Send 103rd birthday greetings to Fr James Mallin in Hong Kong

This Tuesday, 13th September sees the 103rd Birthday of Fr Joseph Mallin, the last surviving son of any of the leaders of the 1916 Rising.

Father Joseph Mallin was just two years old when along with his mother he visited his father Michael Mallin for the last time in Kilmainham Jail, Michael was Chief of Staff of the Irish Citizen Army, and second-in-command to James Connolly.

On May 8 1916, Michael wrote to his family, telling his baby son: “Joseph, my little man, be a priest if you can.” Joseph became a priest. He worked at the Wah Yan College, China, a Roman Catholic secondary school for boys run by the Society of Jesus. Michael Mallin was survived by his wife Agnes, his three sons (including Joseph) and two daughters, the youngest of whom was not born until four months after his death.

In this seminal year, where we have remembered the 1916 Rising we should also remember the families of the volunteers who paid such a heavy price in the flight for independence, says Senator Mark Daly, who has suggested birthday greetings be sent to Fr Mallin.

Birthday wishes can be sent by email to:

Fr. John Guiney - Dublin
jkguiney@jesuitmissions.ie

Or send a letter to:

Fr Joseph Mallin
Wah Yan College,
281 Queen's Road East,
Hong Kong,
China.