The Canon

Philip Dwyer was born on August 2, 1822, one of seven children. His parents Elizabeth (nee Doyne) and John, a barrister-at-law, resided at 16 Merrion Square, one of the most fashionable Georgian squares in Dublin.

Philip was educated by a Mr. McCaul and entered Trinity College on October 12, 1839, aged 17. He gained a BA in Divinity Test (2) in 1844 and an MA twenty years later. Masters degrees were automatically conferred after payment of a small sum in Trinity. He was ordained a deacon in 1845 and a priest the next year.

Following his studies at Trinity, Reverend Dwyer moved to County Clare where he spent the next 38 years. His first position was with the parish of Dunkerrin in the Diocese of Killaloe. In 1851 he was promoted to Prebend in the parish of Tullock where he remained until 1864. During this time he married Ann Stather Crowe, the daughter of a prominent local family. The marriage took place in Ennis in 1857.

He became Prebend of Dysart and Vicar of Drumcliffe in 1864, a position he held until 1883. This spans the worst period of famine in Ireland. The famine was particularly devastating in Clare. There are slight references in his book on Killaloe to the famine.

During this time he was Rector of St. Columba's Church of Ireland in Ennis.

Philip was known as the Historian of Clare. He wrote six books, including A Handbook to Lisdoonvarna and its Vicinity and The Diocese of Killaloe from the Reformation to the close of the Eighteenth Century.His books incorporate a mixture of strong story-telling and a wide range of interests.

St. Columba's Church

Another legacy is the current St. Columba's Church. He initiated the construction when the previous parish church became too small. It is reported that in 1870 he collected £8000 for the building fund. It is a highly individualistic church with many delightful features and good acoustics. Music appears to have been important, as the organ was replaced by a superior instrument two years after the opening.

The title Canon was likely conferred on the Rev. Philip Dwyer by the Bishop of Killaloe (or other senior official within the Church of Ireland) for his contribution to the diocese.

From Clare, Philip went with his wife and some of his children to the west coast of Canada. From August 1883 to September 1884, and occasionally after that, he was attached to Christ Church Cathedral in Victoria, taking regular services. He was elected as a clerical member of the Executive Committee of the Diocese and was a member of a sub-committee attending to the sale of Glebe lands. (Glebe lands were parcels of land owned by the diocese and attatched to a parish. Revenue could be generated, perhaps through farming, to supplement the income of the clergy.)

Christ Church Cathedral

During the time in Victoria, Philip's two youngest children, William and Mabel attended Craigflower School.

In 1885 Philip was placed in charge of the Chemainus and Saltspring Mission, living in Chemainus. The mission had four stations which were well attended by settlers. The next year he was appointed to a committee of the diocese conferring on the formation of the provincial Synod. In 1887 the bishop reported that Canon Dwyer had returned to England

Following his time in Canada, Philip resided in Yorkshire where he was a supply priest at St. Mary's, Triangle. Several of his daughters married into local families. Philip continued his career as a supply priest in the early 1890s in Leicestershire, Somerset and Norfolk. He also spent a year in this role in an English church in Lausanne, Switzerland. He died in Weston super Mare on October 21, 1905 at the age of 83 after a brief illness.

Canon Dwyer was described as an able and witty speaker, a sound scholar, and a well read divine. He was literate in five languages: English, Latin, Greek, Hebrew and Irish. He was a member of the General Synod, and his epitaph is included in Lyles Directory.