McKenna, Canon Jack
January 31, 2013Canon Jack McKenna departed what had been a very full life on Wednesday, January 23rd, breaking another of the last remaining links with life on the Blasket Islands.
Jack was bom to John and Johanna McKenna at Dykegate Lane, Dingle, on March 6th, 1920. He was predeceased by all of his siblings - Maurice, Jimmy, Tommy, Paddy, Mary and Kathleen.
He attended the local Presentation Convent primary school until first class but following his First Holy Communion and Confession he moved to St Joseph's CBS and from there entered secondary school in Dingle. His religious vocation became apparent at an early stage and his parents dutifully enrolled him as a boarder at St Brendan's College, Killamey.
Jack excelled both academically and on the sportsfield in both Dingle CBS and St Brendan's. He won Dunloe Cup medals with both and Munster Senior Colleges medals with the Sem. He was head prefect in St Brendan's during his Leaving Certificate year before going on to St Patrick's College, Maynooth, in September 1938.
Throughout his youth, Canon Jack loved the outdoor life and much of his free time was spent walking and cycling the highways and byways of his beloved Corca Dhuibhne. Many of his youthful days were spent either on the slopes of Cnoc Bhreanainn, exploring the valley of Cam an Air or Minard Castle or swimming across Dingle harbour from Slaidin to an Towerin Ban.
Jack and his elder brother Jimmy were fine Gaelic footballers. Jimmy played Munster Championship for Cork in 1933 and '34 and was captain of the Dingle team that won the Kerry County Championship for the first time in 1938 with Jack being among his team-mates. The brothers played alongside legends such as Bill Casey, Tom Gega O'Connor, Sean Brosnan, Paddy 'Bawn' Brosnan, Batt Garvey and Bill Dillon in the side.
Jack might have been set for a glittering Kerry career but, unfortunately, the harsh institutional rules of St Patrick's prevented him from playing the game he loved except on his summer leave from the college. However, during these breaks he was an integral player in the Dingle team, winning five senior championship medals. At the time of his death. Canon Jack was the sole survivor of the original 1938 Dingle team, the greatest ever to represent the club.
He was ordained into the priesthood in June 1946 and he took up service in the Kerry diocese, firstly as a relief priest in Knocknagoshel and then Rathmore. Early in 1947 he received his first official appointment as CC (or Sagart Cunta) under Fr Tom Moriarty in Ballyferriter. Fr Jack immersed himself in parish life from the outset and was a huge advocate for the welfare of his parishioners from the beginning of his career. Subsequent to this he became chaplain to Colaiste Ide (1951-61), curate in Dingle (1961-63), curate in Abbeydorney (1963-75) before his appointment as parish priest to Sneem (1975-81). He had attained the status of Canon in Castletownbere before he retired as a diocesan priest in 1994 after 48 wonderful years of service to the people and the church in Kerry.
The highlight of Canon Jack's priestly career was his officiating as chief celebrant at the State Funeral Mass for the late Uachtaran na hEireann, Cearbhall O Dalaigh, in Sneem at Easter, 1978. He represented Sneem and Kerry with distinction on this solemn occasion and was always proud of how the south Kerry village performed under the scrutiny of the whole nation.
Canon Jack took great joy in the ordinary duties of parish ministry. While in Ballyferriter, he also served the people of an Bhlascaod Mor and experienced the difficulties the islanders had to endure when having to cross the sound in a naomhog in inclement weather for a sick call or urgent baptism. He also experienced the joy of participating at the annual Station Mass on the island which the islanders always ensured took place on a fine day. He was one of the last priests on the island before the final evacuation in the early 1950s.
In Ballyferriter, he perfected his fluency, academic competency and enduring gra for the Irish language and this was instrumental in his next appointment as chaplain to Colaiste Ide.
In Abbeydomey, Canon Jack instigated the construction of a new church in the village and was instrumental in the purchase and development of a GAA pitch. He spent many the long hours picking stones from the site.
Such was the esteem in which his parishioners held him, they presented him with a new Vauxhall Viva car on his departure in 1975. Canon Jack was humbled with this magnificent gesture as such a token of appreciation was virtually unprecedented. In fact, he had to seek the bishop's permission to accept the car.
Castletownbere was a 'home away from home' for Canon Jack as it was a fishing town much akin to his native Dingle. He loved west Cork and its people where again he found himself ministering to an island community (Bere Island). During his time here a young Fr Brendan Walsh was appointed curate to the parish and they struck up an immediate and lasting friendship. It was Fr Brendan who presided over the Requiem Mass and Office for the Dead when Canon McKenna was laid to rest in his native Dingle on January 25th.
Faithful always to his church. Canon Jack's Christian faith extended to the love of his family and his many friends. He was an authority on the history, flora, fauna and folklore of Dingle and Kerry in general. His book, Dingle - Some Of Its Story, is the most authoritative publication on the history of the town.
Canon Jack's death has left a huge void, most especially among his family whom he loved so much and who loved and admired him even more. His loss was also deeply felt by his fellow Kerry
priests and by Bishop Bill Murphy.
Slan leat a dhuine uasail seimh. Ni bheidh do leitheid aris ann. Solas na bhFlaitheas go raibh agat i mease na naomh.
Courtesy of The Kerry's Eye. Tweet
