Parish marks Fr Tommy’s 60 years with a party
Bishop Denis Nulty congratulates Fr Tommy Dillon during the thanksgiving Mass in Holy Family Church, Askea celebrating his Diamond Jubilee Photo: michaelorourkephotography.ie
By Elizabeth Lee ONE of the best-known and most-loved priests in Co Carlow recently celebrated 60 years in the priesthood with hundreds of his friends and parishioners joining him for the celebrations.
Fr Tommy Dillon marked an incredible six decades of being a priest at a special Mass in the Holy Family Church, Askea with Bishop Denis Nulty paying special tribute to him. Afterwards, a party was held in the nearby parish centre, where there were refreshments, cake and much joy.
“There was a real carnival atmosphere, it was so joyous. People came from other parishes to be here. It was a lovely night,” said Norah Holohan, parish secretary.
“It was great. I feel as good as I felt 60 years ago,” Fr Tommy told .
A native of Grange, Fr Tommy was ordained at the age of 25 in Maynooth College on 20 June 1965.
As a young priest, he was first appointed to Birmingham before returning to Ireland as a curate in Portlaoise. He was sent back to England, to Watford, where he was a chaplain and then came back to his native county where he was chaplain in the-then regional college, where he remained from 1973 to 1989.
After that, he was appointed administrator to Carlow cathedral and later as administrator to Holy Family Church, Askea. From 1994 to 2002, he was parish priest in Raheen and Shanahoe and then he spent 15 years, from 2002 to 2017, as parish priest in Baltinglass. He was then moved back to Carlow in 2017, to Askea, Bennekerry and Tinryland, where he’s as busy as ever still working as a priest, helping families to mark the milestones in their lives.
“I’ve loved every parish I’ve been in. I became a priest because I thought that I’d like the life, helping people. I’ve been to so many celebrations like birthdays, weddings, funerals – all the big events in life. The parishioners are a great support and they’re my companions. They share their lives with me,” said Fr Tommy.
