Friday, November 19, 2010

Stamp to honour Monsignor Horan

An Post is proposing to issue a special stamp to honour the former parish priest of Knock, Co. Mayo, Monsignor James Horan.

Minister for Labour Affairs, Dara Calleary, who is a TD for Mayo, has revealed that the commemorative stamp has been proposed and if approved, as expected, the stamp will be issued by the Philatelic Bureau next year. 

2011 will mark the centenary of the birth of Msgr Horan who is remembered mainly as the person who spearheaded the controversial development of Knock Airport.  

But he was also the leading force behind the building of the Basilica at Knock to cater for pilgrims and tourists.

Earlier in his career as a curate in the Tuam archdiocese, Msgr Horan was credited with bringing rural electrification to the Aughamore area of Co Mayo and pioneering projects in other parishes in which he served which brought group water, afforestation and drainage schemes.  

More controversially, he was also responsible for establishing a dancehall in Tooreen.

A musical about Monsignor Horan’s career, focusing on his promotion of the Knock Airport project, is due to be staged shortly in Castlebar.

An Post recently honoured Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta in one of its commemorative stamp series.

If the proposal to include Monsignor Horan as one of the themes in next year’s stamp programme goes ahead, he will be the first Mayo person to be so honoured since Michael Davitt, the founder of the Land League.

SIC: CIN/IE