Fr Finegan did so much for Togher
DEEP and widespread regret has been aroused by the death of Very Rev. Peter Finegan, P.P., Togher, Co. Louth, which occurred on Monday at the Parochial House, Togher, at an advanced age.
Father Finegan, who was a native of Drogheda, belonged to a very old and highly respected South Louth family having long and distinguished associations with the professonal, industrial and commercial life of the district.
He was a son of the late James and Mrs. Finegan, Shop St. ; a brother of Misses Lily and Mona Finegan, of the late Dr. John Finegan, Dublin, the late Dr. P. J. Finegan, Carlingford, and of the late Mr. Thomas Finegan, Drogheda. Another deceased member of the family was a nun in the Mercy Order, Dundalk.
The late Father Finegan was educated in Drogheda, in Armagh Seminary, and at Maynooth College. An able and determined scholar, he passed through the world-famous home of the Irish priesthood with distinction, and was ordained more than half a century ago. Having served some years on the English Mission, chiefly in London, deceased was recalled to his native archdiocese and appointed C.C. of Stonebridge, a northern parish, after which he was transferred to Dunleer, Co. Louth.
His zeal and energy being soon recognized in Armagh, he was appointed C.C. at Dundalk, and it was here that a much wider scope was found for his abilities as an organiser. He was not long in Dundalk before he formed the Catholic Boys’ Brigade which could be described as the pioneer Catholic scout body in this part of Ireland, if not in the whole country, while he also established an Irish class probably the first of its kind in any provincial town.
However, it was not until his appointment as parish priest of Togher about the year 1908 that his true worth as a labourer in Christ’s vineyard could be adequately measured by all who knew him and knew his work. -At that time a man of fifty years in the prime of life and health. Father Finegan set about the decidedly uphill struggle of bringing both the parish church and the parish schools of Togher up to a standard worthy of their noble purpose..
Both the church and the schools, after a long term of service to the parishioners, were rather badly in need of improvement and the energetic new pastor soon commenced the work of renovation.