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Pope Francis Appoints Former Roscrea Co. Tipperary Priest Papal Nuncio To South Sudan.

The Diocese of Killaloe has welcomed the appointment today (Tuesday, May 14th 2024), by His Holiness Pope Francis, of Monsignor Séamus Horgan of Ennis, Co. Clare, as Papal Nuncio to South Sudan.

Newly appointed Papal Nuncio to South Sudan, Monsignor Séamus Horgan from Ennis, Co. Clare, pictured with His Holiness Pope Francis at the Vatican in Rome.

A native of Tobarteascáin, near St. Flannan’s College, where he completed his secondary schooling, Monsignor Horgan entered St Patrick’s College, Maynooth in 1987, before being ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Michael Harty in 1994 at the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul in Ennis.

He is currently First Counsellor at the Apostolic Nunciature in Washington D.C. and has previously held Diplomatic Service of the Holy See rolls in Uganda, Switzerland, The Philippines and Italy.

Commenting on the appointment, Bishop of Killaloe Dr. Fintan Monahan said, “I warmly congratulate Monsignor Séamus Horgan on his appointment by Pope Francis to be Nuncio to South Sudan based in the city of Juba. He is also appointed to the titular See of Árd Sratha – Ardstraw, County Tyrone.”ioc

Bishop Monahan continued, “Monsignor Horgan brings a wealth of pastoral and practical experience with him to his new role. A conscientious, diligent and prayerful pastor, his engagement with people is marked with great kindness and courtesy. He served with distinction in his appointments at local level in Bodyke, Co. Clare and Roscrea, Co. Tipperary in the diocese and in his various appointments since he entered the diplomatic service.”

“I wish Monsignor Horgan every good wish and blessing in his important role and assure him of the prayers of the faithful of Killaloe Diocese,” added Bishop Monahan. “At this time there are three Apostolic Nuncios, originally from Ireland, in active diplomatic service for the Universal Church – and here in Killaloe we are very proud of the fact that two of them are natives of our diocese.”

St. Flannan’s College Principal Fr. Iggy McCormack said, “This episcopal appointment is a tremendous honour for Monsignor Séamus and for our school. We are very proud of what he has achieved in his ministry to date during which time he has served as Secretary of the Apostolic Nunciatures in Kampala, Berne and Manila, as well as working at the Secretariat of State in Rome from 2015 to 2020 before assuming his current role in the United States.”

“This is the first time in many decades that a Papal Nuncio has emanated from our alumni. The students and staff of St Flannan’s College wish Monsignor Séamus the very best for the future,” added Fr. McCormack.

Following six years of pastoral ministry in the Diocese of Killaloe Diocese, Monsignor Séamus Horgan was sent to Rome 2000 for further studies. After completing a Licence in Canon Law (Pontifical Gregorian University), he joined the Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy in Rome to prepare for the service of the Holy See. In 2008 he was appointed a Chaplain of His Holiness and in 2019 a Prelate of Honour.
Monsignor Horgan speaks English, Italian & French and has a working knowledge of German.

Bruce Springsteen Remembers Late Tipperary Singer Shane MacGowan.

It was a pleasant, warm evening in Nowlan Park Co. Kilkenny, yesterday May 12th for the arrival of American rock singer, songwriter, and guitarist the great Bruce Frederick Joseph Springsteen.
Despite Met Éireann warning of continuous heavy showers; a dirty looking sky containing cumulonimbus and other cloud formations, failed to materialise; dared to do so by an estimated and welcoming 40,000 fans.

Springsteen and his E Street band (or should I be more accurate “his magnificent and talented E Street orchestra”), took the opportunity yesterday to pay tribute to a recently departed Irish and Tipperary talent, which he had visited in person just last year.
In the knowledge, that over 25,000 thousand Tipperary fans were present, Springsteen and his E Street band of musicians remembered Shane MacGowan, by opening their outstanding three hour and fifteen minute performance, with that heart-wrecking 1986 MacGowan and Pogues classic “A Rainy Night in Soho.”

Our readers will remember Shane MacGowan passed away last year, [Thursday 30th November 2023] at the age of just 65 years.

On hearing of Shane MacGowan’s death; Springsteen had announced on social media, stating; “Over here on E Street, we are heartbroken over the death of Shane MacGowan. Shane was one of my all-time favourite writers. The passion and deep intensity of his music and lyrics is unmatched by all but the very best in the rock and roll canon. I was fortunate to spend a little time with Shane and his lovely wife Victoria the last time we were in Dublin. He was very ill, but still beautifully present in his heart and spirit. His music is timeless and eternal. I don’t know about the rest of us, but they’ll be singing Shane’s songs 100 years from now”.

A Rainy Night in Soho.

Lyrics: Shane MacGowan.
Vocals: Bruce Springsteen and his E Street band.

A Rainy Night in Soho.

I’ve been loving you a long time,
Down all the years, down all the days,
And I’ve cried for all your troubles,
Smiled at your funny little ways.
We watched our friends grow up together,
And we saw them as they fell,
Some of them fell into Heaven,
Some of them fell into Hell,
I took shelter from a shower,
And I stepped into your arms,
On a rainy night in Soho,
The wind was whistling all its charms.
I sang you all my sorrows,
You told me all your joys.
Whatever happened to that old song?
To all those little girls and boys.

Sometimes I’d wake up in the morning,
The ginger lady by my bed,
Covered in a cloak of silence,
I’d hear you talking in my head.
I’m was not singing for the future,
And I’m not dreaming of the past,
I’m not talking of the first times,
I never think about the last.
Now the song is nearly over,
We may never find out what it means,
Still there’s a light I hold before me,
You’re the measure of my dreams.
The measure of my dreams
.

END

Death Of Paddy Shortall, Thurles, Co. Tipperary

It was with great sadness that we learned of the death yesterday, Sunday 12th May 2024, of Mr Paddy Shortall, Banba Terrace, Kickham Street, Thurles, Co. Tipperary and formerly of Rathmanna, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.

Mr Shortall sadly passed away, while in the care of staff at the Community Hospital of the Assumption, Gortataggart, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.

His passing is most deeply regretted, sadly missed and lovingly remembered by his sorrowing family; sister Bridget, brother-in-law Dan, nieces, nephews, extended relatives neighbours and friends.

Requiescat in Pace.

Funeral Arrangements.

The earthly remains of Mr Shortall will repose in Dan Kennedy’s Funeral Home, Upper Kickham Street, Dublin Road, Thurles on tomorrow afternoon, Tuesday, May 14th, from 5:30pm until 7:00pm same evening.
His funeral cortège will be received into the Cathedral of the Assumption, Cathedral Street, Thurles, at 10:30am on Wednesday morning, to further repose for Requiem Mass at 11:00am, followed by interment, immediately afterwards, in St. Patrick’s Cemetery, Moyne Road, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.

For those persons who are unable to attend the funeral service for Mr Shortall, same can be viewed streamed live online, HERE.

The extended Shortall family wish to express their appreciation for your understanding at this difficult time, and have made arrangements for those persons wishing to send messages of condolence, to use the link shown HERE.


In ár gcroíthe go deo.

Deputy Michael McNamara Accuses HSE Of ‘Robbing Peter To Pay Paul’.

HSE is ‘robbing Peter to pay Paul’ with plans to repurpose new Nenagh Community Nursing Unit In Co. Tipperary.

Independent Clare TD and candidate for Ireland South in the European Elections, Deputy Mr Michael McNamara.

Deputy Michael McNamara has accused the HSE and the Department of Health of “robbing Peter to pay Paul”, over their plans to outsource the newly built St. Conlon’s Community Nursing Unit in Nenagh as a step-down facility for patients from University Hospital Limerick (UHL).

Speaking following the weekend protest against the proposal, the Independent Clare TD and candidate for Ireland South in the European Elections, has questioned how the original St. Conlon’s facility, which HIQA deemed to be in need of replacement with a modern expanded facility, “is now suddenly deemed fit for purpose”.

Mr McNamara said, “The new Nenagh community nursing unit was built in response to a HIQA report in 2022 suggesting that a replacement facility was required. The 25 residents of St. Conlon’s and their families are now effectively being told that their needs are secondary, while an additional 25 other residents scheduled to move into the new 50-bed unit must now source an alternative care location if this plan proceeds. This is wholly unacceptable, and I fully support the community in objecting to the plan.”

“We cannot continue to rob “Peter to pay Paul” with our health service”, added Deputy McNamara. “This new unit provides badly needed beds that have been campaigned for, over a long number of years. The considerable anger of the people of North Tipperary is justified. Residents and their families, staff and the wider community are rightly concerned that the outsourcing of the facility to a private provider could become a longer-term arrangement, as the new unit gets changed from the purpose for which it was initially planned”.

Deputy McNamara said the repurposing of St. Conlon’s is “another example of the HSE and Health Minister Stephen Donnelly governing by press release and lurching from crisis to crisis due to a lack of forward planning and their failure to adequately tackle overcrowding at UHL”.

“While I welcome the Minister’s recently announced HIQA-led review of the case for a second Emergency Department for the Mid-West Region, it is very clear that the Government is under pressure. If you want to quell disquiet, announcing a review partly sees to that. This review must proceed without delay and its conclusions followed up speedily”. concluded Deputy McNamara.

Reminder – Cashel Library Service Present May Bealtaine Festival Events.

Ms Maura Barrett, (Cashel Library) Reports:-

Every May Bealtaine is presented as a nationwide festival celebrating age and creativity.

Tipperary County Library Service, in conjunction with Tipperary Arts Office, are delighted to present a full and varied programme across all the libraries.

Continuing from tomorrow:

Tuesday 14th May at 1:15pm – Wellness with Sarah Covey ETB.

Tuesday 14th May, at 6:15pm – Movie Night ‘Thelma & Louise’.

Wednesday 15th May at 2:30pm “Hello How are You- Afternoon Tea.”

Friday 17th May at 11:30pm – Line Dancing with Bernie Corbett.

You can locate the Cashel Library building, situated on Friar Street, Lady’s Well, Cashel, Co. Tipperary, HERE. (G487+RX)

Note: All events are free, however, booking is essential please – Tel: 062-63825.