County Derry born priest set to launch debut music album

It’s very fitting that a Magherafelt man, born in King Street known locally as ‘Harmony Row,’ would one day write and record his own album.

Fr. John, son of Eddy and Mary Quinn, has spent a large part of his priestly life working in areas of poverty and need.

At the centre of his vocation has always been his deep passion for music. Fr. John, a brother of the Salesian of Don Bosco Order, is set to launch his debut album, ‘On the way’ in the coming months.

John left home at the tender age of 11 after a visit of a Salesian Priest, Fr. Molloy to his Primary School, looking for aspiring candidates for the Religious Order.

Even at that young age, he had some aspirations towards the priesthood.

After completing secondary schooling in Count Laois, John went to England to further his religious training. He completed Philosophical and Pedagogical studies there, before continuing Theological studies in Italy.

He completed studies in Maynooth and was ordained in Armagh Cathedral in 1971.

In 1973, Fr. John travelled to South Africa where he was to take up a role in teaching in a boarding school for mixed races.

John returned to Ireland in 1985 and spent the next seven years on a school retreat team. Music has always been a passion of John’s and he found it a good medium in connecting with the young.  These were particularly happy years for Fr. John and it was during those years that he developed his musical talent. A number of his songs which feature on his debut album, were composed then.

In 1992, Fr. John took up a new role in a new mission in Dublin in Sean Mc Dermott St, an area of great poverty and need. Here John continues his music in the parish church and local primary school.

The people of the parish, though disadvantaged and poor, are friendly and welcoming.

Fr. John has remarked to a close friend from home that the place reminds him of his own ‘King Street’, and so feels very ‘much at home.’

Music has always been a big part of his life and work and it is that passion, which has been the inspiration of this album.Fr. Quinn is dedicating ‘On the way’ to all his family and friends in Magherafelt.

While an exact date for the album launch has not yet been decided, Fr. John hopes to arrange a date in September.