Matt Gilsenan hands over a photographic record of his time in Trim to Fr Andy Farrell in St Patrick's Church, Trim, on Friday evening.

Hundreds honour retired Trim priest

Parishioners in Trim turned out in force last Friday night to honour former local parish priest, Fr Andrew Farrell, as the town staged a special presentation to mark his retirement from active ministry. Hundreds of local people of all ages packed St Patrick's Church for a special Mass celebrated by Fr Farrell, who now resides at Knightsbridge Retirement Village in Trim. Tributes were paid to the popular PP, who served in Trim for 15 years, by Matt Gilsenan, on behalf of the parish, and by his successor in Trim, Fr Sean Henry. Mr Gilsenan paid particular tribute to Fr Farrell's energy and dedication during his time in the parish, which saw, among other projects, a new parochial house being built. He presented Fr Farrell with a photographic record of his time in Trim. The retired PP, in turn, thanked parishioners for making him feel so welcome during the many happy years he spent in the town. Also present were many friends and acquaintances from Fr Farrell's former parishes in Navan and Kingscourt. A concert to honour of Fr Farrell took place afterwards in the adjacent Scoil Mhuire secondary school where children from local primary and secondary schools entertained a large attendance with a selection of music and singing. Fr Farrell, a native of Raharney, Co Westmeath, studied at St Patrick's College, Maynooth, and was ordained to the priesthood in 1957. He served for a time in the Archdiocese of Saint Louis, USA, and subsquently as chaplain to Our Lady's Hospital, Navan. Following an appointment to St Finian's College, Mullingar, in 1963, he returned to Navan in 1964 and was appointed Administrator of St Mary's Parish there in 1982. He served as Parish Priest of Kingscourt from 1987 until his appointment as PP in Trim in 1994.