The Bishop of Kerry and several priests from throughout the diocese gathered in Beaufort for a Mass of Thanksgiving for the huge contribution of Peggy Walsh who has just retired after 41 years of service as parish clerk.
She was praised for her remarkable dedication to the parish and the diocese for over four decades and summing up her enormous contribution, Bishop Ray Browne remarked: “If we have a shortage of priests then we need more Peggys”.
The gathering in St Mary’s Church heard that Peggy (née Coffey) was kind, compassionate and a friend to all and she gave a lifetime of service to the Church.
In addition to 41 years as parish priests, she was previously the housekeeper for the late Canon Sears, from 1952 to 1967, and again when he retired in the early 1970s.
She spent 21 years as parish clerk during the tenure of Fr Noel Moran and she also worked closely with the late Fr Donal O’Connor who died, so prematurely, in 2023.
In 2009, Peggy was presented with the Benemerenti Medal by then Bishop of Kerry Bill Murphy, on behalf of Pope Pope Benedict XVI, to mark her wonderful contribution to Church life.
Several of the priests Peggy worked with in Beaufort were in attendance at the concelebrated Mass of Thanksgiving, including Fr Jack Fitzgerald, Fr Micheál Ó Dochartaigh, Fr Denis O’Mahony and Fr Brendan Walsh and also in attendance to pay tribute to the popular Beaufort woman were Canon Tom Looney, Killarney Parish Administrator Fr Kieran O’Brien, Fr Jim Kennelly, Fr John Shanahan, Fr Ger Godley, Fr Kevin Sullivan, Fr Kieran O’Sullivan, Fr Paddy O’Donoghue, Fr Tadhg Ó Dochartaigh and Deacon Conor Bradley.
Spontaneous applause filled the Church when, in an emotional contribution during the service, the current Parish Priest of Beaufort, Fr Fergal Ryan, declared: “Peggy, we all love you”.
The popular Peggy was presented with a bouquet of flowers by Bishop Browne and, later in the evening, a celebratory dinner was held in Kate Kearney’s Cottage.
The new parish clerk in Beaufort is Peggy Lynch.
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