Monasterboice says farewell to Fr Hickey as he celebrates his final mass
There was a packed house in Tenure Church on Monday morning as much loved local priest Fr Michael Hickey said his final Mass before moving out of the area as he has been recalled to his order.
Locals in the area are devastated to see the popular curate leave the parish he has served in for almost two decades and said he will be greatly missed by all who knew him.
Fr Hickey has been described as a ‘wonderful man’ and a ‘ tireless worker’ in the local area.
Others paid tribute describing him as a great gentleman and a wonderful asset to the area.
Fr Hickey, who has been in Monasterboice parish for 17 years, said his final Mass at 9.30am in Tenure on Monday morning and he admitted the day was a ‘very emotional’ one for him but said the time had come to move on.
Following the Mass there was an opportunity for parishoners to say goodbye and express their thanks to him for his dedicated service throughout the years.
Originally from County Tipperary, The Holy Ghost priest was ordained in June 1969 and back in 2009, the parish held a special celebration to mark his ruby anniversary in the priesthood.
After his ordination, Fr Hickey spent one year in Ireland and then went to Sierra Leone in West Africa where he worked for 30 years.
While in Sierra Leone he experienced and endured the rigours of a terrible civil war.
To mark his departure from Monasterboice, local woman Emily Halpin has honoured Fr Hickey with a poem and the piece has received a warm response locally.
It ends with the lines: ‘ They say he has to go now, after all these years; Even the church walls seem to be in tears.
It’s sad news indeed, no one wants him to go; It really does feel like a terrible blow.’
‘ To say goodbye then, there will be big queues; Will anyone ever fill this good mans big shoes?’