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Glanmire Catholic Parish

14 hours ago

Jambo Africa (Swahili - Hello Africa):

Fr. Martin Barry celebrated a Mass in thanks-giving in Glanmire last night. Giving thanks for all of the support received from Glanmire and surrounds during his 50 years in Kenya. Over this time Martin was involved in the building of 22 churches along with pastoral centres, parochial houses, staff houses and all that goes with a parish compound - all work done by local people using local resources. Martin took great care that the work was done well and efficiently. When he first went to Africa there were no African priests - 50 years later on leaving there were 120 African priests in the diocese.

Over 30 years of his ministry was in the parish of Londiani a place on the equator itself - with sunrise at 7am and sunset at 7pm every day of the year.

The Kenyan people are a friendly and generous people - a people famous for many long distance Olympic runners. Society has a tribal structure and land is very important - in 2008 a bad political element stirred up a tribal war between the nomads and the farmers - one tribe tried to claim the rift valley for themselves - in Londiani 50 people were killed and much more wounded, the whole village was destroyed and the parish compound became home to 3,000 refugees for 3 months. Martin was involved in ferrying the wounded to hospital under armed guard. Over the years he has lost many colleagues and friend shot by bandit robbers. In the mean time Londiani has been rebuilt and life has normalised again.

In the final 14 years Martin was assisted by Fr. Con Ryan (from Upperchurch , Co.Tipperary) who joined him from the large semi-desert area of Turkana in northern Kenya. Con spoke fondly of working in Turkana with Fr. Jim Good and retired bishop Con Lucey. Con also celebrated Mass with us last night as did Fr. Newman. Fr. Newman thanked Martin for all of his willing help in Glanmire over the years - referring to Martin as a truly inspirational man.

Londiani was also very well served by the Mercy sisters (running hospitals), the Franciscan Brother from Mount Bellew Co. Galway (teaching sustainable farming techniques) and the Friends of Londiani (now Brighter Communities Worldwide) who facilitate local sustainable development, wellbeing and health through supporting many grass-root initiatives. They are instrumental in the replacement of FGM with alternative indigenous based rites of passage.

Martin spoke of his parents moving to Glanmire from Carrightohill and building a terrace of houses in the village as well a a series of businesses from car garage, petrol pumps, undertaker, taxi service, grocery shop, butchers, bakers ... He spoke of attending the old New Inn school and the North Monastery where he earned a Harty Cup medal and of course hurling with Sarsfields. After school he spent 5 years working for an insurance company on the South Mall before joining St. Patricks Missionary society (Kiltegan Fathers) and being ordained in 1968. He said first Mass in St. Joseph's, Glanmire and later that day married John and Ellen O'Brien in the same church. John and Ellen were present last night and were presented with an Honoured Elders African red cape and danced to 'For they are Jolly good fellows' with Martin at the top of the church.

Thank you to all the many many people who came along last night and to all who worked hard in many ways to prepare for and make the night a wonderful joyous celebration.

See below some of the pics from Londani shown last night in the Pastoral Centre: ... See MoreSee Less

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