Fr. Cornelius Tierney BD (1872–1931) was an Irish missionary priest who joined the

Maynooth Mission to China The Missionary Society of St. Columban ( la, Societas Sancti Columbani pro Missionibus ad Exteros) (abbreviated as S.S.C.M.E. or SSC), commonly known as the Columbans, is a missionary Catholic society of apostolic life of Pontifical Right foun ...

, he died after being kidnapped by Chinese Communist bandits and held in captivity in 1931. Cornelius was born in Clones, County Monaghan, in 1875, he studied at St. Macartan's College, Monaghan, before going to

Maynooth College St Patrick's Pontifical University, Maynooth ( ga, Coláiste Naoimh Phádraig, Maigh Nuad), is the "National Seminary for Ireland" (a Roman Catholic college), and a pontifical university, located in the town of Maynooth, from Dublin, Ireland. ...

to study for the priesthood. Ordained in Maynooth for the Diocese of Clogher in 1899 taught English and Classics in St. Macartan's, college, and from 1911 he worked as a curate in St. Joseph's, Ballyshannon. In 1918 he joined the Maynooth Mission to China, which became the St. Columban's Society, he served as bursar spiritual director in Dalgan Park, before going to China in 1920. He was kidnapped in November 1930, by Communist bandits, who demanded a ransom of 10000 Mexican dollars. British Legation in China tried to negotiate his release but Fr. Tierney died in captivity some three months later in February or March 1931.Columban History China
www.columban.org The home ground of Aodh Ruadh CLG in

Ballyshannon Ballyshannon () is a town in County Donegal, Ireland. It is located at the southern end of the county where the N3 from Dublin ends and the N15 crosses the River Erne. Incorporated in 1613, it is one of the oldest towns in Ireland. Location B ...

is named Father Tierney Park in his memory.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Tierney, Cornelius 1872 births 1931 deaths People from Clones, County Monaghan Alumni of St Patrick's College, Maynooth 20th-century Irish Roman Catholic priests Missionary Society of St. Columban Christian clergy from County Monaghan