Fr Padraig Walsh with Fr Sospeter at Fr Padraig’s farewell celebration at The Rose Hotel on Monday night. Photo by Dermot CreanOVER two months after Fr Pádraig Walsh took up his new position in Castleisland parish, the affable Killarney native returned to Tralee on Monday night for a special occasion in his honour.
The Rose Hotel hosted the official farewell celebration to mark his departure from St Brendan’s Parish and the affection and respect in which he is held was evident in the huge crowds that showed up.
Hundreds of them lined up to individually thank him for his contribution to the life in the parish and indeed the town over the decades.
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It was certainly an emotional occasion as he reflected on the highs and lows of his 17 years in St Brendan’s. Ordained in 1990, Fr Padraig came to Tralee in 1996 and spent 13 years in St John’s Parish before he was moved to St Brendan’s in 2009.
Before his speech, there were kind, heartfelt words from Jackie McColl, Rev Jim Stephens, Minister Norma Foley, Fr Sospeter, a poetic tribute from Margaret Culloty and a special video message from GAA legend Pat Spillane.
Fr Pádraig receives a presentation of the model of St Brendan’s boat from Mercy Mounthawk students at his farewell celebration at The Rose Hotel on Monday night. Photo by Dermot CreanThere were also special presentations in the shape of a model of St Brendan the Navigator’s boat from Mercy Mounthawk students, a medal, a hanging basket, a framed painting of Our Lady and St Brendan’s Church and a generous gift from the Parish.
In his speech, Fr Padraig thanked everyone for their kind words. He said he has such wonderful memories of his time in St Brendan’s and the people of the parish, to whom he expressed his gratitude for their enormous support over the years.
Fr Pádraig decided to sum up his time in St Brendan’s in the form of a poem he wrote specially for the night titled, ‘Ramblings About My Time In The Rock’.
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Fr Pádraig Walsh with his sister Elma Walsh at his farewell celebration at The Rose Hotel on Monday night. Photo by Dermot CreanIn it he spoke about the 40th anniversary celebrations for Our Lady and St Brendan’s Church in 2010, he reflected on the harsh winters of 2010 and 2011, the Parish Mission in 2012, the highs of Kerry football success, Liverpool FC reaching the promised land in 2020, his silver jubilee in 2015, the challenges of COVID and much more.
He ended the poem, emotionally, with this…
“Now it’s great to be back near St Brendan’s,
With the people I know well and long,
Many days we’d a laugh and some roguery,
Or even a tear and a song.
So thank you for being here to celebrate,
I’m honoured and filled with delight,
I’ll always remember my time in The Rock,
And the love you’ve shown me tonight.”
Scroll down for photos…
Fr Pádraig Walsh with Eilish Hayes at his farewell celebration at The Rose Hotel on Monday night. Photo by Dermot Crean
Fr Pádraig Walsh with Pamela Teahan and Avril O’Shea at his farewell celebration at The Rose Hotel on Monday night. Photo by Dermot Crean
Past and present staff from St Brendan’s Parish Centre, Anna McCarthy, Geraldine Galway, Phil Carmody, Kathleen Bunyan and Catherine Healy at Fr Pádraig Walsh’s farewell celebration at The Rose Hotel on Monday night. Photo by Dermot Crean
Ciara Looney, Bridie Healy, Minister Norma Foley, Bill Looney and David Healy at Fr Pádraig Walsh’s farewell celebration at The Rose Hotel on Monday night. Photo by Dermot Crean
Joan Walsh and Dinny Walsh at Fr Pádraig Walsh’s farewell celebration at The Rose Hotel on Monday night. Photo by Dermot Crean
Jim O’Connor, Pat Joe McQuinn and Helen O’Connor at Fr Pádraig Walsh’s farewell celebration at The Rose Hotel on Monday night. Photo by Dermot Crean
Frankie O’Shea, Catherine Moynihan, Bridget O’Shea and Fr Tadhg Fitzgerald at Fr Pádraig Walsh’s farewell celebration at The Rose Hotel on Monday night. Photo by Dermot Crean
Fr Pádraig Walsh slicing the cake at his farewell celebration at The Rose Hotel on Monday night. Photo by Dermot Crean
Fr Padraig receives a presentation from Danny Healy at his farewell celebrationat The Rose Hotel on Monday night. Photo by Dermot Crean
Fr Padraig receives a presentation from Teresa Elumelu on behalf of the Parish at his farewell celebration at The Rose Hotel on Monday night. Photo by Dermot Crean
Fr Padraig receives a presentation from Pat O’Connor at his farewell celebration at The Rose Hotel on Monday night. Photo by Dermot Crean
The big crowd at Fr Pádraig Walsh’s farewell celebration at The Rose Hotel on Monday night. Photo by Dermot Crean
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