Blessed Terrence O'Brien (1601-1651) is from Limerick, Ireland.
He joined the Dominicans, receiving the name Albert at Limerick, where his uncle, Maurice O'Brien, was then prior. In 1622 he studied at Toledo and after eight years returned to Limerick, to become twice prior there and once at Lorrha, and in 1643 provincial of his order in Ireland. His services to the Catholic Confederation were highly valued by the Supreme Council. At Rome, he received the degree of Master in Theology, and on his return made a visitation of two houses of his province at Lisbon, where it was reported that Urban VIII was about to appoint him coadjutor to the Bishop of Emly. He was again named for the coadjutorship by the Supreme Council at the end of 1645 and recommended by the nuncio Rinuccini. Subsequently, at the petition of many bishops, Rinuccini wrote (17 March 1646) that Burgat, Vicar-General of Emly, was a suitable person for the coadjutorship. In August he renewed his recommendation of Father Terence O'Brien, who was named coadjutor with the right of succession, in March 1647, and eight months later was consecrated bishop by Rinuccini. He was to be the last Bishop of the Diocese of Emly.
Throughout the ensuing troubles he adhered to the nuncio. He signed the declaration against Inchiquin's truce in 1648, and the declaration against Ormond in 1650. When Limerick was besieged in 1651, he urged a stubborn resistance and so embittered the Ormondists and the Parliamentarians, that in the capitulation he was excluded from quarter and protection.
For the next two years he dedicated himself to supporting and consoling his flock grievously harried by the armies of Cromwell in a period of intense persecution of the Catholic faith in Ireland. As the full force of Cromwellian persecution was unleashed upon the country, he took his place at the center of the resistance to Cromwell’s armies in Limerick City, which was soon to be sieged by Cromwell’s deputy; General Henry Ireton.
He made no attempt to escape and was captured on October 30, 1651. He was brought before a court-martial setup up by Ireton (commander of English forces besieging Limerick) and sentenced to death and was accordingly executed on October 31st. It is said he faced his death with serenity and joy and from the scaffold where he was to be executed on the Hill of Cluain, he prayed for the throng of people gathered around and asked of them to preserve the Faith, keep the Commandments, and be resigned to the Will of God. Eyewitness accounts tell of how the English soldiers hacked and beat his body for 3 hours until it lost all human resemblance. His head was severed and placed on a spike over the City Walls.
General Ireton who ordered his court martial and death would die of the plague within 3 weeks of Blessed O’Brien’s execution. Eyewitness accounts of his tormented death tell of him haunted by remorse and acknowledging that the innocent blood of the Bishop was the cause of his own death.
He was consecrated Bishop of Emly on April 2, 1648 and was to be the last Bishop of the Diocese of Emly.