Tributes from far and wide after death of Mayo legend Fr Gerry French

FR Gerry French from Mossbrook, Mayo Abbey, Claremorris, and Dalgan Park, Navan, who died in the Mater Hospital, Dublin, last week, was one noble son of Mayo. He was a member of the Columban Fathers and served overseas in the Philippines and Korea.

Fr Gerry did a huge amount of work during his years with the Irish Chaplaincy in England, especially in London and Birmingham, and, in more recent times, spent ten years serving the Ballymun community in Dublin.

He was imbued with a great love for Mayo football and won a county junior medal with Claremorris. He was a regular at many Mayo games over the years and at the Mayo Association gatherings on both sides of the Irish Sea and never lost his love for the land of his birth.

Fr Gerry, who was born on August 6, 1937, and attended Facefield NS and St Colman’s College, retained a life-long interest in Claremorris football and was among the guests of honour at the celebrations to mark the golden jubilee of the team that won the Mayo senior title back in 1971 which were held in the clubhouse in the summer of 2022.

His knowledge of the region was incredible and he had a great fondness for neighbours and friends around Mossbrook, Brize and Facefield. Mayo was carved on his generous heart.

The late Fr Gerry French

A spokesperson for the Columban Fathers in Dalgan, Navan, outlined Fr Gerry’s long association with the Order after coming to Dalgan in 1956 and being ordained in 1962: “He was appointed to Korea, to Chunchon Diocese in 1963, where he worked until 1970 apart from a year studying CCD in St Louis, USA. He was then assigned to promotion ministry in England from 1970 followed by a period in Hotels Chaplaincy up to the end of 1984.

“From 1984 to 1987, Fr Gerry was Chaplain to the Youth Rehabilitation Centre in Rush, Co Dublin and was also involved in counselling and formation ministry at the Conference of Major Superiors Programme in Dublin over the next twenty years.

“He spent two years as a Lecturer in Theology at the Milltown Institute from 1994-1996. There then followed a period of five years back in Britain as Director of the Irish Immigrant Chaplaincy before a final move back to Ireland for parish ministry and later to St Joseph’s Parish, Ballymun. However, he continued to be a member of the Irish Episcopal Council for Emigrants and the Irish Council for Prisoners Overseas.

“Gerry was interested in people wherever he met them and he never stopped studying human behaviour: psychoanalytic psychotherapy at Dublin, education in Boston, Group Therapy at London’s Tavistock Institute, and Ministry at All Hallows.

“He shared his learning in BA and MA courses at the Dublin School of Psychotherapy, at the Irish Group Relations Organization, and at the Religious Formation Ministry in Dublin as long as his health permitted, even by Zoom during the Covid years.

“Gerry’s interest in people was extraordinary. Not only did he remember people’s names but he could also name their relatives for several generations. In England and later in Ireland he helped a vast number of people, offering an always sympathetic ear and often helping them to find work through his multiple connections. He loved Gaelic football and followed the game at all levels. He was sympathetic, empathetic and curious to learn about people right to the end.”

Tributes

Numerous and heart-warming tributes have been paid to Fr Gerry from friends around the world. Among them was one from Kathy Moore in London: “I got to know Fr Gerry when he worked at the Irish Emigrant Chaplaincy at Tollington Park, London. He was the most caring, hard working, compassionate, non judgmental and selfless person I have ever met. He often gave up his own room to accommodate a person in need. He worked tirelessly with the homeless providing hot meals in the centre as well as practical and emotional supports.”

Removal and Evening Prayer was held on Friday evening in Dalgan Park, Navan. Requiem Mass was celebrated on Saturday at 11am, where Gerry's coffin was carried a Mayo flag, followed by burial in the Community Cemetery.

Fr Gerry, who was predeceased by his parents Gerard and Mai, will be sadly missed by his brothers Noel, Seán and Arthur, his sisters Mary and Sheila; brother-in-laws, sister-in-laws, nephews, nieces, grandnephews, grandnieces, extended family, Columban family and a wide circle of friends. Ar dheis De go raibh a anam.