Ballinrobe honours its jubilee priest
Denise Horan
denisehoran@mayonews.ie
EMOTION suffused the face of Monsignor Tommy Shannon as he glided down the centre aisle of St Mary's Church, surrounded by his family and buoyed by the sustained applause of his overflowing congregation who stood to salute him.
His golden jubilee Mass in his parish of Ballinrobe had just finished, 33 priests and the Archbishop of Tuam, Dr Michael Neary had preceded him down aisle and he was soaking up the heartfelt goodwill of the people as they stopped him to embrace him, shake his hand and congratulate him on 50 years of priestly service. He had left the organisation of the event in the hands of his curate, Fr Michael Gormally and his parishioners, probably expecting that they would do a good job. But his expectations were way off – they did a superb one.
It was a moving and emotional service, as the Parish Priest who arrived in the town of Ballinrobe 23 years ago was joined on the altar by Archbishop Neary, Fr Michael Gormally, Fr James Ronayne and Fr Oliver McNamara (all curates or past curates in Ballinrobe), Fr Sean Lally, Fr Paddy Gilligan and Monsignor Joe Quinn (all of whom had served Mass for Mons Shannon and who he advised on the road to the priesthood), Vicar General Monsignor Dermot Moloney and Monsignor Pat Ahern (close friend of Mons Shannon).
Mons Shannon himself opened the Mass last Monday week, welcoming all who had come to join him, in particular his brother and sisters who had travelled long distances to be with him: Micheál from Peru, Mary from Australia, Sr Assumpta (Bridie) from Namibia and Aileen from South Africa. Taking the congregation through his life, he introduced eleven symbols, which a variety of people brought to the altar. The first, and most moving, was a sod of turf brought by Jimmy Mulryan from Claremorris, whose father, Mockey Mulryan, had given the young Tommy Shannon and his friend, the late Jack Mahon, a lift to Maynooth in his turf lorry when they first set out for the seminary in 1950. The sod of turf was a reminder of that journey and a symbol of the hardship of the 1950s.
Next a book was brought to the altar containing the names and dates of the 438 marriages performed by the monsignor during his ministry, starting with the wedding of his sister just six days after his ordination in 1957.
Christy Tynan and Michael Rogers, boy alto and boy soprano in the Male Choir over which Monsignor Shannon presided in Castlebar during his time there in the 1960s, brought up the score of the Mass for that time, while Ernie Sweeney brought a collection of 84 letters – written one each month for seven years – that Monsignor Shannon sent to the members of the Boys' Sodality which he established in Castlebar during his time there. At the time, Ernie Sweeney was unable to read and write, but he kept the letters in a biscuit tin until he learned to read in later life.
The fifth symbol was four priests who Mons Shannon assisted on the way to the priesthood – Fr Sean Lally and Fr Paddy Gilligan, Mons Joe Quinn and Archbishop Neary, all of whom were embraced by Mons Shannon on the altar.
Mons Shannon's next posting was as secretary to Archbishop Joseph Cunnane in Tuam and as a symbol of that time, Ballinrobe native Nola Gibbons brought up the souvenir booklet of the special confirmation in Knock for the entire diocese, which took place on June 4, 1979, the same year that Pope John Paul II came to Knock. Over 2,000 children were confirmed in one moving service that day.
As a symbol of his chaplaincy in St Jarlath's College, Tuam, Dermot Keane – a past pupil – brought to the altar a book containing the names and addresses of the 1,211 boys who completed their Leaving Cert during his time there.
A noted singer, Mons Shannon took part in three grand operas, as Gaeilge, in An Taidhdhearc in Galway in the 1970s, and to recall that time – and his musical talents in general – Michael Hannon, who performed with him brought up the score of 'Cosi fan Tutte'.
Since his move to Ballinrobe in 1984, there have been many great moments, including many special centenaries and anniversaries, but the one that stood out for Mons Shannon was the Harry Clarke centenary in 1989. As a symbol of this occasion in the town, Richard Higgins presented a booklet he compiled at the time on the life of Harry Clarke, whose windows adorn St Mary's Church in Ballinrobe.
Gary Fitzpatrick was next to the altar, carrying with him a the Baptismal Register for Ballinrobe. In the 23 years since his arrival in Ballinrobe, Mons Shannon has baptised 472 babies, starting with Gary in 1984.
Finally, Sr Assumpta brought to the altar a copy of the Good Friday Agreement, signed by her brother and franked in the polling booth on the day it was voted upon. This linked the ministries of Mons Shannon, whose service spanned the period of the Troubles in Northern Ireland, and his sister who worked as a nun in Africa during the terrible time of apartheid. Just as Mons Shannon was overjoyed at the breakthrough the Good Friday Agreement heralded in Ireland, so Sr Assumpta was overcome by the emotion and joy that greeted the end of apartheid in 1994.
Paying tribute to Mons Shannon – for whom he had served Mass many years earlier in Castlebar – Archbishop Neary noted, in an address to the congregation, that 'great things have been done in the Western Diocese in places where Tom has ministered, in Castlebar, in St Jarlath's, in Archbishop's House as Diocesan Secretary, and here in Ballinrobe'.
Recalling that he was 'the envy of every young lad in the place [Castlebar] at the time because he had a bike with a speedometer', Archbishop Neary spoke of his work with the sodality in Castlebar, his ministering to the elderly and his training of Mass servers.
He also remarked on his musical talents and how he used these to make the world a better place for those around him. "In times of contradiction, in a world that seems temporarily out of tune, Tom, in his love of music and song, always sought for harmony between the generations and peace to the lonely and the broken-hearted," he said.
Later, at a special community gathering in the Valkenburg Hotel, Anthony McCormack, chairman of the organising committee for the event, spoke of Mons Shannon's enormous contribution to the parish of Ballinrobe and of his friendship with 'every man, woman and child' in the parish.
On behalf of the parish, Anthony presented Mons Shannon with a set of golf clubs, a meal voucher for him and his family and a specially-commissioned silver plaque with a number of hand-engraved emblems: St Mary's Church, the Mayo coat of arms, Croagh Patrick, the Knock emblem, the yew tree, a Granuaile emblem (all features of Mayo) and a musical note, representing his love of, and talent for, music. The plaque was designed by Blacoe Jewellers
