Death of senior priest Dean Austin Laverty mourned across Donegal

Dean Austin Laverty, one of the most senior clerics in Donegal, has died.

For over 60 years, Fr Laverty served in a variety of roles across the Raphoe Diocese following his ordination in 1962.

A native of Stranorlar, Fr Laverty was born in 1937 and he served most recently as Pastor Emeritus in Ardara.

He was the parish priest in Ardara from 1992 until his retirement in 2022.

Previously, he was parish priest in Glenfin and he also served in the Conwal and Leck parish in Letterkenny.

In June 1962, he was one of four Donegal-born priests ordained by Archbishop John Charles McQuaid at St Patrick’s College, Maynooth. Fr Patrick McCafferty from Kilmacrennan, Fr Michael Sweeney from Fanad and Fr Seamus Meehan from Falcarragh were also raised to the priesthood on the same Sunday.

The following evening, he was met on the outskirts of Stranorlar by torchbearers and there were, reported the Donegal Democrat, “well over 100 motorcars in the procession”, which was noted as “one of the biggest the town has ever seen”.

In his early years, he was educated at Stranorlar National School and St Eunan’s College in Letterkenny. While at St Eunan’s, he captained a Gaelic football team to win the Rannafast Cup in 1955.

After a spell in St Patrick’s College in Maynooth and his ordination, he was appointed to the teaching staff at St Eunan’s and he was appointed as the school president in 1971 - a role he held until he was appointed the Administrator of the Cathedral parish in 1982.

He was the parish priest in Glenfin from 1985 until he moved to Ardara in 1992 - where he spent the last 33 years.

Even after his retirement, Fr Laverty continued to aid parish priest Fr Aodhán Cannon.

Parishioners in the neighbouring parish of Iniskeel have extended sympathy, saying: “We offer our condolences as well to Fr Aodhán, his successor in Ardara Parish,who showed him great kindness, assistance and courtesy over the years and to Josephine, his faithful and caring housekeeper.

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“We extend our sincere sympathy also to all the parishioners of our good neighbour in Ardara Parish and to all the many priests and people who served with ‘The Dean’ in various capacities throughout his long and enduring years.”