In pictures: Golden jubilee celebrations for Limerick priest

IT HAS been a privilege to be allowed to do the work of the Lord, said Fr Seán Ó Longaigh at a Mass to mark his golden jubilee as a priest.

The celebratory ceremony in St Mary’s Church, Askeaton took place on the exact date that 50 years ago he was ordained a priest - June 17, 1973.

In his homily, Fr Ó Longaigh, a native of Dromcollogher, said much has changed in the last half a century but human nature has not changed.

“In day to day life the goodness of so many has always stood out and, particularly, when visiting the sick and the housebound I have been greatly impacted by their faith,” said Fr Ó Longaigh, who thanked one and all in the overflowing church for attending and the pastoral council for organising it.

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He spoke of the support of so many people - his family and fellow priests, both alive and who have gone to their God, and people who were so kind to him in the parishes he served in.

Fr Ó Longaigh was asked recently if he ever regretted becoming a priest.

“Never, not even for a day,” was his reply.

It confirms his decision as a young man to enter the then minor seminary for the Diocese of Limerick. Afterwards he attended St Patrick’s College, Maynooth.

Fr Ó Longaigh’s first appointment was to St Enda’s Community School in Limerick city. He was also appointed diocesan adviser on religious education for second level schools and over some years held various positions in the Catholic Marriage Advisory Council (now called Accord).

In 1981, he volunteered to take part in the Limerick Mission to Africa, undertaken with the St Patrick's Missionaries, Kiltegan. Over the next four years he worked in Nigeria.

On his return, Fr Ó Longaigh was appointed curate in Croom as well as chaplain to the local St Mary’s Community College and to the shared chaplaincy of Croom Orthopaedic Hospital. After serving in Croom for 11 years he was appointed as curate in Askeaton-Ballysteen in 1996. In the following year he succeeded Canon O’Connor as parish priest.

Apart from the people of the parish and his pastoral work, Fr Ó Longaigh has a wide range of interests. He has a great interest in history and reading, loves the outdoors and is a passionate supporter of the Limerick hurlers.

Appropriately, he was presented with a Limerick jersey on the night which featured refreshments and music at the Top of the Town bar.