'He would make things better': Cork's 'Fr Paul' remembered by mourners as 'the people’s priest'
Mourners heard that Fr Paul (right) had touched the lives of people from all walks of life and was a selfless person, who was always looking out for others, who would always go out of his way to help and guide people through their dark moments.
A beloved former priest who helped thousands of people across Cork City during more than three decades of dedicated ministry has been remembered for his gift of being able to connect with people and for accompanying them on their journey when their lives were most difficult.
Paul O’Donoghue, who was ordained in 1992, served as school chaplain in Knocknaheeny, in Ballincollig, in Passage West and Bandon parishes, as chaplain at the Mercy University Hospital, in the Ballyphehane and Lough parishes, and finally in the Cathedral family of parishes, before he decided to leave the priesthood two years ago.
Despite always insisting that people should drop the title ‘Fr’ and just call him ‘Paul’, he was known to most as ‘Fr Paul’ — even after he left the priesthood.
He died in Cork University Hospital last Saturday following a short illness. He was 64.
His death prompted a flood of tributes from people who described him as “the people’s priest”, and for helping them, or their families, during tragic, trying and difficult times.
His niece, Sabrina, told mourners at his funeral mass in his native Ballyphehane on Wednesday that the tributes has made his passing a little easier for his family to bear.
She said Paul was always full of fun and mischief, and had packed many lives into his 64 years on earth — working in a bakery, in St John’s Ambulance, as a bus driver and chauffeur, and of how he met Michael Jackson in Cork in 1988, drove him around the city, and later gave away a jacket the popstar had given him.
“That’s what Paul would do if he thought that somebody else would get pleasure in something. He would give it away,” she said.
She said at one point, Paul was engaged to be married, that he collected art, loved vintage cars and soap operas like Coronation St, and was incredibly determined and motivated, running 18 marathons over the years, including some in under three hours and 30 minutes, and walked the Camino faster than most.
She recalled being heartbroken when she was told he was joining the priesthood but she said he always connected with people.
“His first parish was Knocknaheeny. He loved it and would have stayed there for eternity. He had such a great connection with the people of Knocknaheeny,” she said.
"And Ballincollig. I don't think it mattered where Paul was. He just has this connection with people, particularly young people.
“Paul was so many things. He was a son, a brother, a friend, an uncle, and he was Fr Paul to so many.
“Paul never judged you. Or you would never get in trouble with Paul. As a teenager, you could find yourself, as teenagers do, saying ‘how will I call’.
“Night or day you could call Paul. It didn’t matter what the problem was. He’d never give out to you. If he couldn’t solve it, he would make things better.”
She also read a special message from her brother, Anthony, who is in Australia, who described Paul as not just his uncle, but his “guide and friend”.
He said Paul had touched the lives of people from all walks of life and was a selfless person, who was always looking out for others, who would always go out of his way to help and guide people through their dark moments.
Paul’s brothers, Michael and Eddie, couldn’t attend the funeral because of ill-health but other family members brought gifts to the altar to symbolise his passions in life.
His sisters, Jo and Mo, presented his ordination mass booklet and a photo of him on the day with his mother, Joan; his nephew, James, presented a vintage toy car to symbolise his love of vintage cars; his niece, Saoirse, presented a Keith Anderson painting of Gougane Barra, while another niece, Cliona, presented a teddy bear called Moses that Paul gave her as a child, and which he said would mind her.
The mass was celebrated by Canon John O’Donovan, administrator at Cathedral family of parishes, and Fr Damian O’Mahony, who both worked with Paul in the Cathedral parishes, Paul’s last full-time appointment.
They were joined in the altar by almost a dozen priests, including local Ballyphehane priest, Fr Greg Howard, and others who would have known and worked with Paul over the years.
In his eulogy, Canon O’Donovan, said many tributes have been paid to Paul on rip.ie since the weekend but he singled out one for mention — from Pat Kinsella, the former principal of Colaiste Choilm in Ballincollig, where Paul served as chaplain for a time.
He told mourners that Mr Kinsella wrote: “He (Paul) supported many at difficulties times with great sensitivity and care. It is such a tragedy that he was taken so young. As we share the pain of loss, I join the family and walk some of the way with you.”
Canon O’Donovan said he wanted to mention this tribute because Mr Kinsella’s wife, Marjorie, died on Sunday and was also being buried on Wednesday, and that Mr Kinsella reached out to Paul’s family during his own time of pain and loss.
Burial took place afterwards in St Finbarr’s Cemetery.
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