Community bids emotional farewell today to popular priest

A crowd of up to three hundred people attended a special function on Sunday evening to bid farewell to a popular priest in South Roscommon who is moving back to his religious order in Dublin.

Fr. Michael Hickey, aged in his eighties, had served as curate in the Drum/Clonown area of South Roscommon for the last seven years but has now returned to the Holy Ghost Missionaries in Dublin.

The announcement of his move in July by the Bishop of Elphin, Kevin Doran, led to a community campaign on the ground opposing the decision, with almost 2,500 people signing a petition.

Despite an initial farewell function the weekend before last being postponed in a bid to secure a last minute reprieve, Fr. Michael departed Drum this Wednesday afternoon, and was given a guard of honour by the local community.

John Naughton, chairperson of the local committee, which organised the campaign to oppose the priest’s move, said the farewell function on Sunday in the Shamrock Lodge Hotel, Athlone was a great night but one “touched with sadness”.

“We had a huge crowd - I couldn’t believe the effort people made. I didn't expect it because so many people had called to him at the house to say their goodbyes for the past week,” said Mr Naughton.

“After the presentations were made to Fr. Hickey on Sunday, he spoke about how lonely and lonesome he was going to be leaving the parish. He said how he loved it so much in Drum and the people were so good to him, but sure he was so good to the people as well.

“He had so many friends, the housebound, people in nursing homes. I think he used to visit 80 people every month and they would be looking forward to his visit. 

"He will be keeping in touch with us, and we will be keeping in touch with him as well,” he said.