Passing of Fr. Colm Burke deeply mourned

PARISHES across Mayo are mourning the death of Fr. Colm Burke, Queen of Peace Nursing Home, Knock, and Mount Gable House, Clonbur, Co. Galway.

He was formerly Parish Priest in Islandeady/Glenisland where he is fondly remembered as being a warm, witty and intelligent cleric.

Fr. Colm served as P.P. in Islandeady from 1990 to 2001. Other appointments in the Tuam Archdiocese included serving as chaplin at Castlemacgarrett, Claremorris, for two years before returning to Belclare for a further three years as curate. His next parish assignments saw him in Ballinrobe (1975-1980), Belcarra from 1980 to 1987, Inisheer (Aran Islands) from 1987 to 1990, followed by Islandeady from where he was assigned to Barnacarroll from 2001 to 2009.

A tribute from Islandeady Parish stated: 'He will be fondly remembered by the many families throughout Islandeady whom he celebrated many of the sacraments with.

'His humour, honesty, spirituality and sometimes forgetfulness will be remembered, a comfort and never to be forgotten by his former parishioners.

'The community of Islandeady extends our sympathy to the Burke family on the passing of Fr. Colm. May his gentle soul rest in peace.'

Predeceased by his brothers Jackie, Fr. Paddy, Ignatius and Ciarán, nephews Eoin and Colm and his grandnephews baby Jack and Daithí, he is deeply regretted by his loving sister Mary (Brennan), Westport, sister-in-law Charlotte (Cha), much loved nieces, nephews, grandnieces, grandnephews, great-grandnieces, great-grandnephews, relatives, friends and neighbours, Archbishop Francis Duffy, former Archbishop Michael Neary, his fellow clergy of Tuam Archdiocese and the residents, management and staff of Queen of Peace Nursing Home.

He will be reposing in the Marian Funeral Home, Knock, on Sunday from 4 p.m., with removal at 5 p.m. to St. Patrick’s Church, Clonbur, to arrive at 6.30 p.m. Requiem Mass on Monday is at 1 p.m. with burial afterwards in Rosshill Cemetery, Clonbur.

May his gentle soul rest in peace.