John Blowick

Fr. John Blowick (1888–1972) was an missionary priest and theologian.

John Blowick was born 26 October 1888 in Belcarra, Co. Mayo, to John Blowick a farmer, and Honoria Blowick (née Madden). He was educated at Westport CBS, and St. Jarlath's College, Tuam, Co. Galway. He trained as a priest in St Patrick's College, Maynooth gaining a first in his BA degree, following postgraduate studies he was appointed professor of theology at Maynooth in June 1914 after a competitive concursus (he was the last Maynooth professor selected in that way).

He co founded the Maynooth Mission to China with Fr. Edward Galvin. In 1918 he founded St Columban's College, Dalgan Park, Shrule, Co. Galway, as the seminary for the Society, which in 1941 moved to Navan, Co. Meath.

Two of Blowick's younger brothers became priests and a third Joseph Blowick entered the politics. Fr. Stephen Blowick was Parish priest of Islandeady in Co. Mayo, Fr. Peter Blowick served as Rector of St. Columbans College, and Joseph Blowick became TD for Mayo South, was a founder and leader of Clann na Talmhan a small farmers’ party, serving as Minister of Lands in the inter-party governments of 1948–51 and 1954–7.

Blowick

Coordinates: 53°38′24″N 2°58′23″W / 53.63999°N 2.97307°W / 53.63999; -2.97307

Blowick is a suburb on the east side of the town of Southport, Merseyside, England.

History and etymology

Blowick is part of the ancient parish of North Meols and was formerly a detached settlement, on the northern fringe of what is now Southport.

The name derives from the Old Norse name Bla Vik meaning "dark bay" as it was located at the end of a large inlet on the ancient lake of Martin Mere called "The Wyke" which ended roughly at Crowland Street and drained into the Old Pool. There are historically two Blowicks: Higher Blowick, situated around what is now the junction of Everard Road and Southbank Road, and Lower Blowick (Butts Lane, Norwood Road, etc.), which is the area around what locals tend to refer to now as simply Blowick. The countryside on which the nearby Kew Housing Estate is built on was known as Blowick Moss.

Landmarks

The Southport gas holder on Crowland Street was the tallest building on the Southport skyline, visible from as far afield as Blackpool and Parbold. The largest tower was decommissioned in January 2008, due to an environmental risk posed by the storage of oil within it. In September 2008, National Grid announced that two of the three gas towers would be dismantled by August 2009, with the fate of the smallest tower remaining uncertain. The news has met with mixed reactions from local residents, though the gas holder was voted one of the North West’s biggest eyesores in a competition run by the BBC.