Celebrations for the Diamond Jubilee of Canon Patsy
THE extraordinary energy, dedication and passion for the church of Canon Patsy McDonnell was remembered and celebrated on Saturday at a special event in Drogheda.
Canon McDonnell was ordained a priest 60 years ago, and was delighted to be able to join family, friends and colleagues in the Westcourt Hotel, following a mass in his honour in St Peter’s Church.
Monsignor Jim Carroll paid tribute to his close friend at the mass, saying he was a tireless worker in his community, despite his retirement a number of years ago!
“His energy is remarkable, and he still very active in all aspects of life in the town, in particular his pastoral work,” said Monsignor Jim.
“He is a great lover of Drogheda over the years, going right back to his student days, and few people might know that he even played for Oliver Plunkett’s GAA in his youth.”
Patrick McDonnell was born in Tallanstown in 1933 and will shortly celebrate his 85th birthday.
He went to school in Tullyallen, before attending St Patrick’s in Armagh, and then onto Maynooth to study for the priesthood.
“He was always destined to enter the Church, although he may well have had a career in football,” he says with a smile.
“He won a county medal playing in 1957 in the senior championship and went on to be ordained a priest in 1958, so we may never know where his sporting career may have taken him.”
Canon McDonnell’s first parish was in Portadown, where he stayed for six happy years.
He then moved around the north of Ireland from being a curate in Tyrone, to almost 45 years in Armagh - 12 years in Keady and also in Cullyhanna – before coming to Drogheda in 2001.
“He was in the north for so long, many people didn’t know coming to Drogheda was a homecoming and even though he is supposed to have retired in 2010, I think he is almost busier now than he was before,” laugh Fr Jim.
“The children in St Ita’s school love when he comes in as chaplain, and he is still in touch with the Cottage Hospital and does as many house visits administering communion as he can, as he loves the chat – it is part of his tradition in Drogheda.”
The great numbers who attended the mass and the following tribute showed how hugely respected and well-regarded Canon McDonnell still is in the town.