Cloonkeen, Carrowholly, Westport
Annie Regan died in a road accident on Friday, July 25, the feast day of St James, returning home from St Brendan’s Church in Kilmeena, where she had just attended Mass with her daughter, Margaret. Her last words to Margaret were, “I’m alright Margaret.” The suddenness of her death was a shock to everyone, especially her family, to whom she was devoted.
“In the Book of Lamentations we are told that ‘it is good to wait in silence for the Lord to save,’ and that is really all we can do when death strikes tragically. All we can do is wait,” said Fr Walsh.
Annie Regan, daughter of the late Michael and Sylvia Doherty, was born in 1932 in Cuilmore, Newport. A sister died in infancy, and her brother, Matthias, died of pneumonia while only a few months old. Her sister, Mary Catherine (Mulchrone), lives in Drunagh, Kilmeena, and both were dear friends along with being sisters. Her childhood was spent on the family farm where Annie carried out all the required tasks, from milking cows and saving hay to gathering turf and growing potatoes. Annie was often described as ‘the boy on the farm.’ It was on this farm in Cuilmore that the roots of Annie’s faith also took hold. That faith was central to her life then and remained so throughout her life.
She married Mick Regan in 1958. Earlier this year they had the joy of celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary with their eight daughters, four sons, 27 grandchildren, relations and friends. The highlight of the celebration was their anniversary Mass in Myna Church. Annie and Mick reared their family in Cloonkeen, Carrowholly. Annie put what she had learned in Cuilmore to good use on the farm in Carrowholly. Hay was saved; turf was cut (in Doogra); hens and pigs were fed; cows were milked and butter was churned.
Raising 12 children through the 60s, 70s and 80s was not an easy task for Mick and Annie. Nothing came easy. Annie knitted Aran sweaters and was a dab hand on the Singer sewing machine, creating many outfits for her children. Gardening was one of her favourite pastimes, and she often said she felt very close to God working in her own garden. She always helped the children with homework, especially poetry, for which she had a great love. Her favourite poem was Joseph Mary Plunkett’s, ‘I See His Blood Upon The Rose’:
“I see his blood upon the rose;
And in the stars, the glory of his eyes,
His body gleams amid eternal snows,
His tears fall from the skies.”
Living three miles from town, Annie cycled to Mass in Westport and never missed the First Fridays and weekly Benediction and devotions. Annie learned to drive when she was 60, and, as Fr Jim said, “she would never make a great rally driver, but she got around.” Annie certainly got around to as many prayer meetings as she could. A special joy for her was the weekly trip to Finny and attending Breda Laffey’s meetings. In Breda, Annie had found a kindred spirit, both women of deep prayer, rooted in faith and both endowed with spiritual gifts. Where Breda was gifted with healing, Annie was gifted with prophecy. Annie’s prophetic messages were ‘the anointed words of God that came tumbling out of her.’ Following her participation in the Life in the Spirit Seminars in the Charismatic Renewal meetings in the 1980s, Annie received her gift of prophecy. It was a gift she treasured, nurtured and shared. Her words were often challenging but always comforting, safe in the knowledge that they came from the Lord. Her prophecies were confirmed by gifts from other people at various prayer meetings. The messages were always encouraging and always led people to the Lord. In one sense, what was new was what had already been – return to the sacraments, pray the Rosary (on bended knee), wear the Brown Scapular and fast. Special intentions were honoured by Annie through prayer and fasting every Wednesday and Friday.
She held a weekly prayer meeting in her home, the Cenacle. These meetings with family and friends centred on prayer for priests. They were based on messages from Our Lady to an Italian priest, Fr Gobbi. Annie had a special love for priests, their difficulties in their priestly lives and always prayed for vocations to the priesthood. She constantly gave words of encouragement to priests, assuring them in their ministries and strengthening them in their faith. Annie’s greatest devotion was to the Eucharist. “She would have been overjoyed if she knew she was to die a few minutes after attending Mass … and receiving Holy Communion,” said Fr Walsh.
During her funeral Mass, concelebrated by 12 priests, a butterfly – that great symbol of the Resurrection – fluttered on the altar. When Fr Jim spoke about Annie’s devotion to Our Lady, the butterfly rested on the stained glass window of Our Lady and the Child Jesus. The family donkey, which Annie cherished and always said was an animal of peace, remained at the gate of the house during the days that Annie reposed at home.
A prophetic message from Annie was read at her funeral Mass: “Know that a great reward awaits you in My Father’s Kingdom for following Me, for doing My will, for praying to Me. There is no one who has left Father, Mother, Brother, Sister for My sake and for the sake of the Gospel that shall not receive 100-fold in this life and in the world to come – Life everlasting. Continue your good works. Be filled with joy, for I am present here with you just as you will be present with Me in My Father’s Kingdom. I have a great love for you.”
When the last syllable was read the Angelus bell rang. ‘Thy will be done.’
The message Annie received during a visit to Medugorje was ‘Rebuild My Church.’ Annie did this in every facet of her life. Annie Regan was a gentle, humble woman. She loved her God and her family. Faith was her breath.
Annie Regan was a loyal wife, devoted mother, wonderful granny and faithful friend. May she find rest before the throne of God.
Her removal was from McGing’s Funeral Home, Westport, to St Brendan’s Church, Myna, with the huge crowds reflecting the esteem and affection in which Annie was held by all who knew her. Fr Jim Walsh officiated at the reception ceremony and was also the principal celebrant of her Funeral Mass. The concelebrants were Fr Shane Gallagher (Donegal), Canon Eamon Concannon (Newport), Fr Fintan Monaghan (Tuam), Fr Denis Carney (Westport), Fr Nigel Woollen (Knock), Fr Francis Ferry (Donegal), Fr John Brady (Knock), Fr Jackie Conroy (Aughagower), Fr Michael Farragher (Castlebar), Fr Micheál Mac Gréil, SJ, (Westport), and Canon Arthur Devine (Castlebar). Family members read the lessons and prayers of the faithful and brought the gifts to the altar. The funeral liturgy was beautifully complemented by the singing of St Brendan’s Church Choir.
Annie will be very sadly missed by her husband, Mick (Carrowholly); sons, Michael, John and Joe (Carrowholly) and Martin (Dublin); daughters, Mary Sheridan (Barley Hill, Westport), Sheila Gannon (Barley Hill, Westport), Veronica Walmsley (Barley Hill, Westport), Margaret McCormack (Dublin), Ann O’Reilly (Ennis), Kathleen Hurst (Castlebar), Carmel Ludden (Castlebar), Teresa O’Reilly (Castlebar); sister, Mary Catherine Mulchrone (Drunagh, Kilmeena); grandchildren, sons-in-law, daughter-in-law, nephew, extended family, neighbours and a wide circle of loyal friends.
Annie was laid to rest in Myna Cemetery. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a h-anam dílis.
Annie’s Month’s Mind Mass will be celebrated in St Brendan’s Church, Myna, Kilmeena, on Wednesday, August 27, at 8pm.
