Sadness as the Very Rev Dean John J Silke passes away

The death has taken place of the Dean John J Silke, retired Parish Priest of Glenswilly and Diocesan Archivist on Wednesday, January 13, in hospital in Putigano, Italy (Bari Region).

Born on May 7, 1926 in Creeslough, County Donegal, he was ordained on June 22, 1956 in Maynooth by Archbishop John Charles McQuaid.

Dean Silke received his primary education in Drimnaraw and Massinass National School, Creeslough. He went to St Eunan’s College, Letterkenny for his secondary education and to St Patrick’s College, Maynooth from where has was ordained to the Priesthood.

Chaplain to Sacred Heart Convent, Leeson St., Dublin from 1952-1955 whe is studied at the History School in University College Dublin. From 1956-1957 he had a research Scholarship at Salamanca, Spain.

From 1958-1959 he studies for the Higher Diploma in Education in Maynooth. From 1955-1966 he was on the teaching staff of St Eunan’s College, Letterkenny. From 1966-1973 he taught and studies at Harriman College, New York and Manhatton College. He was Archivist at the Pontifical Irish College, Rome from 1973-1980. From 1980 – 1981 he was a research fellow in Queens University, Belfast.

In 1982 he was appointment Administrator of Glenswilly Parish and in 1983 he was appointed the first Parish Priest of Glenswilly where he reaimed until retiring as Parish Priest in 1992. He was appointed Diocesan Archivist by Bishop Mac Feeley a position he held until the time of his death on the 13thJanuary 2016.

Fr Silke was appointed a Canon of the Cathedral Chapter in July 2006 and then Dean of the Cathedral Chapter in August 2009.

His remains are reposing at his nephew’s House, Sean Gibbons, in Creeslough, from 6pm today (Tuesday, January 19) and on Wednesday.
Funeral Mass on Thursday at 12 noon in St Michael’s Church, Creeslough, with burial afterwards in Doe cemetery.

The late Very Rev John J Silke.

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