Fr. Sean
Rev. Fr. Seán Ó Longaigh
Rev. Fr. Seán Ó Longaigh
A native of Dromcollogher, County Limerick, Fr. Seán's father came from Daingean Uí Chúis (and all of his ancestors, in turn, came from An Daingean and the Corca Dhuibhne locality in general) and his mother had her roots deeply in Dromcollogher. Fr. Seán attended National School and first year post-primary school at St. Mary's Secondary School in Dromcollogher (which has now given way to Hazelwood Community College -he regrets that the new school has not been given an Irish title, such as, Coláiste Chollchille) before going on to St. Munchin’s College, Limerick, the then minor seminary for the Diocese of Limerick. Afterwards he attended the national seminary of St. Patrick’s College, Maynooth, where, in the course of his studies for the priesthood, he took philosophy for his B.A. and L.Ph degrees and theology in his B.D. degree.
He was ordained to the priesthood in his native parish of Dromcollogher on 17th June 1973, along with four other classmates ordained for the Diocese of Limerick. In fact, in 1973 there were eight priests ordained for the Diocese of Limerick, something that occurred exactly 100 years previously. Fr. Seán's first appointment was to St. Enda’s Community School in Limerick city, then one of the first post-primary schools of its type in the country. At this time he was also appointed Diocesan Adviser on Religious Education for second level schools and over some years held various positions in the Catholic Marriage Advisory Council (now called Accord), including director of pre-marriage courses, counsellor and center director. He was also an advisory member on the National Laity Commission during these years. In 1981 he volunteered to take part in the Limerick Mission to Africa, undertaken with the St. Patrick's Missionaries, Kiltegan. Over the next four years he worked in the central Nigerian diocese of Minna, ministering mainly in the parishes of Bida and Zungeru.
On his return to Limerick Fr. Seán was appointed curate in Croom as well as chaplain to the local St. Mary’s Community College and to the shared chaplaincy of Croom orthopedic hospital. After serving in Croom for 11 years he was appointed as curate in Askeaton-Ballysteen in 1996. In the following year he succeeded Canon O Connor as parish priest in
Askeaton-Ballysteen.
Apart from the people of the parish and his pastoral work, Fr. Seán has a wide range of interests. Chief among these are the Bible as the Word of God, and its supporting scholarship and archaeology. He participated in an uforgettable mini-sabbatical in the Holy Land in 2002, where he was able to deepen his knowledge of Scripture and visit many of the sites mentioned therein. He has a great interest also in history, especially Irish history, and in reading in general. He loves the outdoors, surrounded by God's creation. He has a great interest in sport, and in hurling in particular -and is a passionate supporter of the Limerick hurlers! He enjoys a good social occasion. And he is partial to a home-made rhubarb tart!