One of Kerry’s most respected priests has lost his life in a tragic house fire. Fr. Gearóid Ó Donnchadha died at his home in Fenit in the early hours of this Monday morning.
Tralee Fire Brigade was alerted by a member of the public shortly after 2am and they remained at the scene until almost 4.30am.
Fr Ó Donnchadha, who was 82, was born in Cork but brought up in Killarney. He attended Barraduff National School and the Presentation Monastery and St Brendan’s College in Killarney before he entering Maynooth to study for the priesthood in 1950.
He was ordained for the Diocese of Kerry in June 1957 and served in Manchester, Rathmore, Sneem, Birmingham, Tralee and Castlegregory.
He taught in St Brendan’s College, Killarney between 1964 and 1967 and then moved to New York to study and later teach Sociology,.
He took up a post as a lecturer in sociology in Tralee Regional Technical College before retiring to
Fr. Gearóid was an established authority on St Brendan and he spearheaded the project that led to a monument to the Navigator on Fenit Pier.
Death Notice and Funeral Arrangements for Fr. Gearóid Ó Donnchadha
O’Donnchadha, Very Reverend Dr. Gearóid, Fenit, Co. Kerry on 12th October 2015, at his home in Fenit, beloved son of the late Dónal & Máire and dear brother of Olive (Pierse), Noreen (O’Brien) and the late Aodán. Sadly missed by his loving family, his nieces, nephews, grandnieces, grandnephews, sister-in-law Carmel, brothers-in-law Robert & Noel, the Bishop and Clergy of the Kerry Diocese, relatives, his kind neighbours and many friends.
Rest in Peace
Reposing at St. Joseph’s Oratory, Fenit on Wednesday from 2pm to 6pm with removal to the Church of the Purification, Churchill. Requiem Mass on Thursday at 11am. Interment afterwards in the Churchyard. Donations in lieu of flowers to the St. Brendan Fund, Fenit and R.N.L.I. Fenit, care of the Gleasure Funeral Home, Tralee.
Agus as Gaeilge:
Ó Donnchadha, Dr Gearóid, Athair Ró-Oirmhinneach, An Fhianait, Co. Chiarraí a fuair bás ar an 12 Deireadh Fomhair 2015 ag a thigh cónaithe i bhFianait, Co Chiarraí.
Mac dílis Dhónail agus Mháire (nach maireann) agus deartháir grámhar Olive (Pierse), Noreen (O’Brien) agus Aodáin (nach maireann). Méala mór dá chlann ghrámhar, dá nianna, dá neachtanna, dá ghar-nianna, dá ghar-neachtanna, do Carmel, céile a dheartháir, do Robert agus Noel, céilí a dheirfiúracha, d’Easpag agus do Chléir Dheoise Chiarraí, dá ghaolta, dá chomharsana cineálta agus dá chairde go léir. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.
Tórramh ag Aireagal Iosaif Naofa, An Fhianait, ar an gCéadaoin ó 2 go 6 i.n. agus aistreofar a chorp chuig Séipéal an Íonghlanta, Cnoc na hEaglaise. Aifreann sochraide ag 11 a chloig ar an Déardaoin. Adhlacadh i gClós an tSéipéil in a dhiaidh sin. Síntiúis in ionad bláthanna chuig Ciste Bhreandáin Naofa, An Fhianait agus R.N.L.I, An Fhianait, faoi chúram Teach Tórraimh Gleasure, Trá Lí.
