Late Fr O'Brien showed lifetime devotion to faith

Obituary

The late Fr Eamonn O’Brien, who died on Monday August 28, was a member of a family of whom five chose to enter religious life.

He was just two weeks short of his 98th birthday, which falls on September 9.

A native of Ballykilmurray, Tullamore, Fr O’Brien was one of the 12 children of Patrick and Kathleen O’Brien.

Three of the girls became religious sisters, and another brother joined the priesthood.

A long-time pastor in Rochfortbridge, Fr O’Brien died in the care of the nurses and staff of Newbrook Lodge Nursing Home, Mullingar, where he had been resident for several years.

Fr O’Brien was educated at the local national school, Tullamore CBS, and St Finian’s College before heading to Maynooth, where he was ordained on June 17, 1951.

He was appointed Reader in Carnaross before going to Los Angeles in December 1951 for a four-year work sojourn.

On his return to Ireland, Fr O’Brien served as curate in Portarlington from 1955 until 1957, Dunshaughlin from October 1957 until 1969 and Navan from 1969 until June 1976.

He was appointed administrator of Navan parish on June 20, 1976 and remained until February 1981.

It was at that point that he was appointed administrator of Rochfortbridge, where, all told, he was to live for the next 30 years, taking over as parish priest in September 1985.

Fr O’Brien retired in 2010 and resided in Newbrook Nursing Home, Mullingar from 2011, where he continued his pastoral work.

Fr Stan Deegan, who delivered the homily at Fr O’Brien’s funeral, ministered alongside Fr O’Brien for 15 years, and was warm in his tributes to the dedicated priest.

“He gave everybody his time, and he will be remembered for his kindness and generosity and sincerity,” said Fr Deegan this week, adding that Fr O’Brien was an extremely compassionate man with a great sense of empathy.

“To him, everybody was equal and the same. He attended all their needs – physical and pastoral – the best he could, but particularly in the care of those who were sick: he always was very attentive to the visitation of the sick and ministry to them – and also to people who were in any other way misfortunate.”

Demonstrating also a great practical sense, Fr O’Brien took on several capital projects within the parish: “In a quiet kind of way, he achieved an enormous amount in terms of renovation and upkeep and that kind of thing.

Rochfortbridge

In his time in Rochfortbridge, he had to face some enormous challenges, but he did so in a spirit of leadership and a very diligent and committed way, bringing people with him, leading them to see what was important and he got everybody’s support, made it possible.”

Fr O’Brien was a keen sports enthusiast, and was a talented sportsman. He played both football and hurling as a young person, and is understood to have lined out for Offaly in one of those codes at underage level.

In Dunshaughlin parish, he held the role of GAA club chairman for a spell, and in Rochfortbridge, by way of tribute on the occasion of his diamond jubilee, in 2011, the GAA formally called their grounds ‘Fr Eamonn O’Brien Park’. Fr O’Brien was also a handy golfer.

What was always, however, foremost with him, was his commitment to his faith, his ministry and his flock, and testament to that was the attendance at his removal and funeral.

Fr Eamonn O’Brien’s remains reposed in the Church of the Immaculate Conception in Rochfortbridge on Tuesday, August 29, and the concelebrated funeral Mass was held on Wednesday, August 30, followed by burial in Rochfortbridge Parish Cemetery.

Fr O’Brien was predeceased by his parents Patrick and Kathleen, his brothers Dan, Fr Michael, Paddy and Rory, sisters Sr Peter, Rose, Kathleen and Sr Dympna.

He will be sadly missed and forever remembered by his sister Sr Clare (Holy Faith Convent, Glasnevin), brothers Joe (Ballykilmurray) and Peter (Cork), sister-in-law Mary, nephews, nieces, cousins, extended family, his many friends at Newbrook Lodge Nursing Home, Bishop Deenihan, retired Bishop Smith, priests of the Diocese of Meath and a wide circle of friends.