New York tributes to Killarney Priest

KERRYMEN’S P&B Association of New York Chairperson Loretta King and PRO Muiris Bruic have been among those to pay tribute to Fr Brian Coffey this week, after the 72-year-old Killarney-born Chaplain to the New York association passed away.

Fr Coffey died suddenly at his US residence on October 22. Born on March 1, 1945, to James and Mary (née Counihan), he was raised and educated in Killarney and ordained in Kerry in 1972, going on to serve in Ireland, Africa, and eventually North America.

The Kerrymen’s P&B Association this week paid respect to Fr Coffey at his Wake, which took place last Wednesday and Thursday in Yonkers. His Funeral Mass was held last Friday ahead of his body being brought to Kerry, and this week Muiris Bruic was among those to express sadness at Fr Coffey’s passing.

“Fr Coffey was truly a legend,” he said. “He was the longest-serving Chaplain to our association. I was at his wake on Wednesday and we formed a guard of honour. Former Presidents and Officers were pall bearers.

“He was the prime mover for the Kerrymen’s Annual Golf Tournament which has raised hundreds of thousands of Dollars for worthy causes, focusing primarily on Kerry Missionary Priests and Nuns labouring in Third World Countries”, Mr Bruic added.

Fr Coffey will repose at O’Shea’s Funeral Home, Cathedral Place, Killarney, on Friday evening from 7.30pm to 9pm. Requiem Mass will take place on Saturday from 10am in St Mary’s Church, Beaufort, Killarney, followed by interment of ashes in Churchtown Cemetery, Beaufort. He is sadly missed by his sisters Moira, Brenda, Margaret, Angela and Sara, brothers John and Donie, their spouses and families, the Mill Hill Missionary Community, relatives, and friends.

Fr Brian Coffey