Fr McTiernan celebrates Golden Jubilee
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Family, friends and neighbours of Fr John McTiernan, who assembled in the Church of the Immaculate Conception in Belturbet, to celebrate the Golden Jubilee of his ordination in June, 1973. The photo includes Elizabeth and Eamon Smith, Ailish McTiernan, Pat Conlon, John McTiernan (nephew); front, Pat McTiernan, Fr John McTiernan, Donal McTiernan, Fr John’s grand nephew and Bernadette Conlon and Teresa McTiernan-Nugent.Image 2 of 4
Bishop Martin Hayes and fellow priests celebrate the Golden Jubilee of Fr John McTiernan. Front (from left): Fr Eamon Lynch, Bishop Martin Hayes, Fr John McTiernan, Bishop Leo O’Reilly and Fr Brian Flynn.Image 3 of 4
Members of the Annagh Parish Council, Gavan Brady and Darragh McAvinue , present Fr McTiernan with the Papal Blessing, to mark the Golden Jubilee of his Ordination to the Priesthood in June, 1973.Image 4 of 4
Annagh Parish Council members: Back (from left) Fr Bijo, Ryan Little, Seamus Faulkner, Gavin Brady, Darragh McAvinue and Fr Jason Murphy; front, Ellen Farrelly, Fr John McTiernan, Bridget Reilly and Clare McGlade.A mass of thanksgiving was celebrated in the Church of the Immaculate Conception, Belturbet, late last month to mark the Golden Jubilee of the Ordination of Fr John McTiernan to the priesthood. It was attended by a huge congregation, as well as Bishop Martin Hayes, Bishop Leo O’Reilly, fellow priests, family, friends and neighbours of Fr John.
Organised by the Pastoral Council, there was also a celebratory function in the Seven Horse Shoes Hotel afterwards, where Fr John cut a beautiful cake with a little help from his grand nephew, Donal McTiernan.
Students from St Patrick’s College, under the direction of teacher Ciaran Tackney, performed a vibrant and eclectic collection of music to compliment the occasion.
Fr McTiernan, who is a native of Moneenatieve, Drumkerrin in County Leitrim, thanked the musicians and Mr Tackney for making a special effort to attend.
“1973 was a very special year for myself and my classmates, two of whom are here tonight, Fr Eamon Lynch and Fr Brian Flynn, when we were ordained for the Diocese of Kilmore,” he recalled.
He had a special word of thanks for their “loving parents” who educated them during “hard times”.
“I want to thank my own family for all their kindness and generosity and tolerance over the years, They used to tell me every so often – I didn’t need a clock,” said Fr McTiernan.
Looking back to 1973, he recalled the price of oil went up by 200 per cent and the Troubles were impacting the Border region.
“It transformed Belturbet and it transformed a lot of lives for so many years. Belturbet suffered its own loss at the end of ’72,” he said in reference to the Belturbet bombing.
There were some positive highlights from 1973 - Abba, the dawning of the first mobile phones and the internet and Ireland joined the EEC.
“As we look back today, we also look forward to new horizons of hope and give thanks for the past and all that it brought.
“We look forward because every generation rebuilds, renews and does great things and young people will do that,” said Fr McKiernan.
He joined the teaching staff of St Patrick’s College in 1974 and, according to Fr John Gilhooly who delivered a superb appreciation of Fr John’s life, he was driving a Volkswagen Beatle at the time.
He was appointed President of St Patrick’s College in 1990 and took a sabbatical from 1997 to 1998.
Then Fr McTiernan was assigned to the Parish of Dromahair - Killargue and remained there until 2015 before moving on to the Parish of Annagh, where he remains to the present day.
We congratulate Fr McTiernan on his jubilee.