Fr Dan touched the hearts of generations - young and old

Sean McMahon

The sad passing to his eternal reward of Very Rev. Daniel Sheridan, PP of Killeshandra, on Wednesday, January 23, at College View Nursing Home brought a tear to many an eye in the Diocese of Kilmore and beyond.

The hundreds and hundreds of people who flocked to his removal and funeral masses last week at in St Brigid’s Chuch was testimony to his undoubted popularity with all ages and generations.
Pupils from the local Scoil Bhride and Currin NS, together with students and teachers from St Patrick’s College and Breifne College, Cavan, formed a guard of honour outside of the church as his remains were carried to the hearse for the onward journey to his native and beloved Glangevlin.
As I left the church, I overheard one tearful parishioner say to another – “he touched the hearts of everyone he met.”
Those simple words telescope all the good he did during his 50-year ministry.
The funeral Mass was celebrated by Monsignor Liam Kelly, diocesan administrator and the homily was eloquently delivered by the retired Bishop of Kilmore, Leo O’Reilly, a classmate of Fr Dan’s.
Scores of priests from all over the diocese and many other dioceses, together with Rev Alison Calvin from the Church of Ireland, assembled at the side of the altar to bid farewell to their brother, Danny.
It was during his time as chaplin of Cavan Vocational School (now Breifne College) that I got to know Fr Dan very well, as he imparted his knowledge to us during our Leaving Cert years with a calmness and agility, that epitomised his brilliant mind and unique ability to connect with people of all ages. I remember telling him in those formative years that I was going to be a journalist, and I have never forgotten his insightful advice – “be a good listener and the story will unfold”.
As Brian Connolly remarked in his tribute, Fr Dan could have excelled in any chosen career. There are fond memories of him driving his Ford Capri, sometimes with a broken exhaust. He loved to drive through Glan in that unique motor, complete with his leather jacket.
He was laid to rest in the grounds of St Patrick’s Church in Glangevlin, the church in which he was baptised, received his First Holy Communion and Confirmation and said his first mass as a priest.
Retired Bishop O’Reilly, speaking at the con-celebrated requiem mass in St Brigid’’ Church in Killeshandra last Wednesday afternoon, said: “Six months ago, none of us could have guessed that his time would be so short. He had more than his share of illness in years gone by but he had weathered those storms and seemed to be moving in calmer waters health wise.”
Dr O’Reilly said that as Fr Dan entered his 50th year of ministry last June, he admitted he was beginning to feel the strain of being in charge of a busy parish but he put that down to the advancing years. “He was looking forward to continuing his priestly work in some quieter role, after what would have been his golden jubilee next June. But all that was not be,” said the retired bishop.
“Now is a time to weep, a time to mourn, a time to grieve the loss of a beloved brother to his family, a beloved uncle and granduncle, a devoted priest and pastor, a cherished brother priest and good friend,” he added.
 

Holy Land

Fr Dan was renowned for leading many pilgrimages to the Holy Land to help bring them closer to the story of Jesus and to have a deeper understanding ot it.
Dr O’Reilly said his knowledge of the Holy Land was exceptional and he loved to share that knowledge.
To laughter, Bishop Leo said, if you asked him about the Holy Land, “you would need to have time on your hands because he would speak about it at length”.
 

Courage

Fr Dan’s faith enabled him to face the future with great courage and serenity, said Dr O’Reilly in his homily.
“He has left us a wonderful example not only in his living, but in his dying,” he remarked.
“The seed of Fr Dan’s faith and of his vocation to the Priesthood, I’m sure was sewn in his home in Glangevlin, where the faith of his parents, Celia and John, and the faith of the community shaped his life and that of his brothers and sisters,” he continued.
“That faith was nourished in Curravagh NS and later in St Patrick’s College in Cavan, where he and Fr Eamonn Bredin and I were classmates. We continued the journey together in Maynooth and were ordained on the same day in the cathedral in Cavan on the 15th June, 1969,” continued Dr O’Reilly.
“I shared a room with Fr Dan during one of our years in Maynooth and I saw at first hand his dedication to work, his genius at Science and , at that time, his passion for cross country running. In his priestly life, he had great variety as well.”
Fr Dan Sheridan was ordained to the priesthood in the Cathedral of SS Patrick and Felim on June 15, 1969.
 

Belfast during the troubles

He spent his first year in Ministry in Belfast at the height of the Troubles. Following that, he served eight years in Youth Ministry as a teacher of religion and chaplain at Breifne College up until 1977.
From there, Fr Dan went to the Irish College in Paris where he studied Liturgy and, when he returned in 1979, he was made Director of Liturgy and Adult Religious Education in the Diocese.
Dr O’Reilly said that Fr Dan also had huge experience in Parish Ministry having served as a curate in Drumlane, Cavan and Maudabawn, which took his Ministry up to the year 1999.
The it was off to Kilmainhamwood where he was Parish Priest until 2000. From there, he moved to Drumlane for a total of 10 years. Then Fr Dan arrived at his final destination, Killeshandra, where he served as parish priest from 2010 to 2018. He retired last November due to health reasons.
 

Church renovations

Fr Dan oversaw the renovation of a number of historic churches including Maudabawn and Killeshandra and the beautiful results of his labours are there for all to see. He also served on the boards of management of a number of schools and was chair of the Board of Management of St Patrick’s College for three terms – a total of nine years.
“He was chair at a time of great transition there – a time when the old St Patrick’s College was decommissioned and a new school was built. He piloted all of that as chair of the Board with careful attention to detail and great wisdom,” praised Dr O’Reilly.
“But it was in the care of people that Fr Dan excelled – he was greatly respected and appreciated in every place where he served as a priest but, more than that, he was loved. He was loved very much. I often heard people, then young people who had been in one of the schools he was in, speaking about the impact he made on their lives. There are many of those people here today,” said Dr O’Reilly.
 

Nephew’s tribute

His nephew, Cuan O’Sirideáin said: “The love this community had for Danny is evident from the large attendance present here today. Danny was very happy. He was at home here. The enthusiastic support from this community energised him and the legacy from that close relationship is manifested in this wonderful church, of which we are all so rightly proud.
“Danny’s mission is now complete and we shall take his remains home to Glan.”
Cuan also played a beautiful piece of music ‘Easter Snow’ on the French Horn during the funeral mass.
 

Blessed

Speaking on behalf of the Parish Committee and the parishioners in general, Brian Connolly said: “We were blessed here in Killeshandra parish to have such a talented, knowledgeable dedicated, compassionate and charitable priest, who looked after the needs of his people lovingly, spiritually and loyally. We had many exceptionally pleasant and happy days and some sad ones in his company.
“Today St Brigid’s Church here in Killeshandra stands as a monument to this great man. The improvements he oversaw to this beautiful building, both inside and out, and to its environs, are very much in evidence.
“His desire was to have a set of the Stations of the Cross installed at the side of the roadway up to the new cemetery. Unfortunately, his wish was not fulfilled – hopefully, one day we can bring it to fruition,” added Mr Connolly.
Fr Dan was predeceased by his brother Michael and is survived by his sisters Mary and Julia, brothers Paddy and John James, aunt and Godmother Maryanne O’Neill, in laws, nieces and nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews.