Galvin, Fr Micheal
August 23, 2010Rock Street in Tralee is this week in mourning for a man synonymous with the character of the area in every way; lifelong president of the Austin Stacks club and former Parish Priest of Ballybunion, Fr Michéal Galvin, who died on Monday at 91 years of age.
A priest of the people, Fr Galvin's peaceful death of Fatima Home shortly before midnight on Monday has met with deep sadness on both the Rock and Ballybunion; his final parish where he ministered for over 20 years until his retirement in 1999.
A son of the Galvin/Barrett family who were steeped in the sporting life of Rock Street, Dr Galvin played football for his beloved Austin Stacks club in his younger years prior to becoming a passionate off-pitch supporter for the rest of his life through his presidency and his constant presence within the club.
He was also widely respected in greyhound circles throughout Kerry and beyond and owned a number of dogs in his time.
However, it was in his ministry that his greatest traits came to the fore. "Fr Michéal was a people's person first and foremost, very down-to-earth and always extremely approachable," Parish Priest of St John's Tralee Fr Seán Hanafin told The Kerryman.
"Indeed, I worked with him as curate in Ballybunion for three of his years as Parish Priest there in which time I came to learn his capacity and welcoming ways towards people. He was a great servant of the Christian community, very loyal to the Church, and connected well with people of all ages during his career, from his work with schoolchildren to the elderly of the parishes he ministered in."
Ordained in June 1944 after studying in Maynooth, Fr Galvin began his vocation as chaplain to Tralee hospital. He was curate in the parishes of Glenbeigh, Castletownbere, Killarney, Kenmare and Listowel, before being appointed parish priest of Glenbeigh. He became PP of Ballybunion in September 1978, a position he held until his retirement July 1999.
Chairman of Austin Stacks Ger Reidy said the club were greatly saddened by the news: "It is with the greatest of sadness that we have learned of the death of our beloved Club President Fr Michéal Galvin.
"Fr Michéal was born in Rock Street on 13th April 1919, just two years after the foundation of the Club, in which his uncle Christy Barrett was a foundation of the Club, in which his uncle Christy Barrett was a founding member. He played with the Club in his young days and then followed his calling to the priesthood. And even though his priestly ministry took him to many different parishes throughout the Kerry Dioceses, he never really left the Rock".
Fr Galvin's remains are to be removed from Gleasure's Funeral Home to Our Lady and St Brendan's Church, Rock Street, at Thursday at 6pm. His Funeral Mass is Friday, followed by interment in St. John's Churchgrounds. He is survived by sister Norrie, brother Tunney, sister-in-law Áine and his many nieces and nephews.
Courtesy of the Kerryman
August 25th 2010 Tweet
