Bishop Francis J. MacKiernan 1926- 2005
It is with deep regret that we record the sudden death of Bishop Francis MacKiernan. He was a former Bishop of Kilmore, President of St. Felim's College, Ballinamore, a student and a teacher in St. Patrick's College, Cavan.
A native of Stradrinan, Aughawillan he was a scholarship student in St Patrick's Cavan from 1939 -1944 before he entered St. Patrick's College, Maynooth to study for the priesthood. He was ordained on the 17th June 1951 and served in St. Malachy's College, Belfast for one year before returning to St. Patrick's College, Cavan to teach Irish, Latin, Greek and Christian Doctrine. Ten years later he was appointed the founding President of St. Felim's College, Ballinamore and on the 10th December 1972 he became Bishop of Kilmore.
As Bishop of Kilmore he actively promoted and supported the developmental work of six College Presidents. It was during his episcopate that St. Augustine's Wing and the Indoor Handball and Racquetball Courts were built and that Materials Technology, Technical Drawing, Computer and Snooker Room facilities were provided in St. Patrick's Wing. In 1994 he initiated the restoration, in the College Chapel, of the college organ and generously supported the purchase of musical instruments for the instrumental scholarship scheme that continues to be organised by the music faculty. A particular gratifying task for him was the launching in 1974 of the Centenary History of St. Patrick's College by past pupils Rev. Terence P. Cunningham and Rev. Dan Gallogly. He was bishop when many public figures such as Presidents Childers and Robinson, Taoisigh Liam Cosgrave and Garret Fitzgerald, USA Ambassador Shannon and Paddy Buggy, President of the GAA, visited the College.
Mar staraí áitiúil rinne sé obair éachtach agus d'fhág sé oidhreacht suntasach ag na glúnta atá le teacht. Murach a dhíograis is iomaí gné de stair na deoise agus de stair Bhréifne a bheadh folaithe go deo faoi dheannach na díchuimhne.
He will be remembered and applauded for his foundational work in Cumann Seanchais Bhreifne, Cavan County Museum and the Cavan Genealogical Centre; for his History of St. Mary's Abbey, in Cavan; for his many published works in Breifne; for his chairmanship of the Organising Committee for Pope John Paul's visit to Ireland and of the Episcopal Commission on Education; for establishing the Kilmore Mission to Minna in Nigeria; for his support for a wide range of voluntary organisations ranging from Drama, GAA, Foroige, CYMS, CBSI, Apostolic Society, County Associations at home and abroad; for his promotion of ACCORD and the Annual Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes; for numerous pastoral and theological initiatives and for his guidance in the building and refurbishment of many Churches in the diocese.
Past pupils, however, will remember him as a teacher who would always, without hesitation, recall their names and be concerned with the welfare and life history of their classmates. His prodigious memory and fabulous storytelling always added to the humour of the many college reunions and county association functions that he so loyally attended.
He had retired in October 1998 but although approaching his eightieth birthday, in recent years along with past pupils Raymond Dunne, Rev. Liam Kelly and Raymond Fadden he was producing a database of all students that had attended St. Augustine's Seminary - The Kilmore Academy (1839 -1974) and St. Patrick's College, Cavan (1974 - 2000). It is hoped to publish this along with photographs that will chronicle the evolution of the educational provision for young men in the diocese, reflect the disparate student activities and highlight the many architectural features of Hague's St. Patrick's College.
The Principal Dr. Liam McNiffe, the Staff and all students of the College, past and present, extend their condolences to the late Bishop Francis's two sisters, Mrs. Mary Comey, Termon, Killinkere and Mrs. Ann Lee, New York, to his sister-in law, Teresa, nieces and nephews, Bishop Leo O'Reilly and his brother priests of the diocese.