Death of Fr Joe Gleeson of Skryne and Rathfeigh

Skryne and Rathfeigh is mourning the passing in the early hours of this morning of Fr Joe Gleeson, who served the parish for almost 30 years.

The Offaly native was appointed parish priest of Skryne and Rathfeigh in June 1987, and remained on after his retirement, assisting current parish priest, Fr Tom O'Mahony.

This morning, Fr O'Mahony told parishioners that he hoped everybody whose lives were touched by Fr Gleeson would look back on him with gratitude and as an example.

In recent weeks, Fr Gleeson wasn't afraid of dying and was looking forward to going to Heaven, Fr O'Mahony said. The deaths last year of his lifelong friends, Fr Billy Cleary and Fr Sean Fay, had a huge effect on him.

Fr Joe Gleeson, who was greatly influenced by his uncle, Fr Bill Gleeson, late PP Nobber, was ordained on 22nd June 1958 in St Patrick’s College, Maynooth.

Fr Joe went on loan to Kilkenny diocese for a period before returning to serve for 11 years in Tullamore.

From there, he transferred to Laytown, where he oversaw the building of the new church in that parish. In 2006, he took a step back in Skryne, switching places with his then curate, Tom O'Mahony. One of his last major projects in Skryne was overseeing the building of the new St Colmcille's NS there.

Funeral arrangements are to follow.