County to celebrate major milestones with Monsignor Kevin Flanagan
Monsignor Kevin Flanagan is marking the 65th anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood and his 90th birthday.
Double celebrations for Kilglass native Monsignor Kevin Flanagan will be held on Friday, August 16th at the Kilglass Gaels GAA Centre.
Fr. Kevin, as he is affectionately known, is a native of Ruane, Kilglass. This year marks the 65th anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood and his 90th birthday.
His priestly ministry has been served in the diocese of Patterson, New Jersey, USA. However he has retained his Roscommon links by returning each summer to his family home. The only year in 65 that he missed returning to Kilglass was in 2020 because of Covid restrictions.
Fr. Kevin is well known, not only in Kilglass but throughout Roscommon. He has celebrated Mass with the Roscommon senior footballers in New York and also with teams in Ireland.
He has supported many families, personally known to him in North Roscommon during times of illness, with bereavements and in celebrating family occasions, including weddings.
He has only agreed to the night of celebration on the strict understanding that there be no gifts, monetary or otherwise, and no presentations. It is to be an evening with the people from the countryside and small towns of this rural area.
The evening will commence with a celebration of Mass at 7.30 p.m.. Mass will be followed by refreshments.
A night of song, dance and recitation performed by the local community will then ensue. The occasion will mirror the old rambling house style that Fr. Kevin was so familiar with before his ordination and on his many visits to homes in the area.
