Church music director retires after 60 years of service

Church music director retires after 60 years’ service


Cliché if may be but it will be truly the end of an era when Gabriel Kelly retires this Friday as organist and Director of Sacred Music at St Mary’s Church, Westport. A member of a well-known musical family, Gabriel has given sixty years of loyal service to the Westport parish.
He began his career as Sacristan and quickly progressed to the position of Assistant Organist. Following the death of church organist Ms Ena Eaton he was appointed organist and Director of Sacred Music at St Mary’s by the late Canon Eamonn O’Malley, a position he made very much his own over the past several decades.
Gabriel put countless priests ‘through his hands’ during his long and illustrious career and could always be relied on to guide fledgeling clerics through liturgical ceremonies, especially in relation to musical input. He was often humorously referred to as ‘the real administrator in the parish’ which, although a trifle hyperbolic, was an indication of the affection and esteem he enjoyed among priests and church-goers over the years.
He was centrally associated with all major church ceremonies in the parish for the past sixty years and his influence extended far beyond parish boundaries. He was heavily involved in training the Diocesan Choir for the visit to the Marian Shrine at Knock of Pope John Paul II. Gabriel also served under several archbishops including Drs Joseph Walsh, Joseph Cunnane, Joseph Cassidy and Michael Neary.
The huge contribution he has made to parish community life in Westport was recognised by Westport Town Council just a few months ago when he was accorded a civic reception, the council’s highest honour. At the reception the choir of St Mary’s that he has conducted and directed for many years sang some of Gabriel’s favourites in tribute to him.
At all week-end Masses in St Mary’s he was accorded prolonged ovations after Mass-goers were informed of his retirement by Fr Francis Mitchell, Administrator.
Fr Mitchell said the service given by Gabriel over six decades was quite exceptional and words and sentiments of gratitude and appreciation were very richly deserved. He had always been the good and faithful servant and had worked with very many priests and archbishops in his career.
“Thank you Gabriel. We wish you God’s blessing and good health for many years of happy retirement,” he said.
The Cathaoirleach of Westport Town Council, Cllr Tereasa McGuire, said Gabriel hailed from a distinguished Westport family ‘whose members had music coursing through their veins.’
“Few people can lay claim to a working career of more than sixty years and he always carried out his work with great commitment and dedication. He had his own unique style and characteristics that, once understood, endeared him to many.”
Cllr McGuire said the decision taken earlier in the year to accord Gabriel a Civic Reception had been taken with unanimous acclaim by council members and was one of the most popular ever hosted by the council.
“He will always have an honoured place in the annals of Westport and on behalf of my council colleagues and management and, indeed, all the people of Westport, I wish him a healthy and happy retirement,” she said.