This article is from page 11 of the 2006-02-14 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 11 JPG
THE sounds of fireworks crackled in the air, carrying all the way from Shanaglish over the blurred borderline that separates the Beagha parish from the Clare country of Tubber.
The sounds were Shanaglish’s signals of celebration – the Messiah wasn’t among them, but the prodigal son was. That’s what the former Bishop of Galway, Dr Eamonn Casey, is being called in these parts.
He finally landed in sleepy Shanaglish on Thursday afternoon last. Not that Shanaglish was sleeping. Instead the place was soon alive, kicking and basking in the notoriety of it all.
The paparazzi came to the village, staking out the parochial house next to Shanaglish church, where Casey has set up home. It wasn’t a long stake-out. Dr Casey arrived there at 4pm and an hour later appeared at his front door to face the cameras and waiting journalists.
“I am very pleased to be back in Ireland and I would like to express my gratitude to you parish priest (Fr Paddy Callanan) and my bishop (Dr Drennan), for the warm welcome,” said Dr Casey who was flanked by Fr Callanan and Fr Martin Glynn of Galway Cathedral.
“I look forward to settling down here amongst the people of Shanaglish and look forward to getting to know them as my neighbours,” said Dr Casey as he read from notes.
“I regret that, in the past, I let a number of people down. This caused grave hurt to some and, for that, I am deeply regretful and sad. I now ask for privacy as I settle down in my new parish and amongst my own people,” he added.
All the while, photographers present took the first shots of Dr Casey in his old diocese of Galway, Kilmacduagh and Kilfenora for the first time since he fled Ireland 14 years ago, after it was revealed that he had fathered a son with American divorcee Annie Murphy.
Two locals were present for Dr Casey’s first public engagement in Shanaglish – local publican Michael Whelan and Seamus Clandillon who said, “it’s time the press stopped hounding him and allowed him live his life.”
These words were echoed by Fr Callanan. “He wishes to be left in peace now,” he said on Dr Casey’s arrival, while in Sunday’s 10 am mass in Shanaglish, he suggested local people might “perhaps discourage” photographers from turning up in the area.
Dr Casey was not present at mass.