Anthony Dominic Fahy

Anthony Dominic Fahy, (January 11 1805–February 20 1871) was an Irish Dominican Priest, missionary and head of the Irish community in Argentina between 1844 to 1871.

Life

Anthony Dominic Fahy (or Fahey) was born on 11 January 1805 in Loughrea, County Galway, Ireland.

He was ordained priest on March 19, 1831, in Rome. Between 1834 to 1836 he lived and worked with his Dominican brothers in the Saint Joseph Convent, in Somerset, Ohio. In 1836 he returned to Ireland.

In 1843, Fahy was appointed by the Archbishop of Dublin Daniel Murray to the Irish chaplaincy of Buenos Aires in replace of father Patrick O'Gorman.

In a short time Fahy become leader of the Irish community in Argentina and, as himself wrote, he acted as consul, postmaster, financial adviser, marriage counselor, matchmaker, judge, interpreter and employment agent for the member of his community. Fahy organized his flock in chaplaincies in Buenos Aires province, and appointed twelve Irish priests to these areas.

In 1847 Fahy organized a fundraising campaign and collected ₤411 for the victims of the Irish famine. Fahy was a fervent supporter of Juan Manuel de Rosas’ regime and he approved Rosas’ decision to execute Camila O'Gorman in 1848.

Anthony Fahy died of a heart attack on February 20, 1871; according other sources he was victim of a cholera outbreak that killed thousands of people in Buenos Aires in 1871. Fahy was buried in La Recoleta Cemetery.

After his death Father Fahy was succeeded by father Patrick Joseph Dillon as Irish Chaplain of Buenos Aires.

Places named after Joseph Fahy

Two streets —in La Reja, (Moreno Partido) and Capilla del Señor— bear his name. "Instituto Fahy", a Catholic school located in Moreno, was also named after him; the journalist and writer Rodolfo Walsh was alumni of this school.

External links

* [http://www.irlandeses.org/dilab_fahyad.htm Society for Irish Latin American Studies]