Thanks and farewell - Connaught Telegraph columnist lays aside pen
By Fr. Pádraig Standún - 'Standún's Station' columnist
AFTER more than 30 years writing articles for The Connaught Telegraph in Castlebar, old age has persuaded me to lay aside my pen, my computer and other writing accoutrements and take life easy.
Having passed the sprightly age of 80 a few months ago, it is time to let go the articles and concentrate a little more on a couple of novels I first wrote in Irish and then English.
The decision of a Japanese company to publish a copy of Stop The Tsunami, already in Irish and English, in their own language has opened doors I had not anticipated. There is also interest by an American company in some of my earlier novels - An tAinmhí (The Anvy) and Close Far Away (I gCóngar i gCéin). This should keep me tipping away at screens for another while, le cúnamh Dé.
I was settling into Tourmakeady Parish 30 years ago when I wrote to the then editor of The Connaught Telegraph, Tom Gillespie, to see would he be interested in even an occasional article. I had been writing mainly in Irish before that while based in the smaller Aran Islands and later An Cheathrú Rua (Carraroe).
Tom offered me a weekly space in his own paper and his successor, Tom Kelly, has kept it going for quite a long time now. I am very grateful for their help down through the years.
After my retirement from full-time parish work five years ago, I offered to finish up, but I was encouraged to continue. I am aware in more recent times that I am inclined to repeat myself in my articles. I can argue with myself that even a clergyman can overdo repeating the same gospel stories in his column.
After more than 40 years of articles in Irish and English for different papers, it is time for me to bow out gracefully.
It was an article in a different Mayo newspaper, The Western People, that led me from being sent to the Aran Islands of Inis Oirr and Inis Meáin 55 years ago. I made it clear in an article that I was frustrated by the fact that I had been appointed Prefect of Studies in St. Jarlath’s College, Tuam, and I described my job as 'caring for the children of the rich'.
Five days later I was sailing out on the Naomh Éanna as curate to the smaller islands of Aran. It was the best thing that ever happened to me.
Some would claim that I was badly treated by Archbishop Joseph Cunnane in Tuam, but I never thought that. In fact, I have always praised Dr. Cunnane and the other bishops that came after him in Tuam, Joseph Cassidy and Michael Neary, for putting up with me until my retirement five years ago at 75.
So thank you and farewell to all who dipped into my writing down through the years.