Monsignor James Pierce died at his home in Seal Beach, California, on February 22 last. Formerly of Ballinorig House, Tralee, he had spent 66 years serving as a priest in the USA.
James was born in 1918, the eldest of eight children to Dan and Mary Pierse (nee Diggin). He was pre-deceased by his siblings, Patrick (1937), Sr Eileen Baptist (1959) Sr. Rosario (2007), Maurice (2008) and Margaret O'Donnell (2010).
James was educated at St. Brendan's Seminary Killarney and All Hallows in Dublin while also achieving a BA degree at UCD. He was ordained as a priest in June, 1944 and left for the US later that year.
A gifted athlete with a love for both hurling and football, he was a member of the St. Brendan's team that won the Munster Colleges Championship in 1936. And in 1937 won a county championship medal with John Mitchels of Tralee.
In 1941 he was a sub, winning an All-Ireland medal when Kerry defeated Galway in the final. That year also saw Kerry winning the Junior All-Ireland with James playing a pivotal role. However, his playing career was quite restricted due to his priestly studies.
His first love was hurling and he played for several of the north Kerry clubs over the years. He was tremendously strong and was able to hit a sliothair over 100 yards using one hand!
His uncle, Monsignor Patrick Pierse was already a pastor at the Oceanside Parish in Los Angeles and this would have been a factor in James deciding to serve as a priest in California.
At the time there was a huge GAA interest amongst the Irish community in San Francisco and regularly James would drive or fly the 400 miles up there to play football and hurling. Later he formed a team in Los Angeles and played with them until the late 1950s.
Around this time he began to take up golf and used his natural hurling skills to good effect, holding the record for the longest drive at the Riviera Golf club for 30 years. His competitive spirit was legendary and he was known amongst his golfing colleagues as 'Fierce Pierse".
Of course,his first priority was always to his calling as a priest. His, was a deep faith and nothing gave him more satisfaction than imparting this to others. During his many years he gave instruction to and converted many people into the Catholic Church. Indeed his funeral service was attended by many of those converts, who had become his friends.
Every year Monsignor Pierse would come and spend time in Tralee with his family and friends. He would invariably play a few rounds of golf at Barrow and the other courses in Kerry.
He took an active interest in all things sporting, especially Kerry football and regularly attended games. He loved spending time with relations and indeed compiled a comprehensive family tree of the Pierse and Diggin families of north Kerry.
He enjoyed good health up to very recently and every year would undertake a long drive up to Tyrone to visit friends there.
He is survived by his brothers, Fr Tom Pierse and Dan Pierse both of Tralee; nephews, nieces and extended family and friends.
His funeral service was held at Holy Family Church, Seal Beach, California, followed by cremation. There will be a service after which his remains will be-interred at St. John's Church Tralee, at a date to be announced.

Courtesy of The Kerryman
9th March 2011 Tweet

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