By Dionne Meehan
VERY Rev Dean Austin Laverty has been remembered for his extraordinary faithful and faith filled service to the Diocese of Raphoe.
Dean Laverty, former president of St Eunan’s College in Letterkenny, and former parish priest of Ardara, passed away suddenly on Saturday, February 15.
Requiem Mass took place on Tuesday in the Church of The Holy Family, Ardara.
Addressing mourners at the Mass, Fr Aodhan Cannon, Parish Priest of Ardara, said the sad news of Dean Laverty’s sudden and unexpected death sent shockwaves through the parish and beyond.
“It is just hard to take in that,” he said.
“Someone like him, who ministered here for 33 years, is no longer.
“He was such a part of all our lives.”
Born to Patrick and Cecilia Laverty in Stranorlar, he attended the local national school before moving on to St Eunan’s College in Letterkenny.
Following secondary school, he attended Maynooth where he studied for the priesthood.
He was ordained in June, 1962.
“Fr Austin celebrated the diamond jubilee of his ordination a few years ago,” Fr Cannon said.
“Today we acknowledge his extraordinary faithful and faith filled service to the Diocese of Raphoe.”
In those years, Dean Laverty had only four appointments, with his first being in St Eunan’s College from 1962 until 1982.
“He often told me that in his early days in the college he taught practically every subject there was,” Fr Cannon said.
“He was president for 11 years before he worked as administrator of the Cathedral in Letterkenny in 1982.
“Afterwards, he became the parish priest of Kilteevogue in Glenfin and in March 1992 he took over the parish of Ardara.”
Dean Laverty was a keen golfer and a life-long pioneer.
“The Dean was proud to wear his Fr Cullen Medal,” Fr Cannon said.
He was also said to have a great eye for the beautiful and loved things to be right, especially in liturgy.
“Someone said at the wake that if he wasn’t a priest, he would have probably been an architect,” Fr Cannon said.
“During his time in the Cathedral, he oversaw the extensive renovations there.
“He was a great and a wise mentor,” he said.
“But, besides his interests in projects, we all know that he had green fingers.
“He loved his plants and he loved his garden.
“He even had his garden at the back of the house dug up and manured, ready for planting seed potatoes.”
Despite many condolences being posted from the various parishes and ministries that he worked in, Fr Cannon said we cannot forget that he was also a family man.
He was immensely proud of his family, especially his dear brother Enda and his nephew Patrick, who has passed away.
After Mass, burial took place in the adjoining churchyard.
Dean Laverty was the beloved brother of Eunan and sadly missed by sister-in-law Teresa, nieces Thérèse and Roisin, grand nephews, grand niece and great grand nephew, his devoted housekeeper Josephine, his PP Very Rev Aodhán Cannon and fellow clergy of the diocese of Raphoe, parishioners and friends.
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