Mannion, Canon Tommie
September 16, 2011Canon Tommie, who was 71, was a native of Carrareagh, Ballyglunin. He was educated locally and at St Jarlath's College, Tuam before going on to study for the priesthood in Maynooth.
He was the uncle of former Galway football All-Ireland medal winner and former All Star Tomas Mannion while Fr Tommie also savoured success on the playing fields with St Jarlath's College, Tuam back in the late '50s.
Most recently, he had served as Parish Priest in Claremorris, but previously he had served as a priest in St Jarlath's as well as in Cill Chiarain, Carraroe, Corr na Mona and on the Aran Islands - where ironically his nephew Fr Micheal Mannion, is currently the Parish Priest.
The remains of Canon Tommie Mannion reposed in St Colman's Church, Claremorris on Tuesday, before his funeral Mass yesterday (Wednesday) on the feast of the Triumph of the Cross.
Praising the 'dignity and courage' with which Canon Tommie bore his illness, Archbishop Neary described him as 'a man of great gentleness, a deeply spiritual person, dedicated and faithful to his priestly duties in the many locations he served in the Archdiocese'.
"He was an outstanding sportsman, a brilliant hurler an excellent footballer and a great athlete. In 1958, he won a Hogan Cup with St Jarlath's College, that year beating Gormanstown College in the final.
"Bhí grá faoi leaith ag an Ath. Tomás don Ghaeilge, don ceol Gaelach, d'amhránaíocht Gaelach agus chuir sé barr feabhais ar an spéis seo i rith na blianta a chaith sé sa Ghaeltacht," he added.
He was a brother of the late John, Patrick, Fr Michael (MSC), Margaret Glynn and Mary Jospehine Mannion. He is survived by his sister Christina Rushe (Dunmore), his brother Liam (Corbally, Limerick) and his twin, sister Carmel Hinchon, Illinois USA.
- Courtesy of the Connacht Tribune, 16th September 2011 Tweet
