West Mayo priest who ministered until the age of 93 fondly remembered

A Louisburgh native who ministered as a priest into his 90s years has been remembered as a ‘good and faithful servant’ who ‘touched the lives of many’.

Fr Paddy Gill, who served in Lecanvey until the age of 93, has passed away at the age of 98. He spent 71 years as a priest in total. 

He attended primary school in Louisburgh and secondary school in St Jarlath’s College in Tuam, where he later taught several boarders from the Mayo end of the diocese. 

He studied for the priesthood at the seminary in Maynooth, where he was ordained as a priest on June 21, 1953. Fr Gill later ministered Mulranny, Headford and Milltown before taking early retirement as Parish Preist to serve in Lecanvey. Last year, he marked 70 years in the priesthood at his Platinum Jubilee ceremony in his native Louisburgh. 

Fr John Kenny, Parish Priest of Westport, said Fr Gill had ‘touched the lives of many with his kindness, wisdom, and unwavering faith’. 

“Fr Paddy dedicated his life to serving in our diocese and community. He will be fondly remembered and dearly missed.  Please keep him and his family in your thoughts and prayers. A good and faithful servant, may he rest in peace,” said Fr Kenny on Facebook. 

In a statement, Tuam Archdiocese described Fr Gill as someone who ‘was greatly and deeply loved by his people’.

Lecavney Community Centre remembered Fr Gill as ‘a wonderful presence in our community for years’.

“He was always a big supporter, not to mention contributor, to the community centre,” read a statement from their Facebook page. “He attended and helped organize many events over the years, and his memory will live long in the area. May he rest in peace.” 

Fr Paddy Gill’s funeral details have yet to be announced.