Fr. John McErlean S.J.

Another celebrated scholar associated with our parish was the Reverend John McErlean, S.J. He was born in Belfast, but his father was from Glenone. Their burial ground is at the Sacristy window in Old Greenlough. Father John Campbell McErlean was a noted scholar in Celtic Studies and edited many of our ancient Irish texts and contributed to learned journals and historical periodicals. Fr McErlean was born in Belfast on 15th February, 1870. His parents were Andrew McErlean, a Belfast solicitor and Elizabeth nee Campbell. He was educated at the Vicinage, Belfast and joined the Jesuit Order and was ordained a priest at Milltown Park, Dublin 1904. He died on 24th March 1950 and is buried at Glasnevin. He collaborated with the celebrated Fr Edmund Hogan, S.J. in the compilation of the Onamasticon Hibernicum the definitive authority on Irish Place names.