Sadness at loss of Fr Seamus Corry
VERY Rev . Seamus Corry, who died last week at the age of 75, had been Parish Priest of Clogherhead for almost 24 years.
A native of Stewartstown parish near Coalisland in Co. Tyrone, Fr. Corry though a rather quiet and reserved man, was nontheless extremely popular with his parishioners.
His unassuming character was adequately summed up by Archbishop Most Rev. Thomas O’Fiaich, in his tribute to Fr. Corry at last Wednesday’s Solemn Requiem Mass in St. Michael’s , Clogherhead. Archbishop O’Fiaich told the congregation that filled the church to overflowing that Fr . Corry had been unstinting in his work for the area.
The congregation included priests from all over the Diocese of Armagh and some from beyond like Rev. George Tankard, who is attached to a parish in. England, but who, during regular visits to his holiday cottage at Walshestown, built up a close personal friendship with Fr. Corry.
Fr. Tankard was one of the principal concelebrants at the Mass together with two native priests of the parish, Rev. Ciaran Collier. Columban Fathers, and- Very Rev. Liam Pentony, P.P., both of whom have recently returned from working in other countries. Fr. Colliers nephew . Rev. Ray Collier, also Columban Fathers, who is also home on holidays, couldn’t assist at the Mass because of illness, but was present for the ceremonies.
Assisting the Archbishop were Very Rev. J, Mulgrew, P.P.. Dunleer; Very Rev. A. Eustace, P.P., Termonfeckin.
Fr. Corry’s sister, the sole immediate surviving member of his family, who resides in Warrenpoint was present, together with other relatives. His nephew, Patrick Corry, read one of the lessons, and another relative, niece, Mrs, Sheila White, read another .
Fr . Corry was educated at the Irish College in Paris, where he was ordained in June, 1928. After his ordination he was curate for three years in Lissan, Co. Derry.. For the following three years he was curate in Dromintee. Newry, then in Forkhill for two, moving first across the border to Kilcurry where he was curate from 1946 until he was appointed in 1953 as Parish Priest of Clogherhead..
He succeeded the late Very Rev. Fr. McCooey, a popular figure who laboured in the parish for 20 years as a curate, and who died only two years after taking over as parish priest. His memory is perpetuated by the fact that Fr. McCooey Terrace was named after him.