Fond tributes paid to Dunboyne's 'Fr Ted'

THE parish of Dunboyne turned out in force at the weekend to pay tribute to Right Rev Monsignor Edward Dunne, who retired as parish priest of Dunboyne, Kilbride and Clonee late last year.

The Church of Ss Peter and Paul in the village was filled to capacity for the event, which began with concelebrated Mass led by Monsignor Dunne, his successor Right Rev Monsignor Dermot Farrel;, Very Rev Prof Ronan Drury of St Patrick's College, Maynooth, and curates Rev Tony Gavin and Rev Gabriel Flynn.

Afterwards, a gathering took place in Dunboyne Community Centre, where St Peter's College choral group and the local CCE branch provided entertainment, and a presentation to Mons Dunne was made on behalf of the parish by local man Sean Boylan, who recalled the priest's first arrival in Dunboyne in the 1960s as curate, and described highlights of his career such as his role as chaplain to the Defence Forces, when he was awarded a Distinguished Service Medal for his heroism with Irish peacekeeping forces while under fire.

Skryne native 'Fr Ted' - as he is affectionately known amongst friends and colleagues - returned to Dunboyne as parish priest in 1991, and oversaw a great deal of improvement in the growing town, while at the same time always being on hand to console parishioners in times of distress, such as the flooding disasters of recent years.

Master of ceremonies for the evening was Liam Lacey of the organising committee, and Mons Dunne was presented with an inscribed pocket watch, as well as a collection taken up from parishioners in tribute to his 16 years as pastor in Dunboyne, Clonee and Kilbride.