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Again and again, Fr Gerard has gone above and beyond the call of duty, whether it was staying on with a sick pilgrim in Lourdes until they were well enough to travel home, using the gift of a
An ecumenical matter…
eing a godforsaken heathen who likes to dabble in a little satanism at 
the weekends, GG hasn’t really kept up with the daily dalliances and delights when it comes to Greystones’ holy happenings.
There’s deep religious history in the town, of course, and some very dedicated followers too, but, like approximately 99.9472% of the Irish population, our attitude to the church – and our old authority figures in general – has changed somewhat over the past few decades.
Greystones first church, built in 1866
These days, parents’ main advice to their kids is, if a priest or a garda approaches you, find a stranger, quick.
Which is not to say there aren’t some wonderful people out there, of course, in both professions. People like Father Gerard Tyrrell, for example.
It was only after being accosted earlier this week by not one but two upstanding but clearly worried locals that we found out about the man who runs St Kilian’s Church in Blacklion. And just how much he’s loved around here.
The bould Gerard
greenhouse to grow vegetables for those in need, cutting short one of his beloved motorbike rides to make sure a dying man in a Wicklow hospice got his last rights, helping to insulate the sacristy for the older priests, giving St Kilian’s Church – and its grounds – a whole new lease of life with painting, DIY, gardening and beyond…
8 comments
Just Saddened. It is Truely Our Loss. May you be Healthy and Fullfilled. In Your Next. Venture.
We Chatted after Mass in Kilquade. Some Months Ago. About. A Mutual Friend the Late Father Owen Sweeney… Thank You. Gemma. Mc K
Fr Gerard is a wonderful priest and a great asset to our parish. It would be a tragedy for our rapidly growing parish to lose him. All his good work in Blacklion and with everyone he meets must be recognised. We NEED him.
From our Facebook post…
Fiona Roche
I was so upset when I heard this news about Father Gerard – a lovely man who quietly and humbly brought so much good and kindness to this parish – has devoted so much to the community – particularly around St Kilians – without any fanfare or fuss. In every organisation there are people with big egos and people without – Fr Gerard is one without- such a huge shame that we are losing him! Your fabulous smile and sense of humour will be missed!
Margaret Garvey
So sorry to hear this news. Fr Gerard has been so good to our community. A real gentleman, always a smile on his face, so easy to listen to & great on the guitar. Wherever his next parish is will be lucky to have him. Wishing him all the best in his new appointment.
Mary Lawless
Lovely priest he was one of the people can anything be done to keep him in BlacklionS he was doing so much good work there he will de so badly missed
Maeve Mogensen
So shocked to hear that such a genuine, kind and caring Priest like Fr. Gerard will be moving away from our parish. He will be greatly missed. It would have been nice if we as parishioners, could have shown our appreciation in some way before he left.
Rita Kelly
I am sharing this on behalf of a Blacklion Parishioner who hasn’t got facebook. Very well said and felt by a lot of parishioners Fr Gerard Tyrrell is the absolute epitome of inclusion, compassion, empathy, honesty, hospitality & true example of living the Gospel. We the parishioners of Greystones & Kilquade Pastoral area are blessed to have such a wonderful priest who is so young & full of energy & enthusiasm. He is a visionary regarding getting our community back to our church. St. Kilian’s Church in Blacklion has been our family church for over 12 decades, the oldest member of our family who is in their 96th year can’t ever remember the parishioners being made so welcome. The Church & its grounds have never looked so well -this is all clearly down to the way that Fr Tyrrell has the ability to get the congregation together & keep our Church’s doors open for locals. At Mass on Easter Sunday when he explained about everything that was was occurring in St. Kilians he said he was only passing through & the work that was done to date was done by the people of the parish for their own Church. However as I parishioner I can testify that it is due to Fr. Gerard that the parishioners have been galvanised into action. Speaking on behalf of many other parishioners I assure you that we want Fr Gerard Tyrrell for the full term that a Priest of the Dublin Diocese is normally assigned to a parish for. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Fr Gerard Tyrrell for everything he has done for our parish & his unwavering support to this community. If the love of the people of this parish could save Fr Gerard Tyrrell, he would never be moved from our parish.
A Blacklion parishioner
Top fan
Kristine Campbell
Rita Kelly beautiful accolade
Ann Mc Hugh
OMG!! Fr. Gerard Tyrell is the absolute making of the newly refurbished St. Killians church.
He is worth his weight in gold to our community
I would be pleading with the Arch Bishop to keep Fr. Gerard here in Greystones.
I don’t understand that if a Priest is making such a difference to a community and helping so many and getting to know so many on a personal and spiritual basis WHY would you move him.
The more people that object to Fr. Gerard being moved the better !!
I was in Lourdes last September and he touched so many hearts that short week with his kindness and understanding. I have never met a priest like him.
Please Help To Keep Him in our community
Please comment in petition to keeping him here !!!
For the sake of our church community in Greystones and beyond !!
Rita Kelly
Ann Mc Hugh Is there a petition I would sign it
Ann Mc Hugh
Rita Kelly I think we need to start one somewhere!!
Ann Mc Hugh
I think we could just tag people here who would be in favour of singing a petition here and then we could have it shown to the Arch bishop. Rita Kelly.
I for one am in favour of signing.
Vj Byrne
So sorry to hear about fr Gerard leaving the parish he is so good for the community and so easy to listen to good luck in your new appointment
Bridget O’Connor
A lovely priest
Ann Mc Hugh
Bridget O’Connor would you be in a position to sign the petition to keep Fr Gerard ?
Rita Kelly
He is such a gifted person and he has time for everyone old young rich and poor and always a smile God bless Fr Gerard and very talented on the guitar
Sandra Pegman
A lovely gentleman who has done so much for the local community & the church in Blacklion. He will be greatly missed.
Clare Casey
Such a lovely genuine man! A great loss for the Parishes he took such care of! I would have really liked to have had the opportunity to wish him well in person but had no idea he was moving on. He’ll certainly be missed.
Sarahj Byrne
It is a shame to see such a gifted person being moved on so early from our community. it is so unbelievable the amount of time and help he gave freely to the parish and neighbours. He will be badly missed
Sandra Donnelly
Hope not he is the most normal genuine priest the parish has had for years. Also would have thought with population they would be sending more priest to parish after all it covers Greystones Delgany Kilquade and Kilcoole
Bairbre Murphy
Definitely one of the good guys! Always ready to listen and never judgmental, a gentleman. His next parish will be very lucky to get him
Hazel Evans
Shocking that Gerard is being moved. It’s just not right
Top fan
Lydia Thomas
I’d sign it too
Ann Mc Hugh
Lydia Thomas.
Ann Mc Hugh
Eddie Dunphy. Paula Murphy
David Lowen
He’s a very special priest
Archbishop Farrell confirmed to me that he is transferring Fr Tyrell out of Greystones. I felt moved to write to him back in February when I heard that we might be losing Fr Tyrell.
Gerard was an enormous source of solace and comfort to me and my family when I found myself with a spinal cord injury last year leaving me quadriplegic. He visited, gave me lifts when I was allowed home for weekends, set up a video link when I could not make it out of the hospital for a relative’s funeral mass.
Like the writer of the above article, I left religion behind many years ago feeling alienated and dehumanized by the institutional Catholic Church. Gerard showed me a different side to the church, one that is kind, compassionate, engaged in the community and non-judgmental.
I felt moved to write to the archbishop. Sadly the response that I received was tone deaf and amounted to a big fat PFO. How much has changed, how little has changed.
We will miss Fr Gerard.
Father Gerald has done so much for the parish of greystones gone beyond a priests duty he brought a lot of people back to the church especially young people went in to the schools to talk to the children has done so much for the church in blacklion I think the church should reconsider moving him with the young population in greystones we need him to keep doing the fantastic work he started May God bless his work in the future
Would be a shame if Fr Geard has to leave the Greystones/Kilqude parish.The amount of work he has done since he came to this area and encouragement he has given to the younger people of this community is fantastic.
Fr Geard married myself and Catherine this year and went out of his way and beyond the call of duty to make sure my sick father inlaw could attend the church ceremony so that he could walk his daughter up the Isle with pride.
We were due to get married on 5th of May but didn’t know in January if Catherine’s dad would be well enough in May to attend.
Fr Geard was so understanding and understood how important it was for Catherine to have her dad at the church,so he suggested to us we bring the church ceremony forward to a date that suited her dad’s health,no matter how short of notice.
In March things improved and we rang Fr Gread and within a week he had myself and Catherine in St fergals Church in Bray where Catherine is from,with our 2 families and had such a wonderful wedding ceremony anyone could of asked for.
Fr Geard also made the trip on the 5th of May to Wexford for our reception and conducted a lovely blessing in front of all our guests that we didn’t have at the church ceremony.
Please Do not move Fr Geard from our parish as he has so much more work he wants to do here and will make such a difference to the younger people in this community in the years to come.
I was so upset when I heard this news about Father Gerard – a lovely man who quietly and humbly brought so much good and kindness to this parish. – has devoted so much to the community- particularly around St Killians -without any fanfare or fuss- as in every organisation there are people with big egos and people without – Fr Gerard is one without – such a huge shame that we are losing him! Your fabulous smile and sense of humour will be missed!
From someone who’d like to remain anonymous…
Fr Gerard Tyrrell is the absolute epitome of inclusion, compassion, empathy, honesty, hospitality & true example of living the Gospel. We the parishioners of Greystones & Kilquade Pastoral area are blessed to have such a wonderful priest who is so young & full of energy & enthusiasm. He is a visionary regarding getting our community back to our church. St. Kilian’s Church in Blacklion has been our family church for over 12 decades, the oldest member of our family who is in their 96th year can’t ever remember the parishioners being made so welcome. The Church & its grounds have never looked so well -this is all clearly down to the way that Fr Tyrrell has the ability to get the congregation together & keep our Church’s doors open for locals. At Mass on Easter Sunday when he explained about everything that was was occurring in St. Kilians he said he was only passing through & the work that was done to date was done by the people of the parish for their own Church. However as I parishioner I can testify that it is due to Fr. gerald that the parishioners have been galvanised into action. Speaking on behalf of many other parishioners I assure you that we want Fr Gerard Tyrrell for the full term that a Priest of the Dublin Diocese is normally assigned to a parish for. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Fr Gerard Tyrrell for everything he has done for our parish & his unwavering support to this community. If the love of the people of this parish could save Fr Gerard Tyrrell, he would never be moved from our parish.
A Blacklion parishioner