Retired Limerick teacher honoured by pope

“IT WAS A labour of love, so I don’t even feel I deserve the medal”, says Denis ‘Dee’ Dennison from Abbeyfeale, who was awarded for his contributions to the Church by Pope Francis.

Being the conductor of his church’s senior choir for more than 40 years, Dee caught the attention of Pope Francis, as he was awarded with a Benemerenti Medal on recommendation of Bishop Leahy of Limerick.

Now in his 70s and a retired maths and technical graphics teacher, Dee says that because he enjoyed working with the church choir, he doesn’t feel worthy of such an honour.

“I was involved with the choir in Abbeyfeale for 44 years. I enjoyed every minute of it and had a great rapport with all in the choir - they were excellent in that they attended practices and were enthusiastic about singing,” Dee said.

“It was just a pleasure, so, obviously, I didn’t want or expect a medal from the pope.”

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Bishop Leahy recommended that Dee should be nominated for the religious medal back in April and described him as being a “modest gentleman”.

Saying that he was involved with the Irish music organisation Carthanas Cois Feile and he worked closely with a priest from Kerry for many years, Dee explained that was how the idea to form Abbeyfeale senior choir came about.

“I was involved with an Irish music group Carthanas Cois Feile and worked with the late Fr Tom Hickey, who was a brilliant man to work under.

“We did the shows and from the shows, I started a small singing group, and from there, the parish priest at the time had asked me if I would be interested in starting a choir.

“By the time I had finished up, Abbeyfeale church choir grew to its full capacity of a four-piece choir.”