Michael Paul Riordan, CFC (1789 – February 1862) was an early Christian Brother, and the second Superior General of this congregation from July 1838 until his death in 1862.
Riordan was born in Clonmel, County Tipperary in 1789, and unlike many Catholics at the time, was fortunate enough to gain an education at the local school.
[2] At the request of Bishop John Polding of Sydney, Riordan sent Brothers Stephen Carroll, Peter Scannell and Francis Larkin to establish a community in Australia.
[3] However, despite developing a good reputation amongst the locals, this mission failed in March 1847; the Brothers were not to return to Australia's shores until 1868.
[2] In contrast, Riordan's tenure as superior-general saw a great expansion of the Brothers' educational structure in Ireland.