Friday, May 13, 2016

Fr Simon Roche OP

Fr Simon Roche died in Limerick on Monday and was buried in Cork on Thursday after Requiem Mass in St Mary's Priory, Pope's Quay Cork.

Simon was born into a famous milling family in Limerick in 1934, joined the Dominican Order in 1953 and was ordained a priest in July 1960.

He spent many years working in the Dominican-run seminary in Nagpur in India. From India he moved to Dominican HQ in Rome where he was an assistant to the Master of the Order, Irish man Damian Byrne.

At that time two other Irish men, Flannan Hynes and the late Malachy O'Dwyer were on the general council of the Order, supporting the Master of the Order.

It meant four Irish men were working at the Dominican curia in Santa Sabina. They became known as 'La Murphia irlandese'.

On completion of his term in Rome Simon returned to Ireland taking up residence in Cork, living in both Pope's Quay and in Ennismore.

He worked in the Dominican-run parish in Ballybeg in Waterford from where the Dominicans have now walked away. Simon was also novice master.

He died in a nursing home back in his home town, Limerick.

He was a tall, stooped man, patrician in style. His years in India added an almost 'guru' touch to his character. He had a great sense of humour, could be a rogue too. He was a man devoted to speaking the truth.

Simon Roche was a wise and kind man.

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