1861-1909

The intriguing and enigmatic life story of Michael Kickham. Ordained a priest in 1884 for the New Zealand missions, he found an environment where Irish secular priests were undervalued. This resulted in a petition to Pope Leo XIII. His attempt to leave Christchurch diocese resulted in acrimonious correspondence with his Bishop, culminating in the Bishop writing to Cardinal Moran in Sydney. The Cardinal sided with Michael. In 1899 he returned to Ireland and in 1901 departed for an undisclosed destination. In 1907 his family discovered by chance that he was in Buenos Aires, no longer a priest. He died there in 1909. The book is based on Michael’s many letters, contemporaneous newspaper reports and extensive research.