Papal Benemerenti medal for Kilcullen's Paddy Gilligan

WHEN Kilcullen man Paddy Gilligan was asked by the late Canon Joseph Furlong to help with the parish finances, he probably didn't realise that he would still be doing so seven parish priests later. But he did, up until the end of last year, when illness forced him to cease. To mark 56 years of voluntary service to Kilcullen and Gormanstown Parish, he has been awarded the Papal medal Benemerenti.

The presentation took place after a mass in Curragh Lawn nursing home, celebrated by Kilcullen's current parish priest, Fr Gary Darby. The medal and accompanying certificate were handed to Paddy by the owners of Curragh Lawn, Liam and Miriam McDonnell.

It's the second Benemerenti honour in the Kilcullen parish this year, following the recent awarding of the medal to Norah Breslin, who served in a range of ways for over 50 years, especially through her musical contribution. Paddy Gilligan's contributions included serving on school boards, on the parish finance committee, and on the parish council.

The recent event was attended by members of his family, including his children and grandchildren, siblings, and a number of other parishioners with whom he had worked down the years. Fr Darby said the occasion was a celebration of Paddy's dedication and commitment to the church as well as a celebration of his faith. Music for the event was provided by Joe Kelly, Leah O'Sullivan and PJ Lydon.

Paddy will be celebrating his 90th birthday in the coming weeks, when he hopes to be in Lourdes with the Oblate Pilgrimage, for which Miriam McDonnell has provided her nursing skills for decades.

In reminiscent mood after receiving the award, he reflected on people he had worked with over the more than five decades, including in those earlier days such other parish stalwarts as Ned O'Rourke, Harry Clarke, and Jerry Kelly. "All gone now," he said, but adding that through the years he had absolutely enjoyed the work with the parish as a very social engagement with lots of very good people.

A regular part of that work was counting the mass collections each weekend, and at the award event were two of those who had helped him with that over many years, Evelyn McKenzie Smith and Pat Clarke.

Paddy was one of 11 siblings. His parents ran a farm near Nurney until 1949 when they sold up and bought a dairy farm near Caragh. It was very much an all hands on deck business. 

"It was milking by hand then, no electric machines or coolers. I had to work every day before school, and again when I came in from school. That's the way it was." 

It was also a time of pragmatic make and mend, unlike today's throwaway habits. "There wouldn't be a patch on our trousers, there would be several of them. And there were boys in my class who came to school barefoot."

A man of very deep faith, that faith was tested when Paddy's wife Betty was diagnosed with cancer, and he watched her die over 18 months. "But I couldn't turn against God. All the more because I was thinking of her faith as she went through her illness."

Now that he has retired from his voluntary work, he suggests that the parish is currently in a good financial position. But he has concerns about expenses coming down the track, in particular major work which needs doing on the church roof. 

"It's going to take a lot of money and there are so many demands on money at this time. Also, the way religion has gone, there are fewer people going to Mass and less money coming in to run the parish." 

But, after 56 years, that will be no longer his concern.

The Benemerenti medal dates back to the 18th century, originally designated as an award to soldiers of the Papal Army, and became a civil decoration in 1925.