The Dean and That Paper

Abstract

Patrick Edward Joseph Dillon (1841-1889), more commonly known as Dean Dillon, was a significant, albeit controversial, figure in the history of the Irish in South America. Despite being known for a severe and unsympathetic behaviour, which was much criticised, Dean Dillon left a legacy of undeniable importance through his work as a Catholic priest and missionary, mostly in Argentina. The chapter is titled after its specific focus on the celebration of the 150th anniversary of the founding of one of Dillon’s most ambitious projects: The Southern Cross, an English-language catholic paper focused on the Irish Argentines. Through letters, the chapter covers Dillon’s initial career, his involvement with the Irish Catholic population in Argentina and the upbringing of what would become the TSC as it is known today.