The death took place this week of a Limerick City priest who had been one of the diocese’s leading theologians. Canon Brendan Connellan, who served as priest in three local parishes and was a former teacher at St Munchin’s College, was laid to rest at the weekend following his death after a recent illness.
The 81-year-old West Limerick native worked in the city area for over 40 years, but was best known locally for the 17 years he spent as parish priest in St Mary’s, Athlunkard Street, where he was heavily involved in the Saint Mary’s Heritage project run by the Limerick diocese.
Born in Knockaderry in March 1928, Fr Connellan was educated in Rathkeale and at St Munchin’s College on Henry Street before entering St Patrick’s College in Maynooth in 1945. Before his ordination in 1952, he earned a number of educational qualifications, including a BPh, BA, BD, and HDE.
He returned to Limerick and taught at St Munchin’s College until 1967, when he was appointed curate of the Mungret, Crecora, Raheen parish. He served there until 1978, at which stage he moved to the Holy Family parish in Southill, where he remained until 1985.
Canon Connellan became parish priest in St Mary’s, based on Athlunkard Street, a position he held until March 2002. He remained on as an assistant until recently. He had been ill for a period, but had remained active within the parish until as recently as November.
He died at the Limerick Regional Hospital in Dooradoyle last week and was buried in the St Mary’s cemetery.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Disclaimer
No responsibility or liability shall attach itself to us or to the blogspot ‘Clerical Whispers’ for any or all of the articles placed here.
The placing of an article hereupon does not necessarily imply that we agree or accept the contents of the article as being necessarily factual in theology, dogma or otherwise.
SIC: CIN