Cantwell, John (a.1405–52), archbishop of Cashel, was (although illegitimate) a member of the important Cantwell family of Tipperary. He was sent to Oxford and studied at Eagle and Ape Halls, earning degrees in both canon and civil law by 1429. In March 1427 Cantwell, who had already received papal dispensation to enter holy orders, received another dispensation, allowing him to hold more than one benefice. On the strength of this he returned to Ireland, became archdeacon of Ossory, and was appointed sub-collector of papal dues for Ireland. He was elected archbishop of Cashel on the death of Risdeárd Ó hÉidigheáin (Richard O'Hedian (qv)), but the election was nullified because the pope had made provision for the office during Ó hÉidigheáin's lifetime. Cantwell seems to have been unaware of the provision, but on learning of it he submitted to the will of Eugenius IV, and was confirmed in his office in November 1440. As archbishop, he was drawn into secular politics on occasion. In 1447 he had to lead a band of men to give aid to the priory of Athassel, which had been burned by ‘certain nobles of those parts’, probably because the 4th earl of Ormond (qv) was in England and could not act as the church's protector. When Cantwell died (14 February 1451/2), he was succeeded by a kinsman, another John Cantwell (qv); on occasion the two men have been conflated into one individual. Two men named John Cantwell were successively archbishop of Cashel, and from this position of prominence they were able to contribute greatly to the importance of their family in local politics.
Sources
C. pap. letters; D. A. Chart (ed.), The register of John Swayne, archbishop of Armagh (1935); Emden, Oxford; NHI, ix, 291