Dean Austin Laverty gave ‘extraordinary faithful and faith-filled service’, funeral hears

Dean Austin Laverty gave “extraordinary faithful and faith-filled service” to the diocese of Raphoe for over 60 years, mourners at his funeral have been told.

One of the most senior clerics in Donegal, the Stranorlar-born priest, who served in a variety of roles across the diocese, died unexpectedly on Saturday. He was the parish priest in Ardara from 1992 until his retirement in 2022 and he served most recently as Pastor Emeritus in the parish.

Mourners at his funeral Mass on Tuesday in the Church of the Holy Family in the town were told by diocesan administrator Monsignor Kevin Gillespie, that the people of Aradra “have benefited so much and appreciated so greatly Fr Austin's excellent ministry for these last 32 years”.

“The presence and stability of that priestly ministry may not be as commonplace in the future, but you came to know this Good Shepherd from the cradle to the grave,” he said.

Monsignor Gillespie said Fr Laverty was held in great esteem by the priests of the diocese across the generations and the occasion of his funeral gave “a sense of the passing not only of an era but often epoch”.

“And perhaps also of a certain style of priestly ministry that was characterised by unfussy dedication to the craft of pastoral service, to the Mass, to the sacraments, to attention to the needs of the people - spiritual and practical, to unobtrusive presence in time of need, to the care of the parish and its buildings, to concern for a high standard of schooling, fidelity to the church and readiness for the mission asked of us.”

Those who knew Fr Laverty “will retain the memory of his priestly character and dedication,” Monsignor Gillespie said.

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A native of Stranorlar, Fr Laverty was born in 1937 and 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 attending St Patrick’s College in Maynooth and following his ordination in 1962, he taught at St Eunan’s College in Letterkenny and was president there for 11 years, a role he held until he was appointed the administrator of the Cathedral parish in 1982.

Fr Laverty also served in the Conwal and Leck parish in Letterkenny and was the parish priest in Glenfin from 1985 until he moved to Ardara in 1992 - where he spent the last 33 years.

His commitment to the Church was further recognised when he was appointed Canon of the Cathedral Chapter in 2002 and Dean of the Cathedral Chapter in 2016.

After his retirement, Fr Laverty continued to aid parish priest Fr Aodhán Cannon in Ardara. Expressing gratitude at the funeral Mass on behalf of Fr Laverty’s family, Fr Cannon said they wanted to thank the people of the parish for everything they had done.

Fr Cannon said the parish centre in the town had been Fr Laverty’s idea and it has become invaluable in the life of the parish community.

The funeral Mass was attended by former Bishops of Raphoe, Bishop Philip Boyce and Bishop Alan McGuckian, many priests from across the diocese as well as Reverend Robert Wray of the Church of Ireland and Reverend Des Davis of the Methodist Church.

Fr Laverty’s burial took place in the adjoining churchyard at the Church of the Holy Family.