Collinstown Fore parish bids farewell to Fr Donnelly
Image 1 of 14
Fr Donnelly with family membes, his parents Paddy and Kathleen, his sister Louise Aries and his brother Mark.Image 2 of 14
Lough Lene Angling Association chairman Tom Fagan presents a token of appreciation to Fr Donnelly.Image 3 of 14
Elaine Leahy, Cllr Frank McDermott (left) and Rosemary Coffey (right) present a gift to Fr Donnelly on behalf of Fore Heritage and Amenity Group and Fore Tractor Run Committee.Image 4 of 14
Mary Carroll (right) presenting flowers to Kathleen, Fr Donnelly’s mother; with his father Paddy and Fr Donnelly.Image 5 of 14
Lough Lene Gaels Hurling Club chairman Brendan Higgins and Lough Lene Gaels Camogie Club chairperson Sheila Devine present gifts to Fr Donnelly.Image 6 of 14
Anna Marie McKenna making a presentation on behalf of the Collinstown Fore PTAA.Image 7 of 14
Fr Donnelly, with the expert assistance of Norrie Flynn cuts the first slice from the delicious looking cake at the social function on Saturday night.Image 8 of 14
Parishioners Norrie Flynn and Dermot McKenna present tokens of appreciation on behalf of all the parishioners to Fr Donnelly.Image 9 of 14
Margaret O’Donnell presenting a token of appreciation to Fr Donnelly on behalf of the Collinstown Fore Ladies Committee.Image 10 of 14
Image 11 of 14
Image 12 of 14
Image 13 of 14
Image 14 of 14
Collinstown Hall was full to capacity last Saturday evening, July 2, as the parishioners of Collinstown and Fore Parish attended a social event to honour their departing PP, Fr Patrick Donnelly.
There are few changes of clergy in the Meath Diocese this year, but as well as Fr Donnelly’s move to become Parish Priest of Enfield, Fr Martin Carley will become Parish Priest of Collinstown Fore; and Fr Michael Whittaker, PP Enfield, will become Parish Priest of Rahan/Mucklagh.
After Saturday evening Mass in Collinstown, the hall was busy as representatives of a number of groups connected with Collinstown Fore RC Parish, plus local cultural and sporting clubs presented gifts and tokens of appreciation to Fr Donnelly – which indicated the level of warmth towards Fr Donnelly and the high regard in which he is held.
Many of the members of the committee who prepared and served the beautiful refreshments were also on the committee that organised the social event.
Seamus McDermott was MC and he spoke on the renovation of both churches of the parish and Fr Donnelly’s great work with the youth. Norrie Flynn, in her address, referred to the positive and dynamic attitude of Fr Donnelly, and Cllr Frank McDermott spoke briefly and warmly about the departing PP.
Fr Donnelly would have been forgiven for showing signs of emotion in his voice as he spoke about his time in the Collinstown Fore RC Parish from October 2013 to weekend, and while he accepted the sustained (more than five minutes) standing ovation at the conclusion of his address.