Shock as popular Limerick priest passes away unexpectedly

A BELOVED priest went to his God just hours after giving a homily on the theme of love.

Fr Tim O’Connor passed away peacefully, but unexpectedly, at his home in Manister on Sunday.

He said his final Mass in Rockhill church at 6pm on Saturday. His last homily was, as usual, short, had a moral and was tinged with humour. Fr O’Connor spoke of the importance of love and to love yourself “but not too much!”, he joked. And to tell your nearest and dearest “I love you”. Fr O’Connor was indeed loved by his parishioners.

Their last memory of him will be standing at the back of the church after Mass, smiling broadly, having a word with everyone, and a fist bump for children.

Fr O’Connor, aged in his mid-seventies, will be sadly missed in Castletown, Ballyagran, Colmanswell, Rockhill and Bruree where he was an assistant priest since 2017, as well as in his former parishes in England. 

Fr David Gibson, moderator of the pastoral unit, said Father O’Connor was “an utter gentleman”.

“What says everything about him is that he was entitled to be retired, he had no obligation whatsoever to offer himself but he did constantly. Having someone to work with number one and, secondly, having someone to work with as nice as he was. He was very obliging,” said Fr Gibson, who described the late priest as “a holy man and very, very spiritual”. 

Fr O’Connor’s untimely passing will put further pressure on the diocese due to the shortage of priests.

“We’ll be lost without him. We’re relying more and more on our retired priests because there isn’t the volume in the active population,” said Fr Gibson.

Minister for State Niall Collins said he had heard the very sad news about Fr O'Connor and knew how popular and loved he was by parishioners in Castletown, Ballyagran, Colmanswell, Rockhill and Bruree. 

“He made an immense contribution since he returned to his homeplace in 2017. Fr O'Connor's loss is compounded by the shortage of priests. He was a complete gentleman, wonderful company and had a heart of gold. He touched the lives of so many in the parishes he served, on both happy and sad occasions. My deepest sympathies to his family,” said Mr Collins.

Fr O’Connor was especially good to the sick and during Covid he would call on the phone when he couldn’t call in person. He will also be remembered for his kindness and sensitivity at times of grief.

Born in Glin, the O’Connor family moved to Manister when  Tim was 11.  It was at that tender age he first felt God's call and the priesthood was to be his life’s work.

Last May, Fr O’Connor celebrated his golden jubilee with a Mass in the Church of the Immaculate Conception, Bruree. There was standing room only which showed his popularity.

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A mark of the man was that he asked for gifts to him to go to charity. Fr O'Connor chose Trocaire and St Vincent de Paul as the beneficiaries of over €1,200 generously raised by Mass-goers.

He spent 44 of those years working in England but in 2017 he decided to “retire” at home in Manister. However, Fr O’Connor was busier than ever celebrating weddings, baptisms, funerals and Masses. His quiet kindness has touched many. 

Fr O’Connor’s passing is deeply regretted by his loving sisters Mai and Delia, brothers Michael, Jerry, Pat, John and Joe, sisters-in-law Margaret, Lill and Margaret, nephews, nieces, grandnephews, grandnieces, former parishioners in Potters Bar and Rockhill, Bruree, brother priests in Westminster and Limerick Dioceses, kind neighbours and friends.

Funeral arrangements later.

May he rest in peace.