According to
James Lynch, Fihely was a native of
Clonfert in
Galway, but according to
James Ware and
Anthony à Wood he was a native of
Baltimore, County Cork. Benignus Millett OFM, suggests that he joined the Conventual Franciscans at
Kilnalehin, and received his initial training in the
studium attached to the friary. Later he studied at the
University of Padua, where he obtained the degree of
Doctor of Divinity. O'Fihely was acknowledged as one of the most learned men of his time. In 1506 he was appointed minister provincial of the Irish Franciscan province. In 1506, he was appointed as Archbishop of Tuam and was consecrated at Rome by
Pope Julius II. In 1513, he received a
Scholastic Accolade from the Church, styled as
Doctor Flos Mundi. He did not return to Ireland till 1513, in the meantime attending as Archbishop of Tuam the first two sessions of the
Fifth Lateran Council (1512). On leaving for Ireland to take formal possession of his see, O'Fihely procured from the pope an indulgence for all those who would be present at his first Mass in Tuam. However, he was destined not to reach Tuam, for he fell ill in Galway and died there in the Franciscan convent. ==Works==