2K 
“There has been no communication from Father John or anyone else,” one disappointed parent told us. “The whole thing has been tainted, with all the good taken out of it.
Heaven’s above…
he more stories we got to hear over the past few weeks about the 
strange shenanigans going on at The Holy Rosary Church, the more it all felt like Father Ted without the laughs.
he more stories we got to hear over the past few weeks about the 
strange shenanigans going on at The Holy Rosary Church, the more it all felt like Father Ted without the laughs.But with quiet a few screams, temper tantrums and angry phone calls instead.
Archbishop Farrell
And try as we might to get to the bottom of it all – with emails to the parish office and to Archbishop Dermot Farrell going unanswered – it’s been nigh on impossible to determine exactly what is going on. And just why so many Greystones and Kilquade parishioners have been taking the name of the Lord in vain of late when it comes to their local Catholic churches.
Talking to Tom Galvin from The Bray People this morning, he has been leaving messages at The Holy Rosary too, but, again, no reply. A report on the current troubles in Dublin Live this evening had, tellingly, no quotes from the immaculate powers that be.
Unsurprisingly, perhaps, those close to the flame around here don’t really want to go on record either. Lest they be struck by the wrath of Father John Daly, a man who undoubtedly has the gift when it comes to sermons but whose Christian spirit might just be lacking a tad once he steps away from the altar.
One parishioner recounted to us a particularly stinging phone call she received from Daly after she dared question the proposed introduction last month of a €100 ‘donation’ per child for confirmations and communions. Bray, by contrast, charges a flat €30 fee. After a nationwide outcry and outraged media coverage – including Joe Duffy’s Liveline – this new fee that would have reaped an estimated €80,000 was quietly but swiftly abolished.
That the Archbishop should travel out to Greystones on September 24th to let his feelings been known about this PR disaster may or may not have had something to do with the donations demand being dropped the following day. This sudden about-face may also be behind the sudden announcement on September 26th from the Pastoral Area Office for Greystones and Kilquade Parishes that all activities and meetings for ‘the sacramental preparations for First Holy Communion and Confirmation have been postponed, effective immediately, until further notice’.
That the Archbishop should travel out to Greystones on September 24th to let his feelings been known about this PR disaster may or may not have had something to do with the donations demand being dropped the following day. This sudden about-face may also be behind the sudden announcement on September 26th from the Pastoral Area Office for Greystones and Kilquade Parishes that all activities and meetings for ‘the sacramental preparations for First Holy Communion and Confirmation have been postponed, effective immediately, until further notice’.
Greystones Confirmation 1954 Back Michael McGowan, Brendan Lynch, Brian Mooney, Joe Mooney, Joey Diettrich, Tony Kelly. Front Eddie Barry, Brendan Hayden, Austin Gaskin, Vincent Ovington. Pic Bernie Hayden
One such meetings for parents was due to take place just two hours later the same day, and since that Dear John letter, there’s been complete radio silence, leaving 800 dressed-up, pumped-up local kids with no particular holy place to go for their big celestial day. And quite a lot of angry parents standing right behind them.
“There has been no communication from Father John or anyone else,” one disappointed parent told us. “The whole thing has been tainted, with all the good taken out of it. 
Parents don’t care at this stage if it will happen or not, with some now considering going to other parishes.”
And it would appear that this sad state of affairs isn’t the only unholy mess currently testing local parishioners’ faith, with disgruntled mumbles about €100,000 hymn karaoke screens being installed in St Anthony’s Church in Kilcoole and The Holy Rosary almost being drowned out by the growing concerns for the much-loved – and possibly too popular – Father Gerard Tyrrell of St Kilian’s Church in Blacklion, mysteriously out on sick leave for some weeks now.
Fathers Tyrrell and Daly
Having been allegedly given his transfer orders from Greystones surprisingly early. We’re told by one long-time parishioner that Daly and Tyrrell don’t talk to one another, a state of affairs that’s been going on “for a very, very long time”.
It would be wonderful to know what is truly going on here. To find some good reason for all this strange and strained behaviour.
For now though, there are 800 kids to think about, and their big day needs to be sorted, without any further delays. Or excuses.
Once that’s done, we’ll be happy to hear all and any explanations for the town’s latest bout of childish church chicanery…
Update: The day after our article appeared, the parents of the 800 kids waiting to find out when their communions and confirmation would take place this year received the following message from the Greystones & Kilquade Pastoral Office…
17 comments
It’s sad to see the Greystones Guide, which otherwise performs a valuable community service, serving up such giddy nastiness and innuendo mongering dressed up as “reporting.” Yes, there is poison here; it emanates from an artless writer who feels big swinging small axes and jeering at good men, stooping so perfectly low as to trade in hearsay over a health matter. The priests of Holy Rosary church deliver generous and valuable service day in and day out and are, appropriately, widely supported despite the noise of a self-appointing jeering squad.
Thanks for your kind words, Michael. Very enlightening. Just so you know, we didn’t publish half of what is happening. This article was merely created to shake the tree and stop the utter bullshit at play here. This is not about a church struggling; it’s about a church making mistakes. Knowingly.
Mistakes, that’s an understatement anyone who makes a mistake will try rectify it, this church seems to be still making mistakes and thinking they are doing no wrong.
As a role of a parish priest is to be involved and communicate with his parishioners hiding behind a screen throwing out ridiculous emails is an absolute disgrace.
Insufficient support was never the way here he had the support from all the parents. The last email without saying directly is YOU ARE ON YOUR OWN, what parish priest pushes people further away from the church????
The attitude of the priest is absolutely rotten to the core.
Sooner the better the full truths of what’s been going on in this church comes to light, see the opinions differ then…..THE TRUTH WILL ALWAYS COME OUT IN THE END
Curiously, the initial comments here – all spitting the blood of Christ – are largely from the same IP address, but with different false emails. Must be true believers. Also, Joh (could that be a real name?), given that you might not know the 12-year-old Guide, everyone knows it’s me, Paul Byrne, who writes the whole thing. So, I don’t see the need to put my name at the end of each article. But don’t worry, the Guide will have mercy on your soul.
Here are some of the comments on our Facebook feed….
Ramona Maher Reilly
Ooh nasty. I had a friend really upset telling me about this post, she said she is afraid to go against the mob for fear of being bullied at the school gate, I was surprised and sad to hear someone feeling they couldn’t speak their mind. Fr John is a wonderful priest is many many ways, and a lot of people think so.
Mary Moody
Good article. Just goes to show Greystones Holy Rosary dont care about the children of their Parish. Not good.
Joyce Vickers Taylor
Absolutely disgraceful… maybe ask so called volunteers?
Viv Collins
I think the Church applying a “voluntary” contribution per child for receiving the sacrament’s is appalling. It’s no wonder people are turning away from the Catholic Church. If they need money, sell off some of the property they have about that is idle.
Some priests think they are godlike and cannot be disobeyed……not all of them, some are great people.
John Mc Gowan
There are many catholics who turn up at church for baptisms, holy communion and confirmation but seldom attend church on a regular basis. Of course I will be unpopular for stating this but all churches need donations to sustain them. Abministration,light, heating and general maintenance plus wages costs money. In the past decade or so attendance at masses in the catholic churches has dropped dramatically so the intake of collections has dropped also. I hope whatever is going on is sorted quickly.
Colette Fitzpatrick
Father Tyrell was so nice would hate to see him go ..
The unfortunate thing about all this is the kids that r due to do their confirmation this year we’re the ones effected by Covid and delayed nearly two years b4 they made their communions , looks like they r going to have a messy confirmation now too in Greystones ! And why is The Holy Rosary Church not used anymore for such celebrations ??
Fiona Wolstencroft
Not painting them in a very good light. The email said we’d get an update in a few days but nothing yet and it’s been over a week. There are also a lot of people that have paid the money but no clarity on what is happening next. Shambles!
Helene Fallon Wood
Astonishing absolutely Astonishing
Ronnie Webb
Very , Very , strange ! !
Ann Redmond
Appalling
Mandy Gammell
Tis all about the money……
Mary Whelan
Perhaps the priest is not sure if it should b called first Holy Communion or fashion show The one or two hundred euro dress white umbrella veil etc and family outing plus of family New clothes Where is God in all that
Calisto Zeus
What is all this childishness about the two priests ‘not speaking to each other’ most unchristian !
Paul, if you are referring to me in the “initial comments”, my address is not false…? And may I ask what does “spitting the blood of Christ” mean? I’m genuinely curious to know you what you mean. If it means a faithful person, then yes, I am that. But I sense you’re attempting to criticise me, or other commenters.
Despite disagreeing with most of your article, and recognising that you are intentionally casting Fr John and his colleagues in a negative light, as is popular these days with matters of the Catholic Church, I do appreciate that you have provided a variety of comments from both sides of the fence.
And your parents christened you N?
What does “spitting the blood of Christ” mean? Do you know?
It’s poetry, N. Embrace it. Let is expand your mind. And your name.
I didn’t realise you were a poet. Fancy that! Or who is it you’re quoting…? Still doesn’t explain what you mean…I guess you really don’t know. You do seem to be quite unpleasant or aggressive or something…can’t quite put my finger on it. Charming nonetheless that you’re so fascinated with my name. Paul is a great name too I hope you don’t need the church for anything in your future, your attitude might disservice you. I bid you farewell, I’m returning to the real world now. God Bless you Paul
I’ll never forget you, Man With No Name. But I’m going to try.
Wow Greystones guide. This article is one of those really bad anti Catholic sentiments. €100 is not at all the problem here. People can contact the office.
Sorry but families are struggling as it is and for a man of god to expect €100 per child is outrageous.
And to stop children making Communion and confirmation is turning people away from the churches. It’s meant to be the house of God but the churches have turned their backs on the parishioners. God never turned people away. Shame on Fr.john
I guess you are in the parish, and have a child whom this affects. In that case I expect you have made contact with Fr. John yourself to express your concern. It seems that many ppl have by passed that, gone onto WhatsApp groups, Joe Duffy, etc, rather having a dialogue with the Fr John. I’m curious to know, what might you think the cost of the months long preparation and the event itself per child be? Of course there are families struggling for many reasons, including the rising costs of almost everything, but why shouldn’t the cost of the sacraments also increase? And for those families, provisions were made. Almost everything costs money…groceries, clothes, fuel, meals, birthday parties, gifts, etc. What should this be different? Most families will spend money on Halloween, camps, Christmas, holidays, etc, etc. I can’t understand why there are ppl objecting to this fee. There are also many ppl that are happy to proceed, have paid and are just disheartened with how things have stalled.
it all boiled down to money didn’t get the funds he expected has thrown the toys from the pram not for the first time gauranteed it won’t be the last either……SACRAMENTS ARE GIFTS FROM GOD AND CANNOT BE BOUGHT OR SOLD….donations on the other hand are given by people based on what they can give….no one should have had their hands tied…….the Pope also stated that SACRAMENTS WHERE NOT FOR THE CHURCH TO FILL ITS COFFERS TO COVER EXPENSES……for a priest to be so distant and arrogant is unbelievable, he didn’t read the room, he didn’t listen to his parishioners. What a wise man The Archbishop is to have to come down and sort it out that’s a man with common sense seen wrong doing and fixed it. Now another tantrum in the works, basically then u on the day in May and all be grand as they say………………
Talk to an actual parishioner. I dare you. There are many, many of us, including sacrament aged children who are only happy to pay €100 for once in a lifetime, very important (to some of us) event, knowing that months of preparation goes into the day itself, not to mention that for Communion children, they actually also receive the sacrament of reconciliation. If as you suggest some parents are not bothered about the sacraments, then it’s irrelevant to them. These sacraments are optional, even in Catholic schools. I wonder what the cost of the child’s outfit, or the mum’s, or dad’s, or the meal that follows, might be? Would any of those alone come in under €100? You and parents who can well afford to spend €100 on other optional extras need to get real. You also ommited the statement in the form that said if you’re not in a financial position to make this payment, contact the parish. I don’t know what exactly you’re trying to suggest about our wonderful priests, Fr. John and Fr. Gerard, but you should be ashamed of your slanderous insinuations. I agree with the previous comment, this is not journalism. An absolute shocker of an article.
This is a scurrilous commentary. It is not journalism. The headline is worthy of the Son newspaper. Ant the writer will not put his name to his article.
Totally agree with you. Not much fact with plenty of disparaging and slanderous insinuation. Clearly a “bash the Catholic Church” bandwagon. Disgraceful.