The Late Cannon Ollie Hughes

Many tributes have been paid to Cannon Oliver Hughes, former President of St Jarlath's College, Tuam, who died last Tuesday. A native of Killererin near Tuam, he was educated at St. Jarlath's College, St. Patrick's College, Maynooth and the University of Strasbourg.

Ordained to the priesthood in 1969, he ministered briefly in Finney before being appointed in the teaching staff of St Jarlath's in 1972. He was to remain in St. Jarlath's for the next thirty-one years, serving as teacher of French, mainly, until 1994 when he became President of the College, an office he held until his final leaving in 2003. He spent the remaining seven years of his life ministering as Parish Priest of nearby Corofin.

Fr. Oliver was also synonymous with Gaelic football, love he carried with him throughout his life. His father Tommy won an All-Ireland senior medal with Galway back in 1934 so the family was steeped in the sporting tradition of the GAA from the outset. Oliver won an All-Ireland Colleges medal with Jarlath's in 1961 and a county minor with Corofin in 1962.

In his homily at the funeral Mass in Corofin on Friday, Archbishop Michael Neary, referring to Oliver's prowess as a footballer, told the congregation: "At a time when it was unusual to see even senior county players point fifties, Oliver was driving fifties over the bar as a Colleges player. I have no doubt that had be not been studying for the priesthood during the 60's he would have been a contender for a place on the great Galway three in a row team.

"As a trainer and coach he always inculcated great discipline, determination and placed a premium on sportsmanship whether in victory or defeat. He steered four St Jarlath's team to Hogan Cup victories in 1978,82,84, and 2002. In 1984 he became President of the College, utilising his leadership and administrative skills to foster team spirit among the staff and students.

"Canon Oliver Hughes will be deeply and sadly missed in so many ways; for his intense passion for life, for sport, for people, for family, for humour, for the truth, for God. Most of all the truth, for God. Most of all he will be remembered for his enormous generosity of spirit, generous to a fault in giving."

Fr Brendan Kilcoyne, paying tributes, said Oliver Hughes exemplified the rounded education which schools treasure in any teacher and try to impart to all students. "His early academic excellence matured into a life-long love of books and his sporting achievements as a student were father to a long and brilliant career as a school coach.

"As President of the College he was charismatic and visionary leader who oversaw many improvements in College life and helped lay the foundations for he eventual amalgamation of St. Jarlath's College with its neighbour, and rival, St. Patrick's. It was no surprise that when he again took, however gingerly at first, to parish life, he proved as dynamic a pastor as he had once been teacher and President.

"Oliver was a man of many parts but those parts of his most appreciated by his students and parishioners were his endless patience, kindness and generosity to all. Modest to a fault about his own accomplishments. he was quickly to praise any sincere effort and his affirming words often had real and positive effect. He will be remembered as one of the great Presidents of the College, mourned as an excellent and dedicated Parish Priest and, most of all, sadly missed by a family which he loved and to which he had always remained extremely close. Requiescat i pace"

Mayo News correspondent and former Mayo minor trainer, Austin Garvin, described Fr Ollie Hughes as a truly remarkable man. "He was a super gentleman and a supreme GAA coach. His valuation of players was second to none. He was full of generosity and kindness and was also a good friend to Mayo. He was a tremendous coach, one of the very best. The world is a poorer place for the passing of Fr Oliver. He was really one of nature's outstanding all round gentlemen."

Canon Hughes, whose sister Pearl Cawley resides in Claremorris, is survived by family members, Mary, Pearl, Nuala, Majella, Angela, John, Regina and Tom, sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, nieces, nephews, grandnieces, grandnephews, the people of Corofin, the community of St. Jarlath's College, colleges in the Archdiocese of Tuam, relatives, neighbours and many friends. Ar Dheis Dé go raibh a anam uasal Gaelach.

Courtesy of The Mayo News
September 21st 2010


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Letter to the Editor

I read on the Connacht Tribune last week about the passing of Canon Oliver Hughes. Though for well over 30 years I knew that one day I would be reading this news, it still came as a shock. You see, I forgot to tell him thanks, and I write now to tell him thanks. Yes, this letter is for men. I write this for me and I'll explain.

St Jarlath's College, Tuam was many things to many people. In the 1970s, it could be a daunting and lonely place for some young boys who could be prone to maybe a small bit of homesickness. I can testify with utmost authority that this was the case for a wee 12 year old from Portumna. What got some of us through these days in Jarlath's, was sport, particularly Gaelic football, and men like Father Ollie.

Many tributes have been written this week for him. A Killererin footballer, Hogan Cup winner in the '60s, Galway minor, priest, French teacher, President of Jarlath's to name but a few. However, his huge legacy and achievement will be his coaching at Jarlath's and bringing home four Hogan Cups across the decades as manager. He was also manager on occasions when Jarlath's were beaten and he always accepted these defeats with grace and dignity.

I can recall a rainy Sunday afternoon in March 1977 when a super Jarlath's team let a lead slip to Carmelite College, Moate down at Dr Hyde Park, Roscommon. As all hell was breaking loose in those dying seconds, there was Fr Ollie pacing the sideline, hands clasped behind his back, as if he was strolling down a forest pathway. Afterwards, although heartbroken in defeat, Ollie's only remarks were what a wonderful game it was between two wonderful teams.

Fr Ollie coached his team with the virtues of pure football, discipline and team-work. There were no rows of poles, no cones, no plymetric coaching, no stats, just pure football. He got the best out of every footballer. He was a wonderful coach and communicator.

I an a coach now, also, but realise the futility in every trying to emulate the quality of this man. Surely, as a coach, the greatest legacy you could leave it to have made such an impression on young footballers and hurlers rather than the acquisition of cups. Fr Ollie did both. Indeed, Elvis Costelloe's 'Oliver's Army was often sung with gusto by the Jarlath's supporters at all matches in recognition of our Fr. Ollie.

I really always intended to ring him to say thanks but as the months and years passed it just got harder and then it seemed silly and stupid. Not cool. But now I write to say thanks Ollie, thanks and thanks again, and not just for this letter writer. Thanks for being so warm and understanding. Thanks for the football that kept us going, not just from me- who hasn't been 12 for many, many years- but from the thousands of boys who passed through Jarlath's.

If Hogan and Maguire ever decide to come west again, your spirit will at the bonfire. To Fr Ollie, again a belated thanks.

Jimmy Heverin.
(Salthill/Knocknacarra football manager and former All-Ireland club winning Portumna hurling manager)

Courtesy of the Connacht Tribune
24th September 2010 Tweet

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