John Frederick MacNeice (1866–1942), was born at

Omey Omey may refer to the following: France * Omey (commune), a commune in north-eastern France. Ireland *Omey (civil parish), a civil parish in County Galway. *Omey Island, an island in County Galway Surname

* Tom Omey, retired Belgian athlete { ...

, Co. Galway, to a Protestant family which claimed descent from the kin of the early Irish saint MacNissi. Opting for the

Church of Ireland The Church of Ireland (, ; , ) is a Christian church in Ireland, and an autonomy, autonomous province of the Anglican Communion. It is organised on an all-Ireland basis and is the Christianity in Ireland, second-largest Christian church on the ...

ministry he served notably as rector of

Carrickfergus Carrickfergus ( , meaning " Fergus' rock") is a large town in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. It sits on the north shore of Belfast Lough, from Belfast. The town had a population of 28,141 at the 2021 census. It is County Antrim's oldest t ...

, Co. Antrim and afterwards as bishop of Cashel, Emly, Waterford and Lismore (1931–1934) and until his death as bishop of Down, Connor and Dromore (1934–1942). MacNeice is well known for his symbolic opposition to the

Partition of Ireland The Partition of Ireland () was the process by which the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland (UK) divided Ireland into two self-governing polities: Northern Ireland and Southern Ireland (the area today known as the R ...

(accepted as a political reality): hence his refusal to allow the Union Flag to be laid on Carson's grave at his funeral in St Anne’s Cathedral, Belfast in 1935. MacNeice was twice married. One of his sons by his first marriage was the poet,

Louis MacNeice Frederick Louis MacNeice (12 September 1907 – 3 September 1963) was an Irish poet, playwright and producer for the BBC. Known for its exploration of introspection, empiricism, and belonging, his poetic work is now ranked among the twentieth ...

References

*Jon Stallworthy: ''Louis MacNeice'', Faber and Faber, 1995 *Christopher Fauske: 'Side by Side in a Small Country': ''Bishop John Frederick MacNeice and Ireland'', Church of Ireland Historical Society, 2004 *David Fitzpatrick: 'Solitary and Wild': ''Frederick MacNeice and the Salvation of Ireland'', Lilliput Press, 2011. 1866 births 1942 deaths Bishops of Cashel and Waterford Bishops of Down, Connor and Dromore 20th-century Irish Anglican priests {{Ireland-Anglican-bishop-stub