From Tehran to the Boyne...
Fr Paul Lawlor samples life in Drogheda, a far cry from the hustle and bustle of the Iranian capital
FROM the hustle and bustle of downtown Tehran to the relative tranquility of Dominic Street. Fr Paul Lawlor has come a long way.
A man with a great desire to learn, encourage, listen and teach, the Domincan priest from Tralee spent last week by the banks of the Boyne as part of the Fatima Novena and admits it was a great experience, sampling life in provincial Ireland again.
Waiting for the call that will hopefully see him return to Tehran again, Fr Paul has spent 20 years in the capital of Iran, becoming immersed in the culture and history of the place.
He is a one man show in Tehran, running Saint Abraham’s church in the centre of the city. It is attended by people from a variety of nationalities and cultures and continues the tradition of the Dominicans in the country, dating back to 1300.
‘I know the Dominicans arrived in Drogheda in 1224, so 76 years later they had made it to Iran,’ he states.
He is very much a man who seeks dialogue and understanding in all aspects of life and it is that open-mindedness that has seen St Abraham’s become part and parcel of life in Tehran.
‘St Abraham’s is a place of encounter and dialogue with those of different faiths. This is sometimes a surprise for those who have become accustomed to age old divisions and barriers between religious groups. We have no illusions concerning the differences concerning our beliefs about humanity and God and that mutual understanding and acceptance is not always easy. As Christians however we are called to meet and exchange our ideas and beliefs with those of different faiths. It is simply part of being Christian.’
Fr Lawlor has become a bit of an ambassador for Ireland in the city since the closure of the embassy there. ‘We meet lots of politicians as a result, British, Chinese, Russian, they all come to see us in Saint Abraham’s.’
His Drogheda links revolve around Fr Jim Donleavy in many ways. ‘He was my teacher and a great friend back in the 1970s. Fr Jim was always recognised as one of the great preachers of the Irish province,’ he states.
He also has relations in town. His late uncle, Leo Duggan, worked in BD, married to Phyllis (Landy) from Dunleer. They lived at Forest Hill and then Termonfeckin and his cousins are Marie Therese, Susan and Michael.
‘I was based in the Tech in Dundalk for about a year and worked in the youth club there and lived in the friary.
‘I think Drogheda is a fine place and you have a Waterstones, which is great. The ramparts walk is lovely too and of course the Magdalene Tower,’ he added.
He also revealed that his nephew is none other than actor Tom Vaughan Lawlor - aka ‘Nidge’ from Love Hate.
‘He’s a great actor because he’s such a lovely lad off screen,’ he admits.