A TRIBUTE TO FR ODHRAN FURLONG

Fr Billy Swan

Although I write these words in Rome, my thoughts are with the family and diocesan family of Fr Odhran Furlong who died suddenly sometime on Wednesday night or Thursday morning. I write this tribute to Odhran, not because I claim to have known him better than others but because it tries to put some words on the loss  of someone who knew thousands and was known by even more and reflects on the huge void his death leaves in our lives and in the life of the diocese, now that he has passed to his reward much sooner than we expected.

I first knew Odhran as he was a year behind me in St Peter’s College Secondary School. I also knew his brother Tom who was a year ahead of me. Odhran did his Leaving Cert in 1988, and it was no surprise to anyone when he was awarded the ‘Student of the Year’ award at the end of that academic year. It was and continues to be an award that acknowledges not just academic achievements but a student who shared his many gifts for the benefit of all. That was Odhran and it was a sign of what would develop throughout his life.

After a few more years, our paths crossed again when I entered seminary in St Peter’s. He joked at the time that I had ‘majored in minor things’ having spent a few years in College and at work. He was helpful in asking the many questions I had about seminary life and what it was like. He was ordained deacon in January 1994 and I had the privilege of serving the ordination Mass as I did when he was ordained priest on 28^th May 1995. We watched the ordination video many times over a glass of wine and joked about how we all had changed. His depreciating humour helped you not to take yourself so seriously and at the same time, the truth dawned on us of just how short life is.

After he became deacon, his duties included preaching God’s Word and communicating as a leader of the seminary community – something he was exceptionally good at. His homilies, up until the day he died, were excellent, peppered with appropriate humour, the realities of ordinary life, and a good message that came straight from the Gospel itself.

From 1994 to 1995 he did a pastoral year at Mount St Anne’s in Portarlington where he was involved in retreat work, something that he enjoyed immensely. Then after ordination as priest, he was sent to New Ross in the summer of 1995 with Fr Matt Boggan, to minister with Fr Jack McCabe who was parish priest at the time.

Following ordination in 1998, I was then sent to New Ross to Frs. Jack, Matt and Odhran. They were great years with great memories. It was a happy place to be, and Odhran was a huge part of that. He was great fun, in the best sense of that word. He had an awesome gift for remembering names, who was related to whom, memories and dates. He seemed to know everyone and had a word for all. He had a heart as wide as the Grand Canyon and would do anything for you if he could, day or night.

In New Ross he was involved in the life of CBS Secondary school – a ministry that gave him energy and life. Around that time, he began to work with an organisation called Meitheal which he hoped would be introduced and established in schools across the diocese. He had the foresight to realise that loving people meant protecting them from harm and creating a culture of care in schools where any form of bullying had no place. It is to his eternal credit that Meitheal leaders are now in schools across the country as he dreamed. And if you read these words and look back with no memories of being bullied in school, that just might be because of Odhran’s leadership and people like him.

Another great memory I share from that time is the wedding of his late brother Tom to Louise Buckley. I was surprised to be asked to preside at the wedding but then was told by Odhran that the reason was because he wanted to be best man! And best man he was! The joyful memory of that day was followed by the heartache in October 2022 of Tom’s death because of cancer. Odhran gave a beautiful homily for his brother’s funeral, something that must have been very difficult for him.

He then moved on to other appointments in Templeudigan, Gorey, Tara Hill, Rathnure, Rathgarogue and Cushinstown. In 2015 we teamed up again when he was appointed by Bishop Denis as Administrator of the Cathedral in Enniscorthy. I remember being laid low a bad flu during COVID times (thankfully I didn’t get it) for about a week. He brought meals up to my door every day that he prepared himself. I recall that kindness today and another talent he had which was a great cook and appreciator of good food.

His next appointment was as Chaplain of Wexford General Hospital where he served both the patients and staff with dedication, empathy and compassion. When I was in Wexford Town, he worked closely with us in covering the same hours with fewer priests. He was involved in Wexford GAA and also served as Chairperson of the Board of Management of his Alma Mater, St Peter’s College – a role at which he excelled. He was also involved with the Ferns Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes and with the IHCPT pilgrimage at Easter.

In June of last year, Odhran returned to New Ross as co-parish priest to work with Mgr. Joe McGrath. From the times I spoke to him since that appointment, he seemed to be loving life back in New Ross where he knew almost three generations – the youth, their parents and grand-parents.

He was also our Diocesan Communications Officer – a role he was made for because of his communication skills and ability to find the right words at the right time and in the right way.

Another huge part of his ministry was weddings and funerals. Because he knew so many, he was constantly in demand and had the great gift to connect with people which lead to many requests to be the celebrant at weddings. In his 31 years of priesthood, he presided at thousands of funerals. His words and approach were always spot on, empathising with the bereaved on one hand and offering them hope on the other. It is so hard to believe that on Tuesday this week, his own funeral will take place.

I have no doubt that the huge crowds that will come for his funeral on Tuesday will express the difference that this man and priest has made. He has touched all our lives and for this we are truly grateful. He was talented beyond what he himself believed which makes his passing all the more painful. And although we are numb with shock and sadness, our hearts go out to his father Tom, mother Angela, sisters Majella and Niamh, nieces and nephews, aunts and uncles and large extended family. We pray for the grace and strength they need at this hour of darkness.

Odhran, may the Lord welcome you and reward you for the tremendous good you did throughout your life for so many and in so many ways. You leave so many holes behind you that will be hard to fill and you will be missed so much by us all. Thank you, and thank God for the gift of you.

Finally, if Odhran died on Wednesday night, he died on the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes, the 11^th February. May she whom he loved, be with him in the joy and light of God’s presence forever. Amen.