MORRISSEY, Thomas J(oseph) 1929-

PERSONAL: Born March 9, 1929, in Limerick, Ireland; son of John (a city treasurer) and Nora (Ryan) Morrissey. Ethnicity: "Caucasian." Education: National University of Ireland—University College, Dublin, B.A., 1953, M.A., 1968; attended Tullabeg College of Philosophy, 1953-56; Pontifical Gregorian University, Rome, Italy, Lic.Phil., 1956, S.T.L., 1960; attended Miltown Park Theologate, 1956-60; National University of Ireland—University College, Cork, Ph.D., 1975. Religion: Roman Catholic. Hobbies and other interests: Reading, rugby, golf, hurling.

ADDRESSES: Home and office—Manresa House, Dollymount, Dublin 3, Ireland.

CAREER: Roman Catholic priest of the Society of Jesus (Jesuits; S.J.); Crescent College Comprehensive School, Limerick, Ireland, headmaster, 1970-83; National College of Industrial Relations, Ranelagh, Dublin, Ireland, director, 1984-92; St. Ignatius College, Galway, Ireland, chair of board of management, 1996-2001. Member of board of governors, University of Limerick and Clowgowes Wood College.

AWARDS, HONORS: Named Freeman of Kansas City, MO, 1983.

WRITINGS:

James Archer of Kilkenny: An Elizabethan Jesuit: First Rector of the Irish College at Salamanca and Ally of the Great Hugh O'Neill, Studies Special Publications (Dublin, Ireland), 1979.

Toward a National University: William Delany, S.J. (1835-1924): An Era of Initiative in Irish Education, Humanities Press (Atlantic Highlands, NJ), 1983.

A Man Called Hughes: The Life and Times of Seamus Hughes, 1881-1943, Veritas (Dublin, Ireland), 1991.

As One Sent: Peter Kenney, S.J., 1779-1841: His Mission in Ireland and North America, Catholic University of America Press (Washington, DC), 1996.

William Martin Murphy, Historical Association of Ireland (Dundalk, Ireland), 1997.

William Walsh, Archbishop of Dublin, 1841-1921: No Uncertain Voice, Four Courts Press (Portland, OR), 2000.

William Ronan, S.J., 1825-1907: War Chaplain, Missioner, Founder of Mungret College, Messenger Publications (Dublin, Ireland), 2002.

WORK IN PROGRESS: A biography of Edward Thomas O'Dwyer, bishop of Limerick, 1841-1907; a biography of Professor Thomas A. Finlay, S.J., 1848-1940.

SIDELIGHTS: Thomas J. Morrissey told CA: "I have always wanted to write, especially on history matters, from the start of my university career many years ago. In the process of writing, I collect all possible information on the subject in an effort to get to know the person as thoroughly as possible. Then I begin to write. As I think very often with a pen in hand, I write the first drafts in longhand and only transfer them to the word processor when at an advanced stage."

BIOGRAPHICAL AND CRITICAL SOURCES:

PERIODICALS

American Historical Review, April, 1985, Hugh F. Kearney, review of Toward a National University: William Delany, S.J., 1835-1924; An Era of Initiative in Irish Education, p. 420.

English Historical Review, April, 2002, Alvin Jackson, review of William Walsh, Archbishop of Dublin, 1841-1921: No Uncertain Voice, p. 423.

Irish Times, February 18, 1992, Tony O'Riordan, review of A Man Called Hughes; October 30, 1997, Kevin Myers, review of William Martin Murphy.