All will miss Fr Barry… even the pets
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Gemma and Gabrielle Seery with Fr Barry Condron after Mass in Tyrrellspass last week.Image 2 of 20
Fr Barry with Heather, David, Conor, Grace and Rachel Murphy.Image 3 of 20
There was a large congregation for the farewell Mass for Fr Barry last week.Image 4 of 20
Gretta Scally Clear and Frank Scally with Fr Barry Condron.Image 5 of 20
Fr Condron with Tommy Claffey, Breda Geoghegan and Patricia, Loretta and Jimmy Claffey.Image 6 of 20
Fr Barry Condron with some of the parishioners at an event to say goodbye to him following diocesan changes.Image 7 of 20
Fr Barry with his Aunt Breda Condron.Image 8 of 20
Fr Barry Condron with Ger, Eibhlín and Fionnula McKeown.Image 9 of 20
The cake for Fr Barry Condron’s celebrationImage 10 of 20
Fr Barry Condron farewell mass in St. Stephen’s Church, TyrrellspassImage 11 of 20
Fr Barry Condron with Panda the dog, who delivered his own message to the departing PP last week.Image 12 of 20
Fr Barry Condron leaving Mass last Thursday.Image 13 of 20
Fr Barry Condron shaking hands with Anne Buckley.Image 14 of 20
Bernard Ward, Fr Barry and Diarmuid and Pat Garvin.Image 15 of 20
Fr Barry Condron with Moira O’Brien after the Farewell Mass.Image 16 of 20
Bridget Ward, Catherine Claffey, Fr Barry Condron, Barbara Reynolds, Mark McCann, Máiri O’Brien.Image 17 of 20
Fr Barry Condron with Debbie, Sarah and Ben Gary.Image 18 of 20
Sacristans Pat Feery and Mary Bradley with Fr Barry last Thursday evening.Image 19 of 20
Pat Feery (sacristan), Fr Barry Condron and Ollie Gallagher.Image 20 of 20
Everyone in the GAA pavilion in Tyrrellspass for refreshments and music after MassReport and photos by Jay G Forde
The communities of Tyrrellspass and Castletown Geoghegan gathered in large numbers last Thursday to bid a heartfelt farewell to Fr Barry Condron, who celebrated Mass as Parish Priest in St Stephen’s Church, Tyrrellspass, before community refreshments at the Tyrrellspass GAA Centre.
Some 400 parishioners attended the special Mass, reflecting the deep appreciation and affection held for Fr Condron after 16 years of ministry in the parish.
Fr Condron is leaving Tyrrellspass and Castletown Geoghegan to become PP of Tubberclair, where he replaces Fr Seamus Mulvaney, who is retiring after 61 years in the priesthood, including 33 years serving the Tubberclair parish.
A native of Rahan, Fr Condron was ordained to the priesthood in 1995. He served in Castletown Finea and previously in Moynalvey before his appointment to Tyrrellspass and Castletown Geoghegan in 2010.
Opening the farewell Mass on a warm evening, Fr Condron expressed his surprise and gratitude at the large attendance.
“What are you doing here on a lovely evening like this?” he joked. “I can’t believe there are so many people here, and my sincere thanks to you for coming along to this Mass.”
Reflecting on his years in the parish, he spoke warmly of the community that had welcomed him. “When I came here almost 16 years ago, I was filled with hope and joy, and that hope and joy did not disappoint my years of ministry here, even though we had our good days and our difficult ones.
“Nonetheless, it was a wholesome time in the parish and one that I enjoyed immensely, and I’m sad to get word that I would have to leave this.”
Fr Condron will be replaced by Kinnegad native Fr Robert McCabe, who was ordained in July 1994.
One of the most memorable moments of the evening came at the conclusion of the Mass when a well-known local dog, Panda, made a surprise entrance at the church, walking up the aisle to the altar with a note attached to his collar.
The humorous message thanked Fr Condron “for calling to the gate before and after Mass, for playing ball, for feeding me, for the treats, the walks, the tennis balls, and for bringing me home whenever I went on holidays during storms or fireworks”. It concluded with the line: “If you have any nuggets or cocktail sausages, you know where I am on Friday.”
The unexpected gesture brought laughter throughout the church and perfectly captured the affection in which Fr Condron is held by people, and pets, throughout the parish.
Following the Mass, parishioners gathered at the Tyrrellspass GAA Pavilion for an evening of music, refreshments and food.
Inviting everyone to continue the celebrations, Fr Condron thanked the many volunteers who had organised the event.
“People have been putting great work into it all afternoon and since yesterday evening, and I look forward to seeing you there. Again, from the bottom of my heart, thank you all for coming here this evening. God bless.”