‘He was a good shepherd’: Kildare councillor leads tributes to well-known priest who recently passed away

A well-known retired priest who served Rathangan has been remembered by a number of Kildare residents, including a local councillor.

The Very Reverend Father Gerard O'Byrne PE, formerly of Rathangan and Ballykealy, Ballon, County Carlow, passed away on June 3 last in the loving care of the staff at the Craddock House Nursing Home in Naas.

Warm tributes have been made to the memory of the late Very Rev Fr O'Byrne, including one by Fine Gael councillor Mark Stafford, who is based in Rathangan.

Commenting on his passing, Cllr Stafford said: "Very sad news has reached our Rathangan Parish community with the passing of Fr Gerard O'Byrne.

"Fr Ger came to the parish as Parish Priest in 1989 and what an occasion that was: I remember the homily he gave at his second mass in the parish. He told us about a parish priest who got a new parish and how the parishioners would interrupt him at mass if they disagreed with what he said."

He continued: "Fr Ger was never interrupted in the over 30 years he was with us. He was a good shepherd who cared deeply for his flock.

"Fr Ger shared in our happiest of moments and our saddest. He was always there for the sick and bereaved in our community. When he would visit someone in the hospital or hospice, he would always say he was there to see somebody else so you would never be under pressure if it wasn't a good time.

"Deepest condolences to his brothers nieces and nephews, extended family and friends," Cllr Stafford concluded.

The Very Rev Fr Gerard O'Byrne is predeceased by his parents Thomas and Ana, brothers Edward, Donal and Hugh and his sister Mary.

He is Deeply regretted by his brothers John and Fr. William (P.P. Kill), sisters in law, brother in law, Fr. Thomas (Adm Carlow Cathedral) and all other nieces & nephews, extended family & friends, Bishop Denis Nulty, the priests of Kildare & Leighlin, parishioners of Rathangan & former parishes.

The Very Rev Fr O'Byrne will be reposing in Church of the Assumption & St. Patrick, Rathangan on Monday (June 5) from 10am to 9pm, with prayer service at 7pm.

Requiem mass on Tuesday (June 6) at 2pm, followed by burial in St Patrick's Cemetery, Rathangan.

The funeral mass can be viewed on https://www.youtube.com/c/icatholicplayer.