Death of long serving diocesan priest, Fr Colm Murtagh

Parish priest of Kildalkey for quarter of a century

John Donohoe

Published: Wed 9 Nov 2022, 5:44 PM

Last updated: Wed 9 Nov 2022, 5:50 PM

The death has occured of one of the oldest priests in the Diocese of Meath, Fr Colm Murtagh, the retired parish priest of Kildalkey. He was aged 97 and died at peacefully in CareChoice,Trim.

A native of Coole parish, Fr Murtagh was born on 17th October 1925, and was educated at St Finian’s College and St Patrick’s College, Maynooth.

Ordained in 1950, Fr Murtagh served in the parishes of Oldcastle, Mullingar and Ballivor (1950-1952) before being appointed as hospital chaplain in Navan in 1953. He was appointed curate in Ratoath in 1957 and then served in the parishes of Eglish (1958), Enfield (1967) and Rochfortbridge (1972) before his appointment as parish priest of Kildalkey in January 1981.

He retired in September 2005 and continued to reside in the parish since then.

Removal is on Thursday to St Dympna’s Church, Kildalkey at 6pm, reposing until 8pm. Funeral Mass on Friday at 12 noon followed by burial in St Dympna’s Cemetery.