Sudden death of retired Oldcastle PP while out walking

The death occurred last week of Fr Eugene Conlan, the much loved retired parish priest of Oldcastle. A native of Moynalty, Father Conlan was ordained a priest of the Diocese of Meath in his home parish in 1953. As a young priest, his ministry began in New York, where his uncle Mons Bernard Russell (parish priest of Harlem) took him to his first parish called Saint Anselm's in Brooklyn. Returning home to Ireland in 1958, Fr Conlan served as chaplain to Saint Loman's Hospital, Mullingar until his appointment as curate in Clara in 1962, where he remained until 1972 when he began a 10 year term of service at the Cathedral of Christ the King, Mullingar. Fr Conlan's first appointment as parish priest took him to Clonmellon in 1982 and two years later he took up the post of parish priest of Oldcastle. He retired as parish priest in 2006 and lived in Moylagh where he continued to be actively involved in the parish until his sudden and untimely death. Fr Conlon died while out walking, as was his custom, in Moylagh. Fr Conlan celebrated the golden jubilee of his ordination in June 2003. In the foreword of his Jubilee booklet he wrote: "I thank God for calling me to be a priest and I appreciate the friendship and support I received from Bishop Michael and from fellow priests and the inspiration and support from wonderful lay people in every situation in which I served." He recalled that when he was ordained in Newcastle, Moynalty, in 1953, the then parish priest thought of an excellent fundraising idea by charging 10 shillings to raise funds for the church. In the Funeral Mass, which took place at the Church of Saint Brigid, Oldcastle, Bishop Michael Smith referred to Fr Conlan's 56 years of dedicated priestly service, his golden jubilee of 2003 and his great love of walking in the countryside. "These are the bare bones of Fr Eugene's priestly journey" said the bishop. "He himself summed it all up very simply and clearly at his jubilee when he said 'I always felt happy as a priest' and 'I thank God for calling me to be a priest'. This was obvious to all who knew him and who came in contact with him. As Saint Paul tells us, 'the life and death of each of us has its influence on others'. Over his 56 years as a priest, Fr Eugene touched and influenced the lives of very many. The full list is known only to God. Bishop Smith continued: "Summing up 56 years of ministry does not lend itself to words. He was called to stand at the altar in the person of Christ, called to impart the mercy and forgiveness of God, called to be a support to the sick and companion to the elderly, the bereaved and distressed, while much of the ministry of any priest remains hidden, drawing its strength from the Lord. Fr Eugene loved to walk in hail, rain or snow. It offered him his own space, time for reflection and prayer, communing with nature in Mullaghmeen Forest, in Deerpark at Virginia or along the roads of Moylagh. It was there that death came to him quickly and quietly. He was well prepared for that moment and now may he rest in the love of the Lord whom he served so faithfully in life." Fr Conlan is survived by his sister Alice; brother John and a wide circle of family, friends and parishioners.