Born in Galway in 1892 to Thomas Griffin and Mary Kyne, Father Michael Griffin had a very nondescript childhood, attending public school before being ordained in 1917.
He was well-liked among the locals, known for visiting schools to give talks, an important member of the Gaelic League, and a proud Irish speaker. While Father Griffin was not an activist, he was outspoken in his nationalist ideals to close friends and knew many IRA leaders personally.
The year 1920 saw a large increase in the violence between the nationalists and the Crown forces. On Friday, October 15, sensitive letters to the Crown from one Patrick Joyce were intercepted by the IRA. Joyce was convicted of spying for the British, executed, and buried in secret by IRA operatives. The British grew wary of Father Griffin due to Joyce implicating him as a nationalist in previous letters, so he was considered a prime suspect in the disappearance.
On Sunday, November 14, Father Griffin held Mass for Joyce’s return. Afterwards, as he was settling down for the night, there was a knock at the front door; a group of men in trench coats was crowding the front porch. Witnesses of the event remarked that Griffin was not taken by force, but left of his own free will. He was not seen alive again.
Griffin's disappearance was noticed instantly, as he was absent from a morning service. Father James O’Dea headed to the presbytery to ask after him, but was told by the housekeeper that he had been called away and had not returned. Telegrams were sent out, and searches began, but to no avail.
Suspicion was instantly pinned on the Crown forces, especially considering the disappearance of Patrick Joyce a month earlier. The consensus was that he had been falsely accused of involvement with Joyce’s abduction due to his political ideologies, but there was no hard evidence.
Winston Churchill prompted the Chief Secretary to say that “Sinn Féiners” were responsible for this disappearance in an attempt to cover their tracks, as well as insinuating that a member of Griffin’s congregation was responsible. This was commented on by one Galway priest, Father Davis: “No Catholic Irishman would injure a hair of Father Griffin’s head.”
The truth came out when a shallow grave containing Griffin's body was discovered in the bog at Cloch Scoilte on Saturday, November 20. The clergy were informed, and his body was carried back to St Joseph’s Church. The funeral was unprecedented in scale, with 12,000 mourners taking part. Father Griffin’s body remains in St Brendan’s Cathedral in Loughrea to this day.
While the RIC came to an indefinite result on the circumstances of the death, Bishop of Galway Thomas O’Dea was less unsure, stating, “Father Griffin was shot by Government forces.”
The Commander of the Auxiliaries, Frank Crozier, later announced that Griffin was killed at Lenaboy Castle, evidence of which was withheld, explaining why the RIC’s investigation was so unspecific.
Measures were taken to ensure that Father Griffin would not be forgotten. A monument was built at Cloch Scoilte in 1922, Father Griffin Road was opened in 1937, and Father Griffin’s Football Club was founded in 1948, serving as reminders of the tragedies of the War of Independence.
