OLIVER

See also:

• OLIVER PLUNKET (1629—1681)
• PLUNKET, WILLIAM CONYNGHAM PLUNKET, 1ST BARON (1764—1854)

PLUNKET (1629—1681)  , Irish Roman Catholic divine, was born at Loughcrew, Co . Meath . He was educated privately and at Rome, whither he went with Father Scarampi in 1645 . From 1657 to 1669 he was professor of theology at the College of the Propaganda, enjoyed the friend-ship of the historian, Pallavicini, and acted as representative of Irish ecclesiastical affairs at Rome . Pope Clement IX. appointed him to the archbishopric of Armagh and primacy of Ireland in July 1669, and in November he was consecrated at Ghent, reaching Ireland in March 167o . Lord Berkeley of Stratton, the viceroy, showed him much kindness and allowed him to establish a Jesuit school in Dublin . Plunket showed amazing diligence in furthering the cause of his Church . He was in very straitened circumstances, the revenue of his see being only £62 in good years . The repressive measures following on the Test Act bore hardly upon him, and in December 1678 he was imprisoned in Dublin Castle for six weeks . Accused of a share in the Irish branch of the " Popish Plot," he was brought to London, and in June 1681 arraigned in the King's Bench, charged with conspiring to bring a French army to Carlingford . He made a good defence, but on the absurdest of evidence the jury convicted him of treason, and on the 1st of July he was hanged, drawn and quartered at Tyburn .