Hitler and Mussolini among surprising faces hidden in Stations of Cross at Multyfarnham

It had long been understood that the statues in the life-sized Stations of the Cross at the Franciscan Friary in Multyfarnham, Co. Westmeath were modelled on local people. Now, research by the Ballinafid Multyfarnham Bunbrosna Active Retirement Association (BMB Active) has revealed that some of the figures were based on famous faces from history – including Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini.

The surprising discovery was made by a BMB Active team who earlier this year set out to research the history of the much-admired Stations. The findings were unveiled at a Heritage Week event at Multyfarnham Community Centre last week.

“The two thieves, in the 12th Station – the Crucifixion – are Adolf Hitler and a person of political note of the time, Lord Craigavon, the first prime minister of Northern Ireland,” BMB Active member Eddie Newman told the gathering.

The face of Italian dictator Benito Mussolini was used for the figure of a whip-wielding Roman soldier.

The idea for the Stations dates to 1938, according to BMB Active member Marion Mooney, who said the driving force behind the project was Cork-born Fr Camillus Courtney. He subsequently moved on, and it was Westmeath native Fr Charles Glennon, appointed Guardian of the Friary in 1939, who oversaw the project to completion.

Three years later, on the eve of the 1942 Portiuncula, the Stations were blessed. The project was funded entirely by donations, ranging from two shillings to £250.

“Each individual donation has been recorded. They include donations from people in the locality, other friaries and families, and people abroad,” Ms Mooney said.

“We really felt that we needed to record and research this for the Franciscans, for the community around us, for visitors, for tourists, and for future generations.”

No station has fewer than three figures, while most contain between four and six. Ms Mooney explained that they are a miniature replica of the Via Dolorosa in Jerusalem.

The pathway was designed by Fr Eugene Hoade, who had lived for many years in the Holy Land. The engineer was Denis Nolan, the landscaper was a Mr Hutchinson and the stonemason was Nicholas Killian from Rathganny, Multyfarnham. The statues were designed and supplied by Neff Brothers of Cork city.

The statues cost £100 each, Mr Newman said, and their use of contemporary people as models caused considerable curiosity and gossip locally.

While the identities of most of those selected were closely guarded secrets, the research has identified several of them, Mr Newman said, revealing that as well as Hitler, Mussolini and Lord Craigavon, Jack Tate from Ballinafid is depicted as a tall, thin Roman soldier, while Pearlie Kane, mother of sports journalist Gerry Buckley, is the little girl in the sixth Station.

The Roman slave is based on Br Philip Griffin, the clerk of works. An electrician before joining the Franciscan Order, he was known as ‘Sparks’ by his fellow friars and was later murdered in South Africa.

Mr Newman also explained how the Stations were constructed on what was largely marshy ground. Local farmers contributed earth from their farms, which was used to straighten the course of the River Gaine and build up ‘Calvary’, where the Crucifixion scene stands. Later, cut stone from a demolished local big house was used to build up the sides of the river.

Eilis Orme of BMB Active spoke about the contribution of the Franciscan Order to Multyfarnham and the continuing importance of the Friary. She noted that the Abbey has been the setting for numerous television and musical recordings over the years, including RTÉ’s Good Friday Liturgy in 2023, which was broadcast from the base of Calvary. Most recently, RTÉ broadcast Mass from the Abbey on July 19, 2026.

Westmeath heritage officer Melanie McQuade recalled Ms Orme contacting her earlier this year about the BMB Active plans and their intention to apply to the Heritage Council. The application was successful and, with only a third of this year’s applications receiving funding, Ms McQuade said it was clear the Heritage Council saw value in the project.

Fr Kieran Cronin, OFM, Guardian of Multyfarnham Abbey, complimented BMB Active on the work, saying he knew relatively little about the Stations or the Neff brothers who created the statues.

He said the Stations continue to attract visitors from around the country and beyond, and groups regularly visit the Friary and pray the Stations.

“We have now had many people coming, especially on Good Friday,” he said, noting that groups of Indian Catholics from Kerala also come from around the country to celebrate Good Friday at the Friary.

“Countless numbers of people come from all over the world.”

Speaking about the annual Portiuncula indulgence, Fr Cronin said that while numbers might not be as great as in the past, large numbers still attend and, for many, praying the Stations of the Cross remains an essential part of the occasion.

“It’s a living legacy of generations of people, religious and lay people who loved Multyfarnham, who really contributed to it – not just in money, but also in prayers and their spiritual presence.”

Historian Peter Wallace reminded those attending that the Franciscan Order has been in Multyfarnham for more than 750 years. In addition to establishing the community, the friars founded a secondary school in 1899 and an agricultural college in 1956, providing more than a century of education and employment.

“Those of us who live here don’t fully appreciate that we have a little piece of heaven on our doorstep,” he said.

The event also featured the screening of an oral history film compiled by historian Adrian Roche, featuring interviews with local people Fr John Kealy, Concepta Cox, Jimmy Ward and Pauline Tormey.