This week’s Tuam Herald features a story about a wonderful tapestry commissioned by a relative of Columban Martyr Fr Francis Canavan.
The article is written by Mairéad O’Brien, a retired teacher and historian who has written extensively about the Columban martyrs, most recently in the July/August 2025 issue of the Far East magazine.
The article explains how the colourful tapestry came to be commissioned. Click here to read the article:
Tuam Herald, Wednesday, August 06, 2025 – Page 14
Recently, tapestry artist, Frances Crowe, told the Arts Programme on Roscommon FM that Jacqueline Creavan d’Towey commissioned the work when she visited her studio and told her the story of the Columban Martyrs killed in the Korean War 75 years ago.
Jacqueline Creavan d’Towey explained how when she began to research Irish-Korean links she discovered that Fr Francis Canavan hailed from Headford, where she grew up. “The next thing I realised was that he was related to us.”
Fr Francis Canavan arrived in Korea in 1949. He died in a North Korean prison camp on 6th December 1950 as a direct result of hardships experienced during the North Korean Communists’ notorious ‘Death March’. He was 34 years old.
Fr Francis was born Headford, Co Galway on 15th February 1915. He came to Dalgan in 1934 and ordained there 1940. He first served in Galway diocese between 1941-1948, before he went on mission to Korea.
He was one of seven Columban missionaries who were killed in the Korean War between June and December 1950. This year marks the 75th anniversary of their deaths.
The seven were, in addition to Fr Francis Canavan, Frs Tony Collier, Jim Maginn, Patrick Reilly, Patrick Brennan, Tommie Cusack and Jack O’Brien.
Jacqueline Creavan d’Towey explained to Roscommon FM that she referred to Australian Columban Fr Philip Crosbie’s account of his time as a prisoner and the death march in Korea in his book, ‘Pencilling Prisoner’ to help her gain an insight into the circumstances of her relative’s incarceration.
In 1953, Fr Crosbie and Bishop Thomas Quinlan were released through Moscow. Until then they had been presumed dead.
The tapestry measures 1.5 metres by 1 metre. You can listen back to the interview here: https://www.mixcloud.com/Rosfm/the-arts-show-30-07-25-1300-1500/
The tapestry will be visiting some of the parishes associated with the Columban Martyrs.
The Westmeath Independent will publish a piece about Columban Martyr Fr Paddy Reilly and the tapestry in the last week in August, to coincide with the tapestry’s visit to Drumraney, Fr Paddy’s home place.
it will be on view on Korea Day at Farmleigh House Garden, Phoenix Park, Dublin on 31st August 2025.
Relatives of the Columban Missionaries who died and veterans of the Korean War have been invited to Korea Day in order to share their stories and links to South Korea.
According to Jacqueline Creavan d’Towey, the tapestry will be gifted to Korea, through the Irish Embassy in Seoul and the Columbans in Seoul. “I hope to bring it to Seoul early in December 2025. It will be displayed at several venues and parishes in Ireland, before its departure for Korea.”
Dates to see the tapestry:
– Aug 4th 2025: 7.30pm in Headford Church, there will be a special mass for the seven Columban martyrs and the tapestry will be blessed.
– Aug 10th 2025: the tapestry will be in Clogherhead for a mass for Fr Tony Collier.
– Aug 24th 2025: it will be in Drumraney for Fr Paddy Reilly’s Mass.
– Aug 31st 2025: Farmleigh House Gardens, Dublin for Korea Day.
– Oct 19th 2025: Liscannor for Fr Tommie Cusack’s Mass.
The Tuam Herald will also publish Fr Canavan’s full story in December to mark the anniversary of his death. The article is by Mairéad O’Brien who wrote about the Columban Martyrs in the July/August 2025 issue of the Far East magazine.
