HOLYWOOD, CHRISTOPHER

Superior of the Jesuit mission in Ireland; b. Dublin, 1562; d. Dublin, Sept. 4, 1626. He was the elder son of Nicholas, Lord of Artane, County Dublin, and Elizabeth, daughter of John Plunket, third Baron Dunsany. He entered the novitiate at Verdun in 1584. After studies at the university of Pont-à-Mousson, he lectured on theology at Dôle and later at Padua. He was appointed superior of the Irish mission in 1598, but was arrested at Dover and detained in different prisons until May 1603. He was then transported to France, and eventually arrived in Ireland in March 1604. Although he suffered from poor health and impaired eyesight, his government of this Jesuit mission until his death fully justified his appointment. During his term of office the number of Jesuits in Ireland increased from 7 to 44, and residences were established by him in the principal towns of Leinster, Munster, and Connaght. He promoted the introduction and expansion of the Sodality of the Blessed Virgin, especially among the Anglo-Irish of the larger towns who were most exposed to the protestantizing influence of the government.

Holywood was the author of two important controversial works published at Antwerp, and before his death had just completed a treatise on the moral virtues.

Bibliography: j. macerlean, "Superiors of the Irish Mission, 1598–1774," Irish Jesuit Year Book (Dublin 1929). e. hogan, Ibernia Ignatiana (Dublin 1880). c. sommervogel et al., Bibliothèque de la Compagnie de Jésus, 11 v. (Brussels-Paris 1890–1932) 4:446–447.

[f. finegan]