A half of a century of ministering to the faithful was honoured last Friday in the Church of the Resurrection, Mallow, when V. Rev. Canon Dónal O’Mahony celebrated Mass of Thanksgiving on the occasion of his Golden Jubilee. It was in the same church on 12th June 1976 that the Mallow native was ordained to the Priesthood, and last Friday brought him full circle as he stood on the altar to celebrate Mass along with fellow priests from the Diocese of Cloyne. Proud family, friends and other well-wishers were in the congregation to help him celebrate his Golden Jubilee, and in his sermon he recalled 50 years of priestly endeavours, remembering to thank the many people whom he met along the way.
Fr. Dónal joined the Seminary in Maynooth in 1970, and was ordained to the Diaconate in Maynooth College in 1975. Following his ordination to the Priesthood in the following year, he was appointed as Curate in St. Joseph’s Church, Tilehurst, in the UK, and in 1977 was appointed as Assistant Curate in Fermoy. In November 1980, he became a Curate in Grenagh Parish, and three years later he moved to the Liscarroll-Churchtown Parish. In 1980 he returned as Curate to Fermoy Parish, and then served as Curate in Cobh Parish in 1994. Five years later, he became Admin-istrator of Cobh Parish, and in 2007 he was appointed as Parish Priest in Cloyne. In September 2015, Canon O’Mahony was appointed Parish Priest in Charleville, where he still ministers today. Congratulations to Canon O’Mahony on half a century of good works in so many parishes.