ARCHBISHOP O FIAICH MAKES OFFICIAL VISIT TO HIS MENSAL PARISH
CIVIC RECEPTON AT THE TOWN HALL CONCLUDED BUSY THREE-DAY VISIT TO THE DUNDALK AREA
October 1977
TOMÁS Ó Fíaich’s first official visit to his mensal parish of Dundalk as Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland concludes after a busy three days when he is given a civic reception in the town hall.
Concelebrated Masses in St. Patrick’s, St. Joseph’s, St. Nicholas’ and the Church of the Redeemer, are attended by large congregations, taxing the capacity of each church. In addition, His Grace spends many hours visiting the sick in the town’s hospitals, a gesture much appreciated by staff and patients.
Everywhere he goes, the new archbishop speaks of his close ties with Dundalk, which emphasises the fact that for the first time in 100 years, Dundalk’s parish priest is virtually a local man.
At the civic reception, he is received on the steps of the town hall by the chairman, members and officials of the urban council, as Dundalk Brass Band plays a welcoming salute.
In the main hall, an address of welcome, designed and executed by council staff officer, Noel Redmond, is read by the chairman, Frank Carney.
He notes the tremendous high esteem in which His Grace is held, and wishes him success in difficult and trying duties in the coming years, conscious that his parishioners in Dundalk will give him their full and loyal support.
After Mr. Carney reads the address, Archbishop Ó Fíaich says he is deeply grateful for the civic reception.
He says the document, carrying the coats of arms of the archbishop and of Dundalk, is an indication that the Archbishop of Armagh is also Dundalk’s parish priest. He adds that even though he is not a native of Dundalk, or of Co. Louth, the people of the district in which he was brought up, always looked on Dundalk as their local town, and he cannot remember any period of his life when he was not constantly in and out of the town.
People from south Armagh came to this area for visits to ‘ The Rocks’, Ladywell on ‘ The Fifteenth’, local cinemas, the Dundalk show, football games and the Athletic Grounds.
Cardinal Ó Fíaich, speaking of his own background and education, says that in early life he was ‘ bitten by the Gaelic bug’ which provided another contact with Dundalk, where he had come to appreciate the work being done in the promotion of the Irish language by a fine group of men, led by Fr. Larry Murray, and supported by Peadar Ó Dúbhda, Frank Necy and Tommy Hollywood, with whom he often mixed.
When he went to Maynooth in the ‘50s, people did not regard him as having a Northern accent, rather a Dundalk one.
‘ Thus, coming to Dundalk, I realise I am among friends and neighbours, and I thank not only the members of the urban council, but also the people of Dundalk for their warm welcome.’