Popular Kildare priest celebrates 60 years of pastoral life
Fr Tim Hannon is celebrating his Diamond anniversary Photo: Aisling Hyland
ON SATURDAY 23 May at the 6pm Mass in St Michael’s Parish Church, a special celebration will take place to honour Fr Tim Hannon whose ordination to the Priesthood by Archbishop John Charles McQuaid took place in Clonliffe on the 22 May 1966.
The Golden Anniversary of the ordination of the man who was born in Newmarket on Fergus, Co Clare, is in terms of local parish clergy, an unusual event.
Fr Hannon came to Athy some years ago after he retired as parish priest of Wicklow, where he served from 2005.
He had previously served for seven years as parish priest of Rathdrum and as curate in Arklow from 1992 to 1998, as well as curate in Glasthule, Swords and Churchtown between 1971 and 1992.
I first met Fr Tim when he called to Ardreigh House some years ago on what was his regular weekly visits to parishioners of St Michael’s.
Such visits were part and parcel of his pastoral work, which he had started earlier in his priesthood and despite his early retirement as priest, he continued the practice when he arrived in Athy until he had visited all the local families in the parish.
Sometime after my illness, which manifested about one and a half years ago, Fr Tim contacted a friend of mine enquiring if he could visit me. As a result, Fr Tim now calls to me at home every three weeks or so.
I am deeply grateful to Fr Tim for his frequent visits and the opportunity these visits present to both of us to discuss world affairs and especially the future of the Catholic Church in Ireland.
The latter is a topic which concerns many of us, especially those of us who are familiar with the writings of Fr Tony Flannery, the suspended Redemptorist priest and the now deceased Swiss priest and theologian Hans Kung.
I am especially grateful to Fr Tim for reawakening my faith which I must admit had slipped over the years.
The young Tim Hannon came from a farming background in Co Clare where his father farmed before they transferred to a farm at Fullers Court in Ballytore.
The Co Kildare farm was subsequently transferred to Tim’s brother Jim, who has since died, but the farm still remains in the Hannon family.
His younger brother John was ordained to the priesthood as a member of the Marist Fathers and Fr John in recent years served as Superior General of the Marist Father and as such was based in Rome.
He is now retired from that position and works as a curate in Donore Avenue, Dublin. Fr John will join Fr Tim to concelebrate Mass in St. Michael’s Church on the 23 May at 6pm.
Fr Tim’s two sisters were professed as nuns. Sr Pauline lives in Ballymun as a community nun while his other sister, Sr Anne, a member of the Sisters of Mercy, is deceased.
The celebration of Fr Tim’s 50th Anniversary of his ordination will be an important event in the history of St Michael’s parish, and everyone is invited to share with Fr Tim and his family members the joy of the happy occasion.
Liam Regan, a native of Dundalk and now resident in Stradbally, is the author of a book of poetry ‘Ghosts, Wildflowers and Quiet Fields’ which was recently launched in Athy library by Dr Derek Coyle of Carlow College.
I first came across Liam when a poem of his was photocopied and enclosed in a gift which was presented to me on the occasion of the unveiling of the ‘Made of Athy’ plaque at 5 Offaly Street.
The name ‘L. Regan’ was written on the bottom of the poem which led me to believe that he had prepared the gift.
I was mistaken as the gift handed to my son Seamus by somebody he did not know had been generously prepared by Denis Ryan of Gouleyduff in recognition of my involvement in the annual famine commemoration event.
But to return to Liam Regan I was very much struck by the poem authored by him and which had appeared in his first book of poetry.
I was not able to get a copy of that book but a short time ago the launch of his second book of poetry took place in the Athy Library.
I was able to attend that book launch which was made hugely enjoyable by the opening address of Dr Coyle and the poet Liam Regan reading several poems from his latest work.
It was a wonderful evening, and I finish this Eye on the Past with the opening lines from Liam Regan’s poem ‘Ardscull’.
Liam’s poetry, while using simple language, is yet most profound and deeply pleasurable. Liam Regan is a poet who can be justifiably proud of his work.
Again, I remind my readers that the famine commemoration ceremony held each year in St Mary’s Cemetery opposite the former workhouse, now St Vincent’s Hospital, will take place on Sunday 24 May at 3pm.
