Fr Anthony Mulvey C.Ss.R – St Joseph’s Redemptorist Monastery, Dundalk, Co Louth / Ballinaglera, Co Leitrim

Fr. Anthony Mulvey C.Ss.R died peacefully on Thursday evening November 3rd, 2022 in his 101st year at St. Joseph’s Redemptorist Monastery, Dundalk, Co Louth. His funeral mass took place on Monday November 7th in the Redemptorist Church followed by burial in St. Patrick’s Cemetery, Dundalk.

Fr. Anthony was born on January 30th, 1922 in the townland of Tullynapurtlin, Ballinaglera, Dowra, County Leitrim. A parish which translates to ‘Town of the Clergy’. Born in the same year as the Irish Free State, he was proud to say he was as old as Ireland. Both witnessed great change in a century. He was the first Irish Redemptorist to reach 100 years of age.

The oldest of four children born to James and Teresa (Flynn) Mulvey, he had one brother, Jack, and two sisters, Roseann McLean (Boston) and Mary (Molly) Cremer (Ballinaglera). Sadly all deceased, so his passing marks the end of an era. He was also pre-deceased by his nephew Anthony McLean, Boston, his grand-nephew Anthony Mulvey, Belcoo, Co Fermanagh and his grand-niece Kelly O’Brien, Drumshanbo, Co Leitrim.

His journey with the Redemptorists began in 1937, when as a teenager he was so impressed by a mission given by them in Ballinaglera that he entered their Junior Seminary in Limerick.
He completed his studies there in 1942, before going to Dundalk to do his Novitiate year.

Fr. Anthony made his profession in 1943. He completed his early studies in Cluain Mhuire in Galway, and then went with some others to Belgium to finish his studies there.

Ordained a priest on August 26th, 1951 in Galway, he soon after went to teach in the Redemptorist College (now St. Clement’s) in Limerick, where he taught many of the current crop of Redemptorists in Ireland. Leaving the college in 1970 after 17 years, he spent time in Belfast in charge of the Novena to the Mother of Perpetual Help and then in Dundalk before going to Luxembourg in 1973 when Ireland joined the then ‘Common Market’. He spent 12 years there, ministering mostly to the English-speaking community and people from various countries.

He had 25 nationalities in the parish at one time. He got to know many political figures and Heads of State, and once had the great honour of meeting Queen Elizabeth II while she was on a state visit. Former Irish President Cearbhall O’Dalaigh was one of his parishioners and later became a personal friend.

On the night before he left for Ireland they prepared his presidential speech together.
He always had a keen interest in politics and this was fostered from an early age. His late uncle Anthony Mulvey edited the Ulster Herald newspaper before his election to represent Fermanagh and Tyrone for the Nationalist Party in the British House of Commons at the 1935 general election.

A cousin, another Fr. Anthony Mulvey, was a curate at St. Eugene’s Cathedral, Derry during the troubles in Northern Ireland. He once intervened as soldiers threatened to shoot a group of civilians they were holding at gunpoint on Bloody Sunday, telling the soldiers “If you shoot them, then you must also shoot me.”

Fr. Anthony then returned to work in Belfast (St. Gerard’s Parish) in 1985 before being called to Rome over a year later, in 1987, to work in the General Archives and then as a translator in the Redemptorist General House. Being fluent in 5/6 languages made this an easy assignment for him. He spent 23 years there before returning to Ireland in 2010.

After returning from Rome, Fr. Anthony was stationed in Dundalk for some years before moving to Esker in Co Galway in 2016 and then back to Dundalk in 2022. He was held in high regard by so many people all over the world. He left a lasting impression on everyone he met.

A well-traveled man, he visited many beautiful places all over Europe and America, dined with Kings and Queens, but his favourite things in life were simple.
He loved to come home to Ballinaglera and walk the ‘Tully Road’ or take a hike up Sliabh An Iarainn mountain and just listen to the wind blowing and hear the birds singing.

He never forgot his roots and had a great love for the local people. He would spend countless evenings visiting homes around the parish.
He was well known for his eloquent sermons. Crowds would fill the church to hear him speak. You could listen to him all day. There was great pride in the parish when he came home to celebrate his Golden Jubilee.

He was blessed with a great memory and could recall the names of people he knew as far back as the age of four or five going to school. He was always interested in people and was a great conversationalist.
He loved mixing with other nationalities and getting the history of their country. What’s written on paper is hardly ever the truth, but when you get speaking to somebody from the country, they’ll give you the real story. He certainly had many great stories to tell. He truly possessed a wealth of knowledge.

Fr. Anthony is survived by his nieces and nephews; Anna-Mulvey Buggy (New York), Tony Mulvey (Ballinaglera), Seamus and Jackie Mulvey (New York), Peter Cremer (Longford), Dessie Cremer (Ballinaglera), Maura-Cremer O’Brien (Drumshanbo), Sheila-Cremer McCabe (Carrigallen), Danny McLean (Delaware-USA), Theresa McLean Furlong (Delaware-USA), Rosemary-McLean Ourada (Pittsburgh-USA), and Walter McLean (Boston-USA), grand-nieces and nephews, extended family, a wide circle of friends, people of Ballinaglera and surrounding areas and his Redemptorist Community and Confreres.

His funeral mass was a beautiful celebration of his long and fulfilled life. The main celebrant was Fr. Dan Baragry, C.Ss.R – Provincial Superior of Irish Province and the Preacher was Fr. Noel Kehoe, C.Ss.R – Rector of St. Joseph’s Monastery Dundalk.
Cardinal Sean Brady, a long-time friend of Fr. Anthony and his Redemptorist confreres in Dundalk and in the Irish Province, presided.

His native Leitrim was represented by Fr. Tom Mannion, PP Ballinaglera, Fr. Gerry Comiskey, PP Drumlane and a native of Newtownmanor, a longtime family friend, and Fr. Sean Mawn, Ballinamore who attended his removal.
Many friends and neighbours from Ballinaglera were present at both removal and funeral.

The final commendation was given by Fr. Ryan Holovlasky C.Ss.R, the youngest Redemptorist blessing the oldest as he continued on his journey into eternity. A very unique and special memory.

May he Rest in Peace. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.