Item 105 - The Capuchins in Cork

William Larkin was born in Ballintober, a village in County Roscommon, on 29 July 1894. He joined the Capuchin Franciscan Order in October 1910, taking Paschal as his religious name, and was ordained to the priesthood in March 1920. He graduated with an MA from University College Cork in 1916. In 1917 he obtained a university scholarship prize (worth £600) which allowed him to continue his studies overseas. A gifted scholar in the field of economic history, he held the position of Assistant Professor of Economics and Commerce at University College Cork from 1921 to 1923 and continued to lecture (on a part-time basis) in the University until the 1950s. He also supervised several students taking an MA degree in economics including Jack Nagle who later became an Assistant Secretary in the Department of Agriculture. Fr. Larkin also conducted tutorial classes for workers in Cork city and gave public University Extension Lectures on Catholic social teaching throughout the 1930s. His published works included ‘Marxian Socialism’ (1917), the highly influential ‘Property in the Eighteenth Century’ (1930), and ‘Economics and Frontiers’ (1957). He also authored several scholarly articles for ‘The Capuchin Annual’. He died on 7 December 1976 and was buried in the cemetery attached to Rochestown Capuchin Friary in County Cork.

Baptismal name: William Larkin
Religious name: Fr. Paschal Larkin OFM Cap.
Date of birth: 29 July 1894
Place of birth: Frenchlawn, Ballintober, County Roscommon (Diocese of Elphin)
Name of father: Michael Larkin
Name of mother: Mary Anne Larkin (née Kilbride)
Date of reception into the Capuchin Order: 16 Oct. 1910
Date of first profession: 17 Sept. 1911
Date of final profession: 9 July 1916
Date of ordination (as priest): 20 Mar. 1920
Educational attainments: BA, 1st class hons. (1915); MA (1916); Studentship (1917); PhD, London (1928); Economics Lecturer in University College Cork, 1928-58.
Date of death: 7 Dec. 1976
Place of burial: Cemetery, Rochestown Capuchin Friary, County Cork