The late Brother Denis Manning S.D.B. Brother Denis Manning, Salesian College, Pallaskenry, County Limerick who died on Sunday November 12, 2006 at St. John's Hospital, Limerick was a former member of the community at Ballinakill in the '70's and '80's. A native of Ballycotton, County Cork, he was seventy four years of age. Son of William and Mary Manning, he received his early education at Ballycotton National School. With a desire to become a missionary priest he went in 1947 to begin his secondary education at the Mill Hill Fathers College in Freshford, Co. Kilkenny. He often recalled the day a Salesian Priest Fr. Breen came to Freshford College to show a film on the life of Don Bosco, founder of the Salesian order. From then he decided to become a Salesian. In 1950 Denis lost his eldest brother David to a drowning accident and that same day his father had a stroke. Being the eldest of the remaining boys he had to leave the Freshford College and return home to run the small family farm After doing his Leaving Certificate examination at Rochestown College, Co Cork, he was anxious to join a religious order and the Salesians was his choice. He was accepted to the Salesian College, Ballinakill in 1952. A year later he went to the Novitiate in England and he made his first profession as a Salesian on September 8, 1954. He continued his studies at Cheshire but ill health forced him to drop his studies. He returned to Ireland and worked in the orders Agricultural College at Pallaskenry. He will be remembered by the agricultural students throughout Ireland, for his hurling and football ability and the many cross-county runs around the Pallaskenry area over the winter months. He won an East Cork junior hurling medal in 1958 with Russel Rovers and an intermediate hurling championship with Ballinakill in 1974. In 1984 he won a Limerick City junior hurling medal with Kildare and qualified as a hurling coach in 1986. He was the Farm Manager at the Salesian College, Ballinakill 1971-80 and was deeply involved and well respected in the local farming community. With Paddy Egan, Gerry Dooley and the late Jimmy Downey he was a founder member of Ballinakill Macra na Feirme club and was the Chairman of Laois Macra efficiency competition. Bro. Denis cleaned up the Masslough Lake and founded Ballinakill Angling Club. He returned to the Salesian College, Pallaskenry in September 1980 where he worked at general maintenance and repairs ever since Following concelebrated Requiem Mass in the College Chapel, burial took place in the College cemetery, Pallaskenry. Deceased is mourned by his brother Peter and sisters Nellie and Ciss. Courtesy of the Leinster Express November 22, 2006 Tweet

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