Tuam Archdiocese mourns loss of popular Mayo pastor, Fr. Mick Kenny

Rural communities are mourning the sudden death of Fr. Michael (Mick) Kenny died yesterday while walking close to his family home at Skehard, near Ballyhaunis.

A post mortem today confirmed that he died from natural causes.

Fr. Michael was ordained in Tuam Cathedral in 1974, and served as curate in Recess, Mulranny, Tooreen and Belclare before being appointed parish priest in Letterfrack and subsequently in Kilconly until his retirement in 2018.

Paying tribute to him, The Archbishop of Tuam Dr Michael Neary said was with sadness that he and the priests of the diocese learnt of Fr. Kenny's sudden death.

He said Fr. Michael will be remembered for his kindness and he was known as a great character.

Archbishop Neary has extended his sympathy to the Kenny family.

According to a close friend, Fr. Stephen Farragher, parish priest of Ballyhaunis, the popular pastor regularly enjoyed walks in the countryside.

“Along with his dog, Fr. Mick regularly walked on lands close to his family home”, Fr. Farragher explained.

He added: “Every morning he had a very healthy routine. He would walk down and cross the railway line near his home.

"He had just crossed the rail track and was opening a gate when he must have suddenly gotten ill.

“His body was found by a rail worker who was checking the (Dublin to Westport) line."

Some years ago, prior to his retirement, Fr. Kenny made national newspaper headlines after introducing short Masses.

His congregation at Kilconly Church shot up tenfold after he introduced 15 minute, no frills, no sermon, Masses.

Fr. Kenny shortened his morning Masses as an experiment in order to facilitate the many parishioners who had school-run duties or had long commutes to work every weekday morning.

He said at the time: "We have to think of the needs of people who have to travel long distances to work, some to Galway city 40km away.

"The only way they could be in time for work while also attending morning Mass during Lent is by being out of the church by a quarter to eight.

"We are not leaving anything out of the Mass. Everything is there, but of course I do not make any sermon.

"People seem to like the idea as I have the help of a Eucharistic minister each day and that speeds up the service."

No funeral arrangements have yet been announced.