Fr Paddy Dunne welcomed with open arms in Ballyshannon

Fr Paddy Dunne received a huge welcome in Ballyshannon at the weekend after his transfer from Kilmacrennan to the Kilbarron Parish.

Fr Dunne, from Letterkenny, replaces Fr Cathal Ó Fearraí in Ballyshannon. Speaking at 11am Mass in Kilbarron Church on Sunday morning, the new Parish Priest recounted how he got the call from the Bishop for his new role.

“Bishop McGuckian rang me and asked me to go to Ballyshannon and I want to thank the people for the welcome I have got,” he said.

“I also want to thank the people of Kilmacrennan, and I see a few of them here this morning. I spent a wonderful 13 years there. He was a big man and I definitely won’t be filling his shoes. He has been very good to me and I wish him well in his retirement. I was a student under him in St Eunan’s College in Letterkenny and he was a huge worker. I wish him well and good health.”

Fr Ó Fearraí, who celebrated his Golden Jubilee recently, had spent 27 years in the Kilbarron Parish and was highly respected. He is a much-liked priest who was clearly loved by the parishioners of Kilmacrennan, who were reluctant to let him leave.

“I have received many messages of welcome and the one that stands out was from a Ballyshannon woman living in Letterkenny which read ‘Congratulations, you have won the Lotto’. “I’m looking forward to working with you and for you,” said Fr Dunne.

After Mass, Fr Dunne spent time speaking to his new parishioners outside the church.