Mayo priest remembers 60 years of service: 'I came but to serve'

He is a Mayo native, a 'humble servant of God' and an admirer of the Galway hurlers.

Fr Austin Fergus was ordained in 1965 and he is still active, celebrating 60 years in service, a diamond jubilee.

He grew up in Louisburgh, 'a lovely area', as he says, speaking to the Mayo News: "An area close to Croagh Patrick and close to the sea. I love the sea."

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When he was young, growing up in Mayo, Austin Fergus used to climb the Reek at night:

"Back in those days the pilgrimages were at night. We climbed it on lovely nights. And the most beautiful sight I can remember is at dawn breaking on the top of Croagh Patrick and the big red sun rising out of the sea beyond Clare Island. Never forgot it. Lighting up in the isles in Clew Bay on a fine day."

That image – mountain, sea and rising light – has accompanied the Louisburgh native through six decades of priesthood, a career that has carried him from the Aran Islands to the football-mad parishes of Mayo 

There was no boys school in Louisburgh at the time. He was sent boarding In St Jarlath's College Tuam. Fergus spent five years there.

"I made a lot of friends, and played football. We won a Hogan Cup medal for St Jarlath's in Croke Park, I played goalkeeper for the team," Fr Fergus remembers.

He went to Maynooth to become a priest, with over 100 other boys from around the country.

Fergus had saw a good share of Ireland's West in his subsequent 60 years of service. First, as a fluent Irish speaker, he was appointed to the Arran Islands. 

"I was responsible for Inishmaan and Inisheer on Sundays, I had to cross from one island to another in a currach, to get to the other for mass."

Then, Fr Fergus was transferred to North Connemara, in the English-speaking Clifden parish and after that he was in Tuam for 16 years.

"I had a very happy time in Galway, it was a great time for the Galway hurlers as well," Fr Fergus chuckles. 

Then he returned to his native county Mayo, serving in Mayo Abbey, where has stayed since, for 30 years.

"I always tried to do the best I could, to be a compassionate man that has helped people. Because you had to deal with all sorts of situations. I had high moments, christening children, weddings, jubilees, and then of course we have a lot of funerals." 

Fr Fergus points out, that it was his job to serve the people: "I didn't come to be served but to serve as the Lord says, and I was his representative in the different parishes."

This evening will be special in Mayo Abbey, as a well deserved expression of gratitude to a man who has loved his years in their midst.

Mass will be celebrated at 7.30pm in Mayo Abbey Church and refreshments will be served afterwards in the Centre. A warm welcome awaits all in the village on Friday evening.

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