Fr. Tom Shannon Sodality Papers: Claims of discrimination in seating arrangements

PART FOUR

By Tom Gillespie

FROM November 26, 1964, to July 12, 1971, the late Fr. Tom Shannon sent out 81 missives to members of the local boys Sodality, which comprised of members of the church choir and altar servers. On learning of their existence, I approached their keeper, Ernie Sweeney, for permission to feature extracts from them in The Connaught Telegraph.

During his time in Castlebar Fr. Tom Shannon was involved in all aspects of the community life. A gifted baritone, he was recommended for a role with Taibhdhearc na Gaillimhe and took part in three operas in 1977, 1980 and 1982. In Castlebar, he was involved with stage, musical and pantomime productions and with the establishment of the Castlebar International Song Contest in 1966.

In his collection of 81 typed letters, in safe keeping with Ernie Sweeney, Fr. Shannon confronted many matters, one of which was dissatisfaction with the seating arrangements at the Sunday evening Sodality meetings, as to where those attending college and those that did not sat.

Fr. Shannon wrote on March 21, 1967: “At the Sodality meeting next Sunday evening you may sit in any seat you like, and in whichever side (of the church) you choose.

“I am making this change out of respect for the honest opinions of many members who told me that they disliked the method of placing that has been used up to now. They would agree I used this method simply and solely because it was the most convenient for me; yet they were candid enough to tell me that it would create distinction that I never intended and give the impression that in my mind too there is a distinction between those who go to college and those who do not.

“It would be disastrous if the organisation of a Sodality meeting would create a barrier between boys who were in sixth class together and who meet one another so often.”

Each month Fr. Shannon posted out information letters to the Sodality members, which left him out of pocket.

So in August 1967 he wrote: “A Sodality social will be held on Tuesday night and there is something special too about the admission price. It will be 4/- (four shillings, the usual admission being 2/6). But it is for a very special purpose. I am hoping that the extra 1/6 I am charging will help to clear the debt I have incurred in posting (postage for the) letters over the past two years.

“You could scarcely believe it, but it cost me £26 per year for postage. I suppose there are other less costly ways of delivering the letters to you, but I am convinced that posting them is the surest, safest and quickest way.”

He continued: “I should add, in all fairness though, that a number of members have suggested to me on many occasions that I should make an annual levy of 1/- on every member in order to make good the losses I have incurred for postage.

“They suspected I was paying for the postage out of my own pocket and they felt that the members should be asked to bear some of the cost, if not all of it.

“In raising the price of admission for the social to 4/- I am both asking and allowing you to help me recover the money I have spent.”

NEXT WEEK: Fr. Tom kept in touch with Castlebar emigrants.