Peter Tierney RIP

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Peter Tierney (1931 - 2009)

Peter Tierney was born on 18 June 1931 in Carrownageeha, Milltown, Co. Galway.  He attended St. Colman's College, Claremorris before joining the Columbans in September 1949.  In his student days Peter attained legendary status on the football field where he displayed the courage and the leadership that were to mark his later life.

Ordained in Dalgan at Christmas 1955 Peter went for postgraduate studies in Rome where he completed a degree in Canon Law. In 1958 he was appointed to Korea and following language studies in Seoul was assigned to Kwangju diocese in the southwest of the country.  The Korean War had ended a few years previously and the devastation was still very evident so relief work and rebuilding were the order of the day. Peter spent ten years working in rural and city parishes in the diocese before he was chosen as Regional Director of the Columbans in Korea.

In the six years he spent as Director he initiated a change to the whole
approach of Columban mission in Korea.  Industrialisation had started the movement of population to the cities so that Seoul grew from a city of four million to over twelve million in less than twenty years. Peter led the change of focus from rural dioceses to new areas on the edge of Seoul and put Columban personnel and any money he could find into the effort. As it turned out, it was one of the most significant contributions the Columban Society could have made to Korea.  Poor, displaced, and disorientated families were gathered again into Christian communities and Columbans put in touch with the good and the bad of a tiger economy.

Following his two terms as Director Peter served for a few years as a  Councillor to the Superior General before returning to Korea and to parish work in Pusan, Inchon and Seoul. With the Korean Church now able to take over and expand the work in the new cities Peter returned to Kwangju and served in Changpyong parish while also doing work with the marriage tribunal.

After fifty years of service in Korea Peter returned to Ireland last year and was grateful to have that time with his family and friends despite his illness. Ever competitive and totally committed though he was, Peter will be fondly remembered both here and in Korea for his gentleness and care for those in need.

May he rest in peace.