Fr Andrew O'Brien RIP

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Fr Andrew D.F.J. O’Brien
(1926-2008)

Andrew O’Brien died peacefully in the Dalgan Nursing Home, in the early morning of 4 March 2008. Born on 10th March 1926 in Cork City, he was educated at St Angela’s College, CBS St Patrick’s Place, and Christian Brothers’ College. He came to Dalgan in 1944 and was ordained priest on 21 December 1950.

He was assigned to the Philippines in 1951 and spent the next twenty years in pastoral work on the island of Mindanao. He served in the parishes of Aloran, Kolambugan, Bonifacio and Corpus Christi, Iligan City.  Pastoral visitation was difficult on poor roads and with inadequate transport. He worked hard to ensure that parish schools were run efficiently and to high standards.

He was appointed to the Region of Ireland in 1969 and over the next eighteen years helped in various parishes in Ireland and Britain. His health had never been very robust and he retired to Dalgan in 1987 where his meticulous bookkeeping kept the farm accounts in order.

Andrew was an assiduous reader who loved to keep abreast of political events in the wider world.  He tended to take a rather pessimistic view of recent developments in the Church and in theology.  His comments were always seasoned with a dry wit that generated a host of anecdotes.  He will be remembered as a man of prayer and deep faith, who had great devotion to Our Blessed Mother and to the Rosary.

May he rest in peace.