PRIEST THRUST INTO LIMELIGHT AFTER OMAGH TRAGEDY IS ON THE MOVE
Priest thrust into the limelight after Omagh tragedy is on the move- but it's only 15 minutes down the road
By Olga Bradshaw
OMAGH priest, Rev. Kevin Mullan, is on the move to Drumquin Parish following a series of clerical changes announced by the Bishop of Deny, Dr. Seamus Hegarty.
Fr, Mullan became one of the public faces of Omagh in the aftermath of the bombing of August 15, 1998
A native of Omagh, Fr. Mullan was catapulted into the limelight following the horrific bombing of the town four years ago. He has proved a tower of strength to many and his words of comfort and hope have been much appreciated.
As then curate of Killyclogher, he knew many of the victims and was celebrant at many of the funeral services for those who died.
A year after the atrocity, he once again found himself thrust into the spotlight when the dismembered remains of one of his youngest parishioners were discovered in a building site at Circular Road in the town. It was Fr. Mullan who was given the task of administering the Last Rites to the teenager's remains, and he was later the chief celebrant at her funeral.
Born in 1946, Fr. Mullan was educated in Omagh before completing his education at St. Columb's College in Deny, and St. Patrick's College, Maynooth.
He was ordained to the priesthood in 1971, and he will be replaced in his present parish of Cappagh by Fr. Francis Bradley, of Rouskey.
Fr. Mullan said he was 'very, very thankful' for the 11 years he had spent in Omagh. He said he had met and interacted with wonderful people from all of the churches in the town and people outside the church as well.
"We shared deeply in many serious and joyous events, and it was a privilege to work in my home town in that capacity," he said.
Fr. Mullan revealed that in going to Drumquin Parish he would only be 15 minutes from the town and would still be part of the network of churches that comprised the Omagh Churches Forum. He said that he would remain co-chairman of the churches group, a post which he was elected to in June.
Looking to the future, Fr. Mullan said that with the reduction in the Catholic clergy that was taking place, it was envisaged that Parishes would have to share a lot of resources rather like an ecclesiastical co-operative.
He described Drumquin church as modern and said that he was very much looking forward to taking up his new post there.
"A lot of people from my parish are from Drumquin originally, so I will know the faces. It is the first time I will be working on my own, so I am a bit nervous about that," he said.
Fr. Mullan is keen that anyone with relevant photographs contact him with a view to assisting him to build up a collection of pictorial memories from around the Strathroy Parish, as a memento of his time there.
Tribute
Meanwhile, West Tyrone Asemblyman, Mr. Joe Byrne, has paid tribute to Fr. Mullan, and described the cleric as 'a leader of the Omagh community who helped Omagh through several very traumatic events'.
"Fr. Mullan will be missed by the people of Cappagh Parish and Omagh. He was more than a priest, he was a leader of the Omagh community and a community activist who has helped the people of this town through several very traumatic events, in particular the 1998 bombing outrage," he said.
By Olga Bradshaw
OMAGH priest, Rev. Kevin Mullan, is on the move to Drumquin Parish following a series of clerical changes announced by the Bishop of Deny, Dr. Seamus Hegarty.
Fr, Mullan became one of the public faces of Omagh in the aftermath of the bombing of August 15, 1998
A native of Omagh, Fr. Mullan was catapulted into the limelight following the horrific bombing of the town four years ago. He has proved a tower of strength to many and his words of comfort and hope have been much appreciated.
As then curate of Killyclogher, he knew many of the victims and was celebrant at many of the funeral services for those who died.
A year after the atrocity, he once again found himself thrust into the spotlight when the dismembered remains of one of his youngest parishioners were discovered in a building site at Circular Road in the town. It was Fr. Mullan who was given the task of administering the Last Rites to the teenager's remains, and he was later the chief celebrant at her funeral.
Born in 1946, Fr. Mullan was educated in Omagh before completing his education at St. Columb's College in Deny, and St. Patrick's College, Maynooth.
He was ordained to the priesthood in 1971, and he will be replaced in his present parish of Cappagh by Fr. Francis Bradley, of Rouskey.
Fr. Mullan said he was 'very, very thankful' for the 11 years he had spent in Omagh. He said he had met and interacted with wonderful people from all of the churches in the town and people outside the church as well.
"We shared deeply in many serious and joyous events, and it was a privilege to work in my home town in that capacity," he said.
Fr. Mullan revealed that in going to Drumquin Parish he would only be 15 minutes from the town and would still be part of the network of churches that comprised the Omagh Churches Forum. He said that he would remain co-chairman of the churches group, a post which he was elected to in June.
Looking to the future, Fr. Mullan said that with the reduction in the Catholic clergy that was taking place, it was envisaged that Parishes would have to share a lot of resources rather like an ecclesiastical co-operative.
He described Drumquin church as modern and said that he was very much looking forward to taking up his new post there.
"A lot of people from my parish are from Drumquin originally, so I will know the faces. It is the first time I will be working on my own, so I am a bit nervous about that," he said.
Fr. Mullan is keen that anyone with relevant photographs contact him with a view to assisting him to build up a collection of pictorial memories from around the Strathroy Parish, as a memento of his time there.
Tribute
Meanwhile, West Tyrone Asemblyman, Mr. Joe Byrne, has paid tribute to Fr. Mullan, and described the cleric as 'a leader of the Omagh community who helped Omagh through several very traumatic events'.
"Fr. Mullan will be missed by the people of Cappagh Parish and Omagh. He was more than a priest, he was a leader of the Omagh community and a community activist who has helped the people of this town through several very traumatic events, in particular the 1998 bombing outrage," he said.
Further Information
Publisher: TYRONE CONSTITUTION
Ref: TC/1111
Published Date: 29-Aug-02
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