Chancellor, Secretary, Advocate, Treasurer, Warden, Registrar and Last Past Grand (or Supreme) Knight.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.knightsofstcolumbanus.ie/?page_id=1437|title=Supreme Executive – The Order of Knights of St. Columbanus}}</ref>

Each level in the Order has its own colour of the robe, worn only on formal occasions.

{| class="wikitable" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; border: none;"
|+ '''Organisation of Councils of Knights (CK) in Ireland'''<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.knightsofstcolumbanus.ie/?page_id=172|title=Provincial Councils – The Order of Knights of St. Columbanus}}</ref>
! Provincial Area
! Location
! Primary Councils
|-
| '''Area 1''' || [[Dublin]] || 6, 16, 20, 52, 75, 86, 102, 119 (all [[Dublin]]), 146 ([[Foxrock]])
|-
| '''Area 2''' || [[Belfast]] || 1, 2, 3, 4 (all [[Belfast]]), 12 ([[Downpatrick]]), 19 ([[Queen's University Belfast]]),<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/IrishCathNews/photos/a.125398765981/10158367185735982/|title=The Irish Catholic Newspaper - Queen's students take up knightly challenge! Fourteen young men from Queen's University Belfast along with chaplain Fr Dominic McGrattan were inducted as members of the Order of Knights of St Columbanus in a ceremony at the chaplaincy. Through prayer and apostolic service, the order seeks to defend and promote the Catholic faith, foster fraternity among members and reach out to those in need. The ceremony took place in the presence of family, friends and senior members of the order. &#124; Facebook|website=www.facebook.com}}</ref> 29 ([[Drumbo]] & [[Carryduff]]), 41 ([[Belfast]]), 49 ([[Holywood, County Down|Holywood]]), 130 ([[Ballymena]]), 133 ([[Lisburn]]). 
|-
| '''Area 3''' || [[Armagh]] || 8 ([[Armagh]]), 9 ([[Portadown]]), 10 ([[Newry]]), 11 ([[Lurgan]]), 17 ([[Dundalk]]), 76 ([[Warrenpoint]])
|-
| '''Area 4''' || [[Derry]] || 5 ([[Derry]]), 14 ([[Omagh]]), 23 ([[Strabane]]), 24 ([[Letterkenny]]), 56 ([[Stranorlar]]), 69 ([[Coleraine]]), 107 ([[Enniskillen]]), 143 ([[Falcarragh]])
|-
| '''Area 5''' || [[Cork (city)|Cork]] || 7 ([[Cork (city)|Cork]]), 22 ([[Midleton|Middleton]]), 64 ([[Cork (city)|Cork]]), 70 ([[Bandon, County Cork|Bandon]]), 113 ([[Youghal]]), 123 ([[Duhallow]]).
|-
| '''Area 6''' || [[Limerick]] || 39 ([[Limerick]]), 85 ([[Roscrea]]), 90 ([[Limerick]]), 132 ([[Cashel, County Tipperary|Cashel]])
|-
| '''Area 7''' || [[Galway]] || 30 ([[Galway]]), 55 ([[Tuam]]), 98 ([[Ballinasloe]]), 105 ([[Claremorris]]), 126 ([[Castlebar]])
|-
| '''Area 8''' || [[Westmeath]] || 25 ([[Sligo]]), 45 ([[Athlone]]), 74 ([[Ballina, County Tipperary|Ballina]]), 88 ([[Carrick-on-Shannon]]), 122 ([[Swinford]])
|-
| '''Area 9''' || [[Wexford]] || 15 ([[Waterford]]), 34 ([[New Ross]]), 43 ([[Kilkenny]])
|-
| '''Area 10''' || [[Cavan]] || 31 ([[Monaghan]]), 47 ([[Cavan]]), 79 ([[Castleblaney]])
|-
| '''Area 11''' || [[County Meath|Meath]] || 32 ([[Drogheda]]), 40 ([[Trim, County Meath|Trim]]), 65 ([[Navan]]), 81 ([[Mullingar]]), 83 ([[Tullamore]]), 112 ([[Kells, County Meath|Kells]]), 129 ([[Portlaoise]])
|-
| '''Area 12''' || [[Wicklow]] || 100 ([[Bray, County Wicklow|Bray]]), 117 ([[Arklow]] & [[Wicklow]])
|}

== Membership and Activities ==

=== Scope of activity ===
In order to be considered for membership in the Knights of St Columbanus, prospective members must be recommended by an existing Knight, a tradition which has stuck from the early days of the Order. Once approved, the knight-elect is initiated at a Mass, usually with several others, attended by the Supreme or Deputy Supreme Knight. During this Mass, the knight-elect receives his robes and a [[Penal Laws (Ireland)|penal cross]], a sign of Catholic persecution in Ireland.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.knightsofstcolumbanus.ie/|title=Home - The Order of Knights of St Columbanus|website=The Order of Knights of St Columbanus|accessdate=14 January 2018}}</ref>

Meetings of Primary Councils are chaired by the Grand Knight and start with an opening prayer. Generally, the council chaplain offers some faith teaching and the meeting goes on to discuss fundraising and other projects, concluding with a final prayer.<ref name=":0" />

Much of the work of the Knights involves assisting with church ceremonies, although the Order often raises funds for both their own charitable ventures and that of other organisations. A national project undertaken by Area 3 in 2017 involved the sourcing and subsequent tour of Ireland with a [[relic]] of [[Mother Teresa|Saint Teresa of Calcutta]] on the 20th anniversary of her death. This scheme involved Knights from all parts of the country, including the Associate Knights of St Columbanus who were responsible for promoting the tour on [[Facebook]], [[YouTube]] and [[Instagram]] to make the tour more accessible to younger Catholics. The duties of the Knights involved ensuring that the relic was safely transported around the country and that it was always guarded when available for veneration.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.irishnews.com/lifestyle/faithmatters/2017/06/15/news/mother-teresa-revered-as-relic-starts-irish-journey-1054542/|title=Mother Teresa revered as relic starts Irish journey|website=The Irish News|date=15 June 2017|accessdate=14 January 2018}}</ref> Another project of note is the Christmas Day Dinner which has been run by the Order since 1924. The Knights provide a hot meal on Christmas Day for the poor and homeless of [[Dublin|Dublin City]] and the surrounding areas. Both projects have received significant media attention.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.christmasdaydinner.com/|title=Welcome to Christmas Day Dinner for the homeless ChristmasDayDinner.com - The Knights of St Columbanus|website=www.christmasdaydinner.com|accessdate=14 January 2018}}</ref>

=== Associate Knights of St Columbanus ===
[[File:Associate Knights of St Columbanus Logo.png|thumb|Logo of the Associate Knights of St Columbanus]]
[[File:Kindle Recipient 2016.jpg|thumb|A recipient of an Amazon Kindle Fire Tablet is shown how to use her device. Newry, 2016]]The Associate Knights of St Columbanus is the youth section of the order. The scheme was initially introduced in the mid-2000s in [[St Colman's College, Newry]] by Canon Francis Brown for 6th Form students (16–18 years). These Associate Knights followed a similar structure to that of the main Knights of St Columbanus and maintained a membership of around 30 students each year. These Associates were initiated as with the main knights and wore the same robes.{{Citation needed|date=June 2021}}

In 2013, the Associate Knights were opened up to young men from outside the college. The structure of the Associates also changed so that they no longer followed that of the main Knights. Instead, they would hold their own meetings, as a sub-division of the Newry Primary Council (CK10). The Associates are no longer initiated as with the main knights, rather they participate in a very simple part of a normal Mass where they are presented with the penal cross, but no robes. This way, the Associate Knights are distinct from the older age profile of the main Knights, while maintaining the fraternal and supportive link to Order.{{Citation needed|date=June 2021}}

The Associate Knights in Newry meet on a twice-monthly basis where each meeting starts with a faith-development session followed by discussion of their apostolic projects. The faith-development sessions are led by questions the Associate Knights have about their faith and are answered by an invited [[Catholic Priest|priest]] or [[permanent deacon]]. These meetings are led entirely by the Associate Knights to promote leadership skills among its members. Members are able to join by contacting the Newry Primary Council or through the Associate Knights' [[social media]]. Members are between 16 and 21 years old. Some of their apostolic projects include assisting with the work of [[Society of Saint Vincent de Paul|St Vincent de Paul]], facilitating special church services such as for examinations, and ReKindling Faith in the Housebound. This scheme aims to provide housebound members of the local community with [[Kindle Fire]] tablets purchased through locally fundraised money. Recipients of the tablets are then able to watch local Mass and other church services streamed via a webcam. This initiative has received national acclaim as a way of enabling people to participate in their local community, who otherwise would not have been able to do so.<ref>{{cite web|last=Cullen|first=Patrick|title= ReKindling Faith In the Sick and Housebound|url= http://www.knightsofstcolumbanus.ie/latest-news/rekindling-faith-in-the-sick-and-housebound/|accessdate=28 September 2016|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170110191712/http://www.knightsofstcolumbanus.ie/latest-news/rekindling-faith-in-the-sick-and-housebound/|archivedate=2017-01-10}}</ref>

In 2017, the Associate Knights began operating from the Catholic Chaplaincy at [[Queen's University Belfast]]. Their meetings followed a similar structure to those in Newry, with the faith-development led by the resident chaplain. The Associates at QUB are supported by the [[Drumbo]] and [[Carryduff]] primary council of Knights (CK29). In November 2019, the Associate Knights became a full council of Knights, adopting the vacant Council 19 as their number. This represented the first university council in the Order, similar to the College Councils of the Knights of Columbus.<ref>[[Knights of Columbus#Membership]]</ref> Membership is promoted via stalls at University Freshers Fairs and social media. As the youngest students at university are 18, the upper limit is also higher at 25 to span the most common age of university students. Some of their apostolic projects include the Mary's Meals Backpack Scheme, ShelterNI sleep-outs in aid of homeless charities, providing food to the homeless of Belfast, organising guest speakers and supporting the outreach of the Chaplaincy.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/AssociatesQUB/|title=Associates at QUB|last=Associates at QUB|date=14 January 2018|website=Facebook|accessdate=}}</ref>

=== Pope John Paul II Award ===
{{More citations needed section|date=June 2021}}
The Award was launched by the [[Papal Nuncio]] to Ireland [[Giuseppe Lazzarotto|Most Rev. Dr. Giuseppe Lazzarotto]] on 7 November 2006 in the [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Derry|Diocese of Derry]]. It is coordinated from its head office in [[Derry]], [[Northern Ireland]], and created by Fr Paul Farren in his role as director of the Derry Diocesan Catechetical Centre. [[Pope John Paul II]] was chosen as the Award's namesake because of his love, belief, confidence and commitment to young people. The Knights of St Columbanus chose the Award as its National Project and have financially supported the Award throughout Ireland.

It enables young people to take an active part in the life of their Church, community and society. In the spirit of Canon O’Neill's vision for education, the Award facilitates awareness of the role of the Catholic Church in the world and engagement at a deep level with Christ.

The Award is non-competitive, flexible and voluntary. Awards are earned by taking part in parish and social activities. There are three awards, Gold, Silver and Bronze, earned by spending 1 hour per week over 8, 14 or 20 weeks respectively. Those who have completed the Gold Award have a further option of completing the Papal Cross Award.

As well as the feeling of personal achievement that participants hope to gain from taking part in the award, it is hoped that participation will help to show future employers and educators that they are young people who can make an ongoing commitment to a task.

The first patron of the Award was the then Bishop of Derry, [[Séamus Hegarty|Most Rev. Dr. Séamus Hegarty]], who said of the Award: "the purpose of this initiative is to enable young people to live their faith and to witness to that faith lived out in the parish community". The current bishop of Derry, [[Donal McKeown|Most Rev. Dónal McKeown]], is the current patron.

Since 2006, the Award has been running successfully in schools and parishes throughout Ireland and the UK. It is continuing to expand.

In 2017, the Award celebrated its 10-year anniversary with a pilgrimage to [[Rome]] and the [[Vatican City|Vatican]]. Past and current participants of the Award visited some of the churches and chapels of the cities and got the chance to participate in a [[Mass in the Catholic Church|Mass]] in [[St Peter's Basilica]] and to visit the tomb of [[Pope John Paul II]]. The Knights were represented on the pilgrimage by Associate Knights of St Columbanus from Newry: 181 pilgrims came from 12 dioceses in [[Ireland]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://thepopejohnpauliiaward.com/blog/news/pope-john-paul-ii-award-pilgrimage-to-rome-2017/|title=Pope John Paul II Award Pilgrimage to Rome 2017|last=Pope John Paul II Award|date=15 November 2017|website=|accessdate=}}</ref> The pilgrimage was captured as part of a [[UTV (TV channel)|UTV]] documentary 'A New Order'. A televised Mass was also celebrated by [[Donal McKeown|Bishop Dónal McKeown]] on [[RTÉ]] with past and current participants of the Award and Supreme Knight Gerald Harbinson on 18 December 2017.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://thepopejohnpauliiaward.com/blog/news/pope-john-paul-ii-award-rte-mass-on-sunday/|title=RTÉ Mass on Sunday {{!}} Pope John Paul II Award|date=18 December 2017|work=Pope John Paul II Award|accessdate=14 January 2018}}</ref>

=== Centenary ===
In 2015 the Order celebrated its 100th anniversary. The year began with a [[Eucharist]]ic celebration on Sunday 12 October in [[Athlone]]. After this several events were held to mark the occasion;
*The Schools Public Speaking Competition was created. This encourages students from all over the island to compete in addressing some contemporary issues faced by Catholic youth today. The 2015 competition was a success and, as of 2017, had become an annual event.
*A Day Conference took place in Maynooth College on Saturday 13 June 2015 on the theme of Building a Person-Centered Economy.
*An Icon of St Columbanus was completed and presented to the Order at the 2015 Annual Stated Meeting.
*A hymn entitled 'Prayer of St Columbanus' was composed especially for the centenary.
*A new logo was created and used for the year.
*A Columban Way walk, 'Turas Columbanus', was organised.
*An Order Pilgrimage to Rome and Bobbio (where St Columbanus spent time) was undertaken that April.<ref name="KSC" />

== See also ==
* [[Knights of Columbus]], founded in the United States in 1882.

== References ==

{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20060604013532/http://www.knightsofstcolumbanus.ie/home.php Official web site of the Knights of Saint Columbanus] (archived)
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20040701235245/http://www.iack.org/ International Alliance of Catholic Knights]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20080512033422/http://www.ck29.org/aboutus/ Drumbo & Carryduff Council of Knights of St Columbanus] (archived)
*  [http://thepopejohnpauliiaward.com Pope John Paul II Award | Achievement Award]

{{International Alliance of Catholic Knights}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Anti-abortion organisations in the Republic of Ireland]]
[[Category:Christian organizations established in 1915]]
[[Category:International Alliance of Catholic Knights|Saint Columba]]
[[Category:1915 establishments in Ireland]]