Glasson missionary priest dies on eve of his 94th birthday
Fr Michael Igoe, a Glasson native who worked for many decades as a missionary priest in Africa, died this week on the eve of his 94th birthday.
Ordained as a priest 69 years ago, Fr Michael served with the Cork-based Society of African Missions (SMA) and was based predominantly in Zambia and Nigeria.
He was also a regular visitor back to his homeplace of Lowbrook, Glasson, and in 2006 there were celebrations in Tubberclair to mark the Golden Jubilee of his ordination.
He died peacefully on Wednesday, July 2, at the SMA House, African Missions, Blackrock Road, Cork.
Born on July 3, 1931, he was one of four children of William and Christina (nee Gill). His early school years were spent in Tubberclair NS, before he went on to attend the Marist Brothers in Athlone, SMA College in Ballinafad, Mayo, and SMA College in Wilton, Cork.
Fr Igoe was ordained on June 13, 1956, at St Colman's Cathedral in Newry, and the day after his ordination he celebrated his first Mass in Tubberclair.
He was known for his diligence and dedication during his work on the missions, and a number of fundraisers were organised in the Glasson/Tubberclair area over the years to help support his work.
A message from Fr Igoe which was published in the Westmeath Independent in 1981 urged the people of Ireland to focus on what's important in life.
"What we have to learn here in Ireland again is to have time for people and not for things," he said.
"The African will leave any work he is at to attend a funeral or to help a sick person. They can teach us a lot and they can teach us to care."
In an online tribute after his passing this week, one of his former parishioners in Kitwe, Zambia, wrote: "Fr Igoe's exceptional gift for weaving humor and wisdom into his sermons left an indelible mark on our community.
"His words had a way of lifting spirits and bringing people together in laughter and joy."
Fr Igoe was predeceased by his parents, his aunt Sr Mary Nicholas O.P., his sister Margaret, his brothers Denis and Liam, his sisters-in-law Betty and Aine, brother-in-law John, his niece Aine and grandnephew Derek.
His passing is deeply regretted by his nieces, nephews, grandnieces, grandnephews, cousins, friends and neighbours, the clergy and peoples of the Dioceses of Ondo and Ilorin in Nigeria, the Dioceses of Ndola and Lusaka in Zambia and his confreres in the Society of African Missions.
His funeral Mass will take place in St Joseph's SMA Church, Wilton, Cork, at 12.30pm tomorrow (Saturday) followed by burial in the adjoining cemetery. The Funeral Mass can be viewed online here.
May he rest in peace.