Drumlane bids farewell to Fr Gerry

A farewell Mass and celebration was held for Fr Gerry Comiskey last Saturday (September 28) to celebrate his 14 years in the parish.

Members of Drumlane parish gathered to thank Fr Gerry for his time and commitment serving the parish, as he embarks upon sabbatical leave.

The departing priest spoke to The Anglo-Celt on Monday afternoon, when he said he “absolutely without a doubt” has fond memories of serving the parish.

“I have fantastic memories of working with great people, I was fortunate to be in such a wonderful parish and with such a great community.”

Saturday’s Mass celebration was followed by a gathering of parishioners, friends and family with food, music and presentations during the evening.

Originally from Newtownmanor in north Leitrim, Fr Gerry served as a curate in Drumlane from 1980 until 1982 and was appointed to the parish in summer 2010. He outlined his plans for the next few months.

“Next week I will go walking the camino in Spain for a couple of weeks and then, after Christmas, I will attend a course at some college of further education,” he said. However, he hasn’t “finally decided” where this will be.

“Some quality time I suppose and some time to study and to retreat and to read and reflect.” He expects to be re-assigned in 2025 to a parish “elsewhere".“I’m not sure where,” he said, adding that he will “certainly will” miss the people of Drumlane.

“Every parish that a priest serves in makes a deep impression on us,” he said, adding that “this particular parish” made a lasting impression because he served as a curate when he was newly ordained.

“I’ve come to know the place and the people extremely well and I count the parishioners as my friends.”

Speaking on how the priesthood has evolved in Cavan and the rest of Ireland, Fr Gerry said it has “changed radically” over “recent years”, which he puts down to “the decline in numbers and the lack of vocations".“Obviously the implication then is a twinning of parishes and more lay involvement will be a feature of the way forward.

“The involvement of lay people is to be welcomed and encouraged but obviously there is still a role and function for the priest that comes by virtue of ordination.

“It’s regrettable that there is such decline in numbers because the services that we offer will have to be diminished as a result.”Speaking on the updated configuration of the parishes in the Diocese of Kilmore following consultations, Fr Gerry said they will “undoubtedly” put “pressure on the priests responsible".

“Our hope is that they will receive maximum support from their parish councils and their finance councils and from the great numbers of lay people who are capable and competent to help them."

In conclusion, Fr Gerry said “leaving Drumlane is tinged with immense sadness".

“My love and affection for the place and the people and the fact that I was involved in very many projects in the parish leaves me very sad.

“The parting on Saturday night was emotional and highly charged.”

For more photos from the occasion, see page 63 of this week's print edition of the Celt.