The death has occurred of Fr. Donal O’Connor, Avondale, Shinnagh, Rathmore, Co. Kerry.
On January 4th 2023, unexpectedly at his home, Fr. Donal, Chaplain at MTU Tralee and formerly Curate at Castletownbere, Listowel and P.P. in Beaufort.
Predeceased by his parents David and Teresa and brother Tomás. Sadly missed by his loving family, brothers: Sean, Denis, David and Aidan, sisters in law, nieces and nephews, relations, neighbours, his many friends and the Bishop and priests of the Kerry diocese.
May his gentle soul Rest in Peace.
Diocesan Response
The Diocese of Kerry posted the following reaction of shock and sorrow at the death of Fr. Donal O’Connor.
Bishop Ray Browne on hearing of the sudden death of Fr. Donal O’Connor expressed his deep shock and sadness. Bishop Ray offered his sympathy to all who mourn him, especially the O’ Connor family, his diocesan family, and all those he worked with as chaplain in M.T.U. Tralee. May Fr. Donal Rest in Peace.
“Donal O’Connor was born in Rathmore in 1961. He studied for the priesthood in St. Patrick’s College, Maynooth and was ordained on the 22nd September, 1996.
From 1997 to 2002 he was Chaplain in Beara Community School and curate in Castletownbere parish.
He then moved to Listowel Parish for eight years. This was followed by five years as parish priest of Beaufort. His final appointment was as Chaplain to what was previously Tralee IT and now Munster Technological University.
Fr. Donal was a much loved priest with a wicked sense of humour and a poetic turn. He generously contributed to Horizons and Just a Thought over the years and was a memorable guest speaker at various diocesan events including online events during Covid. Fr. Donal will be sadly missed,” according to the diocesan statement.
Marketing Crag Cave and Writing Poetry
In Castleisland, Donal O’Connor will be best remembered as the marketing manager of Crag Cave tourist attraction in its formative years.
Donal was there through the heady first years alongside the Geaney family as they developed a hole in the ground discovery into a tourism hot-spot. They stood shoulder to shoulder as they battled for the business, the buses and the attentions of the media in the days before the internet or social media.
Launch by John B. Keane
While fully engaged in the business of marketing, Donal was also writing poetry and he had a book ‘Voices’ launched by none other than an impressed Dr. John B. Keane one late autumn day in his famous William Street pub in Listowel in 1991.
Donal would eventually return to Listowel in 2002 for a longer spell as Fr. Donal and, incidentally, on the year in which John B. Keane died.
May God be good to both of them.
Fr. Donal’s Funeral Arrangements
Reposing at O’Keeffe’s Funeral Home, Rathmore, Sunday, January 8th from 4pm to 6pm, followed by removal to St. Joseph’s Church, Rathmore.
Requiem Mass for Fr. Donal will take place on Monday, January 9th. at 2pm. Burial afterwards in the adjoining cemetery.
Fr. Donal’s Funeral Mass can be viewed live by clicking on Rathmore Live Cam on the following link: https://www.rathmoreparish.ie
Date Published: Thursday 5th January 2023. Date of Death: Wednesday 4th January 2023.
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