HOW often that has been said by schoolchildren in Cuilmore School (or any other school) over the past 100 years. The priest can sense a certain air of excitement when he enters. However, to be flattered would be unwise, because it is an open secret that the priest can sometimes be a useful distraction. A godsend! Be that as it may, there is still a lot of pleasure for the priest on his weekly visit.
There is the gradual getting to know each other better; there is the rewarding experience for a priest of seeing the children, like the boy Jesus, "increase in wisdom and stature"; and there is that huge body of knowledge thrust at him from the junior section about all the lambs, calves, kittens and puppies that are born into the locality. And of course the babies and who may be in hospital; and you are liable to hear some family details that were never meant for publica- tion! The older children won't tell as much, though you will know if they have won at football or some other competition.
It has always been a joy to visit Cuilmore School. The atmosphere is open and warm. This is a tribute to the teachers as well as the children and parents, and to the happy tradition that has been handed on from one generation to the next. That brings me to what I have been asked to mainly write about -the priests of Newport over the past century who were part of the Cuilmore school tradition, and who must often have visited the school on foot, horseback, sidecar and bicycle before the day of the motor car.
One hundred years ago the parish priest was Canon Patrick Grealy. He is remembered particularly for his zeal for the Catechism, both in the school and the station houses; and like Fr. O'Flynn of song fame "he helped the lazy ones on with the stock." He died in 1910. He was grand- uncle of the present P.P. of Knock, Msgr. Dominick Grealy.
Among his curates in turn were Fr. Patrick Colgan, later P.P. of Conberne in Galway, Fr. Jerry O'Toole who became P.P. of Kilmeena, Fr. William Coen, later P.P. of Islandeady, a huge man who noticeably weighted down his side of the sidecar, because the driver on the other side was a small man. Next was a Fr. J. Godfrey who died as a curate in Knock, and then Fr. Richard Canavan, later P.P. ofCarnacon, Fr. Peter Varden was in Newport for a short time at the turn of the century. He chose never to become a P.P.Canon Grealy's last curate was Fr. J. J. Corcoran who died as P.P. of Knock in 1919.
In 1910 we come to "recent" times in Newport with Canon Michael McDonnell, who is remembered and renowned for the building of Newport Church. He had already been responsible for erecting the Chapel on Croagh Patrick in 1905 when he was Adm, in Westport. He died in 1940. His curates were Fr. P. Brett. fondly remembered by the children of his time for his store of sweets. He became P.P. of Kilmeena.Next came Fr. Michae lJ. Owens in the early 1920's. He had been a chaplain in the British Army with the rank of Captain. He was well able to handle his B.S.A. motor bike, as most other things with speed. He died as curate in Knock. He was succeeded by Fr. Batty Canavan, and like his brother Fr. Richard, he too became P.P. of Carnacon. Fr. Richard Morrin followed, and later as P .P. of Cahirlistrane, he became a noted local historian. Fr. James Walsh was curate here during the 1930's, and later P.P. of Kilmeena. As curate he played a big part in the building of Newport Parochial Hall in 1940-41.
Canon McGough succeeded Canon McDonnell in 1940. He was the man with the crooked pipe. He was later P.P. of Athenry. His was the first priest's funeral I attended after ordination in 1959. Fr. Michael Hennelly was curate during the 1940's. He was responsible for building the house in which I live from the proceeds of a raffle for a bike. Some achievement in those World War years! Some of the present grandparents will remember him too in connection with their romantic escapades. How innocent life was! Canon Killeen came to the parish in 1948 and retired in 1972. Most of the readers will know him better than I did, as also his curate Fr. Richie Horan. It was good to see at the recent senior citizens' party that he hasn't forgotten his old tricks. He is now P.P of Moore, an "island" parish of our diocese near Athlone. Fr. Eddie MacEllin was appointed curate in 1963 to 1972, and then became P.P and in 1977 transferred as P.P. to Bekan. He was the last curate (sadly) in Newport, after a long line that went beyond the days of Fr. Manus Sweeney of 1798 fame. Since 1990 he is assistant P.P. of Bekan. Canon Michael Moran was appointed P.P. in 1977 and transferred as assistant P.P. to Crimlin, Castlebar, in 1989, when my own term in Newport began.
Only the Lord can fill in the next date. One can just pray that he won't be in any hurry with it!
A final word. Thanks is due to our oldest citizen, John McGuire of Castlebar Road, who supplied much of the information about the early part of the century. He was able to salute the arrival of the twentieth century. May he also salute the arrival of the twenty first.
