Jim Donleavy OP - an obituary

Jim Donleavy, who died yesterday in Beaumont hospital was born in Liverpool of Irish parents.

He was born on January 17, 1937,  joined the Dominican Order in September 1955 and was ordained a priest in 1961.

Jim was an outstanding preacher, both in his delivery and content. He was also an accomplished singer.

Shortly after priestly ordination he worked in Glasgow with the English Dominicans and then later studied voice production at Sterling University in Scotland.

While never losing aspects of his English accent, he was profoundly proud of his family roots in North Cork, to be precise the town of Kanturk, where Ededl Quinn was born. 

Over the years Kanturk was a place where he found refuge and great peace.

On returning from Scotland he studied at Maynooth University where he obtained his BA. During those years he lived and ministered as a priest in St Mary's Priory, Tallaght.

Both his parents were teachers and taught in Liverpool. Jim's father was a great devotee of Shakespeare and the Bible. Every night he read from both Shakespeare and the Bible to Jim and his brother Michael.

He lived in a number of Dominican priories and was prior in Newbridge, Limerick, Kilkenny, Athy and Drogheda.

Jim was a knowledgeable man, who kept abreast with world events, something that enhanced his preaching style.

It was easy to listen to his sermons and he would always weave aspects of North Cork life into his words.

Jim's preaching stood out at a time when sermons were boring and pro forma. They probably still are.

He had a great love for horses and was a fine horseman. Over the years he kept his own horse. 

When Jim moved to a new priory his horse would accompany him. In Tallaght and Newbridge there was plenty of scope to keep a horse. And in places where there was no field Jim would always find a place to keep his horse.

Jim had suffered bad health for a number of years. He was afflicted with cancer and also had severe heart problems. And yet he soldiered on.

On his death Jim was living in the Dominican Priory in Drogheda, his house of assignation, where he had bravely managed to keep the priory and church open.

The Irish Dominicans decided to close the Drogheda priory and church but Jim felt it was not the correct action to take and continued to live and work there. 

While in Drogheda he received help from a number of Dominicans in the carrying out of the sacramental life of the church. He was also greatly helped by Rita and Declan Hanratty, without whom it would have been impossible for him to have continued ministering.

The Drogheda experience has not been a proud moment in the history of the Irish Province. Jim Donleavy kept the flag flying as long as he possibly could.

Jim was a learned man, probably a maverick too.

Right now the Irish Dominican Province needs the imagination and vision of mavericks.

His remains are reposing at St Magdalen's next Monday and from 103.30am to 6pm.

Jim's funeral Mass in on Wednesday, February 12 at midday in Dominican Priory church, St Magdalen's, Drogheda, burial afterwards in St Peter's cemetery.

May he rest in peace.