Fr. Michael leaves Mayo with fond memories

Fr. Michael Murphy has bid farewell to the south Mayo parishioners of Roundfort, Robeen and Carras after being appointed to the parish of Kilkerrin-Clonberne in Co. Galway.

He had built up a great rapport with the people of south Mayo over the years.

He said: “I have been in this parish for 17 years and I would have come in as a stranger as I would have known very few people here.

"Somewhere along the way I went from being a stranger to being at home here. And I was just blessed with the people I've met over the years; such lovely people and I've enjoyed such a wonderful time here with them in Roundfort, Robeen and Carras.”

Fr. Murphy recently celebrated the occasion of his 40th anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood and he has had some great memories down through those years. He also served as chaplain in Mayo University Hospital.

“I started off in St. Jarlath’s College for eight years and then I moved to Castlebar when the RTC was just starting in 1994.

"I remained in the old RTC for five years, and I was also in Mayo University Hospital for a year. Being in the hospital environment was a huge learning experience for me. Between the college and the parish, I spent 15 wonderful years in Castlebar.

“I was also in Belcarra, and at the end of that term the bishop asked to become a parish priest here in Roundfort. When I first arrived in Roundfort, Fr. Paddy Sheridan was in Robeen.

"Fr. Paddy then passed away and I was asked to take on the parish of Robeen as well, so for the last 16 years I have been the parish priest for Roundfort, Robeen and Carras.”

There have been some joyous memoires for Fr. Murphy over the last 17 years, but there have also been some testing times as well, as he explained.

“When I came here in 2009-10 the banks were crashing, and it was a hard time for a lot of people.

"And then we went through Covid which was another very difficult time as well. But sometimes I suppose during those hard times you also have the joy of the baptisms and weddings and things like that. There are hard and tough days then as well for funerals or tragedies.”

Covid-19 was a difficult period for the Catholic Church and people’s way of life.

“A lot of people found it difficult to not be able to go to Mass, not being able to socialise. There were so many different aspects of it that were really difficult.

“Very few people were allowed to go to funerals and weddings. I remember doing one wedding with six of us in it and I was one of the six.

“And then I remember a wedding where initially there was something like 300 people invited but by the time it came round, they were only able to bring 50. So that was a really hard time for people.

"Covid-19 was a really tough time. But we all came through it together and helped each other and people were awful good.

“Here in Roundfort, Robeen and Carras, we were checking in on people to see if everything was okay and if everyone had a dinner, and different things like that. The neighbours were just incredible and everyone was so supportive.”

Fr. Murphy has seen plenty of changes in technology over the years, especially with online Masses which helps to grow the congregation.

“I remember one of the first evenings during lockdown when we had no congregation, and a local lad, William Smith, was playing the organ. He said to me would I mind if he taped the Mass and put it up on Facebook and I said to him ‘no problem’. After Mass he said to me that 150 people watched the Mass online, and I couldn’t believe it. After that, we felt that it was a great way of communicating with people during lockdown and the local school helped as well and provided us with a tripod for the camera.

“We also used to have a special children’s Mass on Sunday morning and had a night prayer online for people who were at home and that really helped along the way.

“People can also watch funeral Masses online and that is also helpful to people who are living abroad and cannot return home for a funeral.”

Would Fr. Murphy have any advice for anyone interested in taking a vocation into the priesthood?

“Over the last couple of weeks, I have had a number of people come up to me and say nice things about how I affected their lives and said something or did something for them.

“However, it is not me. I’m just an ordinary human being but when you allow God to work through you it's just amazing the things that can happen. I was saying this to our young people at my farewell Mass to seriously consider the priesthood because priests are so important to have in our communities. You don't have to be brilliant or fantastic and all you have to do is just to allow God to work through you.

“After 40 years in the priesthood the sense I have is gratitude for meeting and working with all the people I have met in that time.

“One of the last things I got to do as parish priest here was to bring 14 of our young people between the ages of 16 to 20 to Lourdes a couple of weeks ago and that was an incredible trip, and it was such a lovely way to finish my time in this parish.”

Fr. Murphy also coached GAA teams in Castlebar, as well as Mount Saint Michael Secondary School in Claremorris.

“I was involved coaching schools in Castlebar and I also coached Mount Saint Michael Secondary Schools teams in Claremorris for a few years. However, in the last few years I haven’t had the time really to get involved in coaching.

“We are so blessed to have GAA, soccer and rugby and the fact that so many people give so much of their time and energy to helping our young people and that makes such a difference in young people’s lives.”

Fr. Murphy said that Mayo winning the All-Ireland senior football title was a special moment for him and his south Mayo parish.

“I'm 32 years in Mayo, and I've seen so much heartbreak. I was absolutely delighted to see Mayo win the All-Ireland. Aghamore was the first club that I played football with, and I hope to see Aghamore and Garrymore in the county senior football final this year.

“That Mayo team are incredible, and they have been so giving of themselves going to the schools, villages and towns. The other day I was visiting a nursing home, and the residents were saying ‘I hope we see Sam Maguire visit here as well.’ It has been a fantastic occasion, and that victory has brought so much joy to people’s lives. Two of the players, Enda Hession and Eoin McGreal, went to the nearby Gortskehy National School, and Stephen Coen is from Hollymount, and I was delighted for them as well to win the All-Ireland.”

Fr. Murphy’s message to the people of Roundfort, Robeen and Carras is one of thanks.

“I suppose my message to them would be one of thanks: for the friendship, the memories, the love and the care. I will never forget the amount of people who brought dinners to my door during Covid and since Covid. I was never left without a dinner and someday there might have been two dinners! The people here are just so good, and we have lovely memories.

“It's been a really special 17 years.”