The Late Fr Billy Feerick Fr. Billy Feerick passed away in Tallaght Hospital after a brief illness. His death which was not expected, came as a great shock to his many friends in Ballinrobe, Killarney, Maam and also to his fellow priests in St. Patrick's Missionary Society, Kiltegan. Undoubtedly there was also great sadness when the news of his passing reached far off Zambia where he had served as a Missionary priest since his ordination in 1975. Fr. Billy was born in Cloverhill, Ballinrobe on September 5th 1939. He and his twin sister Maureen was born into a family of two girls and six boys. Maureen died in infancy. He attended Cregduff NS from 1944 to 1953 and the CBS Secondary School from 1953 to 1958. When his mother died at a very early age, he took over the responsibility of running the house, cooking, baking, washing, and all the other household chores, but he still found time for the beloved football. He was possessed of a great skill, speed and judgement and had a deadly "Ciotog". He won both Flanagan Cup and Connacht College's Division B championships with Ballinrobe CBS in 1957. He represented Ballinrobe at minor level and went straight on to the Ballinrobe Junior team which won Divisional and County Championships in 1958. He played Senior football for the Club lin 1959 and 1960. In 1958 he started work as a Technician with the Agricultural Institute in Creagh, Ballinrobe. In 1964 he was transferred to Muckross Killarney in a management position. When Muckross became a National Park in 1967, he moved to Maam Valley in Connemara. In 1968 he went to Kiltegan to begin his Spiritual studies. The following years he spent studying Philosophy, in St. Patrick's Douglas, Co. Cork. He then studied theology for a further four years in Kiltegan. He was ordained by Bishop Moynagh in St. Mary's Church, Killamoate on June 7th 1975. Fr. Billy was appointed to Chipata Diocese, Zambia where he spent many years as Diocesan Procurator. In 1989 he returned to Kiltegan as Assistant Office Office Manager and later as Manager with responsibility for mission awareness and promotion. In 1997 he returned to Zambia, this time to the Archdiocese Kabanana until 2004, when he decided to take sabbatical. He was appointed Bursar of the newly organised Region of Ireland and was due to take up this position in February 2005. He had planned a trip to Rome as well, but alas due to ill health, it never took place. Fr. Billy will be sorely missed by his own family most of all, and also by his many friends in various parts of Ireland and indeed in Zambia where he ministered for so many years, preaching the message of Christ. He also was responsible for building many Churches and schools to cater for the needs of both young and old alike. When home in Ireland, he liked nothing better then going to football and hurling games and taking part in card games with his friends. He loved the simple things in life and never forgot his roots, the people with whom he worked and went to school with and above all those he played football with. It is fair to say that he touched the hearts and minds of many people and it in now in those same hearts and minds of many people and it is now in those same hearts and minds that his passing leaves a void which will never be filled. He now sleeps peacefully beneath the green award of St. Patrick's Missionary graveyard among his own community in Kiltegan. Ar dheis De go raibh a anam uasal Courtesy of the Western People 26th April 2005 Tweet

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