FR. Reggie Smyth, a native of Castleblaney, Co. Monaghan died in Castlebar General Hospital on Thursday, I7th. January, 1991 after a short illness. He was 67. He had been Chaplain to the Mother of the Church Convent in Newport.
The remains were removed to Saint Patrick's College, Kiltegan, County Wicklow, headquarters of St. Patrick's Missionary Society. Burial took place in the Society's cemetery on Saturday, 19th January after concelebrated Mass.
His brother, Fr. Harry Smyth C.M., was the chief celebrant, assisted by the Superior General of the Society, Fr. Kieran Bermingham, and the Bishop of Elphin, Dr. Dominic Conway, in whose diocese Fr. Reggie had previously served and who had been on the missions with him in Nigeria.
Among the 75 concelebrants were many members of the Society, priests from various Irish dioceses including Clogher, Elphin and Tuam, priests from the Vincentian Order and from the missions in Africa. Sisters from the Medical Missionaries of Mary, Daughters of Charity, Holy Child, Sisters of Mercy, St. Louis Society of the Sacred Heart and the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary were also present.
Tribute was paid during the Mass by Fr. Bermingham to Fr. Reggie's loyalty and dedication to the Society of Saint Patrick. His classmate, Fr. Nicky Walshe, who had joined the Society with him in September 1942, recalled that Fr. Reggie was very fond of the Irish language, wearing his Fainne as well as his Pioneer pin with pride. He said Reggie was a great organiser, who always had stories to tell and was a good laugh. His nephew Michael Fisher from Belfast said Fr. Reggie who was born in Castleblaney in 1923 was always proud of his roots in County Monaghan. On behalf of the family he thanked all who participated in the Mass, particularly those who had travelled from various parts of the country. He also thanked the Society of Saint Patrick for their sympathy, the Sisters of St. Lucy Filippini in Newport, County Mayo, where Fr. Reggie was based, and the medical staff at the Castlebar General Hospital, where he died.
The mourners included representatives of the Monaghan County Association in London of which Fr. Reggie was a former President, and from St. Macartan's College in Monaghan where he went to school. Monsignor Vincent Connolly, P.P., Carrickmacross, represented the Bishop of Clogher, Dr. Joseph Duffy. Fr. Reggie was ordained in Kiltegan on Easter Sunday, 1949. He served on the missions in Nigeria, where he was Education Secretary in the Diocese of Calabar for many years, and in Grenada. He also served in the parishes of llford and Slough in England. He had been chaplain at the Mother of the Church Convent in Newport, County Mayo for the past two years and had also served at Cregg House in Sligo and the Convent in Loughglynn, Co. Roscommon.
He is survived by his brothers, Fr. Harry (England) and Eugene (Belfast) and sisters Mrs. Peggy-Fisher and Mrs. Marie Gunning (Dublin) and Sr. Nora (Armagh).
His father, the late John F. Smyth was a former Monaghan County Registrar. Several mourners from Castlebar and Newport travelled to Kiltegan for the burial.
Mayo News , January 30, 1991
Following ordination, he was appointed to Calabar Diocese. There he ministered until 1967, mostly in the capacity of Education Secretary with the remit of getting education in the Diocese up and running. This he pursued with the same enthusiasm Reggie exhibited as a student in his involvement in ‘things Irish’ such as the Gasra and popularising theFainne and his membership of the Pioneer movement. However, ill-health forced him to leave his Nigerian mission in 1967.
Thereafter, he ministered mainly in Irish Dioceses such as his native Clogher and Elphin, with a short interlude in Ilford, Essex. He also ministered for a short period in Grenada. Finally, he spent a short time as chaplain to a Convent in Newport, Co. Mayo and he was there until his death on the 17th of January, 1991.
Age at Death
67
Ordained
1949
Place of Rest
Kiltegan
from St. Patrick's Missionary Society.