Patrick Prendergast (abbot) explained

Father Patrick Prendergast (c. 1741–1829^[1]) was the last Roman Catholic Abbot of Cong^[2] and guardian of the Cross of Cong.

Prendergast may have been a seminarian at St Omer, which was suppressed in 1791. A Patricius Prendergast of the diocese of Tuam is noted as having graduated Bachelor in utroque jure from Paris in June 1783.

Prendergast was appointed parish priest of Cong in 1795, and was the last titular abbot of the Augustinian Abbey, holding that position until his death (the decision being made to not appoint a successor^[2]).^[3] Sir William Wilde described him as "a very fine, courteous, white-haired old man".

Prendergast not only re-discovered the Cross of Cong, he appears to have been responsible for the return to Ireland of the Cathach of St. Columba from Belgium in the early 19th century.

Prendergast died in 1829 and was succeeded by Fr. Patrick Waldron.

References

• The Return of the Cathach to Ireland, Michael Herity, in Seanchas:Studies in Early and Medieval Irish Archaeology, History and Literature in Honour of Francis John Byrne, p. 461, 62, 63; Dublin, 2000.

Notes and References

1. Book: O'Laughlin, Michael C.. County Mayo, Ireland, Genealogy and Family History Notes. 9 April 2018. 2001. Irish Roots Cafe. 9780940134539. A12 . the Rev. Patrick Prendergast ... died in 1928, at the age of 88.
2. Book: O'Sullivan, Emer. The Fall of the House of Wilde: Oscar Wilde and His Family. registration. 4 October 2016. Bloomsbury Publishing. 9781608199884. 13.
3. Web site: Antiquities . 13 . Mayo County Library.