The Wright Family

SIR,– My strong feeling on the subject urges me to enter my earnest protest against aggravating the trouble now existing in Ireland by the introduction of the religious element, so as to connect the one in any way with the other.  That there is no reason for doing so my experience leads me implicitly to believe.  I have been for nearly ten years resident in the west of Ireland, and I declare with great pleasure that I have never met anything but extreme kindness and courtesy from my Roman Catholic fellow-countrymen, lay and clerical.  Religion has nothing to do with the present disorder, the cessation of which is earnestly desired by all peaceable citizens–by Roman Catholics as much as by Protestants.– Yours faithfully,

Late Canon Bourke Wright
From his first coming to Athleague Mr. Wright had a great love for the Suck River, which flows past the Glebe lands. A skilled oarsman, he soon discovered that it was possible to descend the river by boat from Athleague to Ballinasloe, and many were the pleasant boating excursions he and his family and friends organised on days when duties were not too arduous.

He had seen the more prosperous days of the country Protestant Church in the West of Ireland, when it would be filled with comparatively large and wealthy congregations. Yet in these latter days of small congregations with usually limited means, he took as much interest in the two churches under his charge and used the same care in preaching and conducting the services as ever.

The working people love him, sensible that beneath their rough exteriors he recognised men, their circumstance differing no doubt, but with souls and hope and longs not incompatible with his own in the universe of things. He was truly glad to use his influence in promoting the welfare of all worthy people and to help cases of real distress from his own purse. All classes and creeds respected him and loved him and feel in his sudden ‘taking off’ the loss of a dear, personal, kindly, God-fearing friend – one who though he was connected with the past days of the district, yet retained to the last his interest in present matters.

A staunch and conscientious supporter of his own Church, the late Canon Wright respected and comprehended the different views of others. Protestants and Roman Catholics alike were glad to call him friend and both were equally welcome at his table. He appreciated and thoroughly understood the characteristics of the Western peasantry and frequently said that no more civil or generally intelligent, interesting and amiable people could be found anywhere than the peasants who lived in his part of Roscommon.

The late Canon Bourke was interred in the burying ground at Fuerty. The funeral was unquestionably the largest seen in the district for years, the long line of carriages and mourning arches extending for fully half a mile. The coffin, which was of oak, brass mounted, was hidden in beautiful wreaths.