RIP

For those Columban Fathers whose death occurred before the obituaries started being posted online (2018) please contact us via the contact form.

Fr Patrick Egan

Fr Pat Egan was born in Ballybrehony, Claremorris, Co Mayo to James and Mary Egan. He was educated in Ballyfarna NS and St Colman’s College, Claremorris, Co Mayo. He came to Dalgan in 1953 when made his permanent aggregation as a Columban on 29th September 1957. He...

Fr Noel Daly

Fr Noel Daly was born on 25th December 1940 in Tullamore, Co Offaly. He was educated at Mercy Convent, Tullamore, CBS Tullamore and St Finian’s College, Mullingar. He came to Dalgan in September 1958 and was ordained priest on 21st  December 1964. Noel was assigned...

Fr John Marley

Fr John Marley was born in Belfast on 11th January 1927. He was educated at St Patrick’s PES, St Comgall’s PES and St Malachy’s College, Belfast. He came to St Columban’s, Navan in September 1944 and was ordained priest on 21st December 1950. John's first...

Fr Gerald Joseph French

Gerald (‘Gerry') Joseph French was born on 6 August 1937 in Mayo Abbey, Co Mayo. He was educated in Facefield NS and St Colman’s College, Claremorris. He came to Dalgan in September 1956 and was ordained priest on 21 December 1962. He was appointed to Korea, to...

Fr Frank O’Kelly

Fr Frank O’Kelly was born in Derry, on 27th September 1935. He was educated at Clady NS, St Eugene’s and St Columb’s, Derry. He came to St Columban’s, Dalgan Park in September 1954 and was ordained priest on 21st December 1960. Frank was appointed to the...

Fr Cathal Vincent Gallagher

Cathal Gallagher was born on 23rd July 1951 in Garrison, Co Fermanagh. He was educated at Devenish PS, at St Michael´s Grammar School, Enniskillen, and at Queen´s University, Belfast before he joined An Garda Síochána in 1970. Cathal served as a Garda in Navan...

Fr Michael James Dodd

Michael (Mike) Dodd was born on 25 January 1937 at Drumming, Ardagh, Co Longford. He was educated at Edgeworthstown NS and St Mel’s College, Longford. He entered Dalgan in September 1955 and was ordained priest on 20th December 1961. Appointed to Korea in 1962,...

Fr Michael John McGuire

Michael John McGuire was born in Limerick on 10 June 1944. He was educated at Clarecastle NS, CBS Limerick and St Kieran’s, Bray. He joined the Christian Brothers and spent four years at the Training College in Marino, Dublin. He then spent two years teaching in...

Fr Donal Nicholas Bennett

Donal was born in the Parish of Drumragh, Omagh, Co Tyrone on 28th October 1932. He was educated at St Mary’s, Killyclogher, and CBS Omagh and entered Dalgan in 1954. He was ordained priest on 21st December 1960. Donal was appointed to the Philippines and after...

Fr Michael O’Farrell

Michael Augustine O’Farrell was born 14th July 1938 at Lismore, Co Waterford. He was educated at Presentation Convent, Lismore, CBS Lismore and St Joseph’s College, Ballinasloe. He came to Dalgan in 1956 and was ordained priest in 21 December 1962. In March 1963 he...

Fr Parig Digan

Parig Digan was born in Ballinahowen, Athlone, on 24th February 1929. He was educated at Rashina NS, and St Mel’s College, Longford. He came to Dalgan in 1947 and was ordained priest on 21st December 1953. His first appointment was to further studies in history and...

Fr Brendan Hoban

Brendan Hoban was born in Castlebar, Co Mayo on 27th June 1946. He was educated by the Mercy Sisters, Castlebar, De La Salle Brothers NS and St Jarleth’s College, Tuam. He came to Dalgan in September 1964 and was ordained priest on 11th April 1971. Appointed to...

Fr Cyril Paul Murphy

Cyril Murphy was born in Belfast on 5th November 1928. He was educated in St Teresa’s PE, Belfast, CBS Newry, and St Mary’s CBS Belfast. He came to Dalgan in 1946 and was ordained a priest on 21st December 1952. He was assigned to Japan and after initial language...

Fr Thomas Michael Murphy

Thomas ‘Tommy’ Murphy was born in Castlebar, Co Mayo on 3rd of August 1949. He was educated at St Patrick’s Primary School and St Gerard’s Secondary School in Castlebar. He joined the Columbans in September 1967 and was ordained priest in Dalgan on Easter Sunday,...

Fr Jeremiah Cotter

Fr Jeremiah (‘Jerry’) Cotter was born at Dunlisha, Douglas, Cork on 1st June 1930. He was educated at Christian Brothers N.S. and Christian Brothers College, Cork. He came to Dalgan in 1948 and was ordained priest on 21st December 1954. Jerry was appointed to Korea...

Fr Michael Doohan

Fr Michael (‘Mick’) Doohan was born on 4th March 1928 at The Hand, Connolly, Ennis, Co Clare. He was educated at Doolough N.S., Connolly, Ennis and St Flannan’s College, Ennis. He came to St Columban’s, Navan in 1946 and was ordained priest on 21st December 1952....

Fr Austin McGuinness

Fr Austin McGuinness was born on 25th November 1940 at Clonard, Co Meath. He was educated at Clonard N.S. and Belcamp College, Dublin. He entered Dalgan in September 1959 and was ordained priest on 21st December 1965. Austin was appointed to Korea in 1966. Over the...

Fr Michael Irwin

Fr Michael Irwin was born in Ballingarry, Co Limerick on 19th July 1936. He was educated at Ballingarry N.S. and St Munchin’s College, Limerick. In 1954 he entered St Patrick’s College, Maynooth and was ordained a priest of the Diocese of Limerick in 1961. He...

Fr John Smyth

Fr John Smyth was born in Wood Cottage Straide, Foxford, Co. Mayo on 15th September 1938. He attended Straide National School and subsequently De La Salle Secondary School in Castlebar, making the 25-mile return journey on his bicycle daily. He entered St...

Fr Desmond Morrison

Fr Desmond Morrison passed away in Big Hearts Care Home, Parañaque, Manila, after a long illness. He had spent 66 years of his missionary life in the Philippines. He was born in Dublin on 28 February 1925 and grew up in Derry where he attended Waterside Primary...