Kilcorney/ Dromtariffe

DENIS MOYNIHAN

It is always a source of pride and joy when a native son or daughter is recognised for their achievements or services rendered to their adopted communities.

There it is for Dromtariffe man Denis Moynihan, who was recently honoured by the Irish Community in Boston USA particularly for his Trojan work with Irish Pastoral Centre (IPC)

Denis and his wife Theresa left these shores almost 50 years ago and together they made a new life for themselves in their adopted country.

The following is an extract from the ‘Irish Emigrant’ a paper published weekly by the Boston IPC.

‘I started in 1996 and my first visit was to Bridge Water Prison when Fr Ted Linehan was at the IPC. Enduring long lines outside cold and dreary visitation rooms, he sits with the Irish Prisoners sharing news about home, offering to call their friends and families in Ireland and being a friend to those inside.

When family visits from oversees, he makes them feel at home as much as possible by accompanying them on their visits and helping them to navigate through the prison system.

The assumption is that everyone in prison is a bad persons says Denis, but from his 20 years visitation experience he has found it to be otherwise. The relationships that have developed are very rewarding to him.

In addition for the past 10 years Denis has played the very important role of Santa Claus for the mother and toddler group which meets every Wednesday at St Mark’s Parish Hall. Denis also finds time to volunteer at his own parish in St Ann’s in Somerville for the past 25 years where he is an active member, supporter and volunteer. He is also the regional co-ordinator for premium sports which provides live telecasts of sports such as GAA., Rugby and Soccer from Ireland.

Denis is always trying to recruit people to visit prisoners for what he considers a very important area of the Irish Pastorals Centre’s mission. This is very much in the spirit of Pope Francis, who has highlighted this year for us the Corporal Works of Mercy of which visiting the imprisoned is among them.’

Denis maintains a deep interest in all the activities of his native parish Dromtariffe. Football and hurling exploits and community affairs and the everyday life of the