Société des Missions Africaines –Province d'Irlande

né le 25 mai 1929 dans le diocèse d'Ardagh, Irlande serment permanent le 11 juin 1956 prêtre le 18 décembre 1956 décédé le 19 octobre 1999

1957-1969 missionnaire au Nigeria 1969-1972 diocèse de Liverpool, travail pastoral 1984-1999 missionnaire aux USA, travail pastoral décédé à Cork, le 19 octobre 1999, à l'âge de 70 ans

Father Sean paid a visit to Blackrock Road in August 1999 and at that stage his irrepressible smile and jocose manner gave the lie to the fact that he was even then suffering from the terminal illness that was to carry him off just a few months later. Sean gave the impression that he was a happy go lucky kind of person. In reality he was a happy go serious man. The war in Nigeria in the mid sixties had an upsetting influence on his ministry and he battled bravely to put the trauma of that time behind him by engaging in pastoral ministry in England and America. The effectiveness of that ministry was attested to by Monsignor Nugent who came from Palm Beach Diocese, Florida, to attend the funeral, as did several of Fr. Sean 's parishioners. It was a fitting tribute to a man whom they obviously held in very high esteem.

They paid tribute especially to his concern for those who were hospitalised and ill. His was an apostolate of doing rather than saying and he had an instinctive compassion for the weaknesses of human nature. His pastoral care was sought after and appreciated. A large muster of relatives and friends made the long journey from Leitrim and Dublin to be present at his funeral in Wilton.

Sean 's brother, Father Tom, a member of the Spiritan Congregation, was chief celebrant at the funeral Mass and paid tribute to his brother 'as a man who liked to get things done well' .I am sure that the Lord will also concur and greet Sean with a 'well done, good and faithful servant.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh sé.