“Death must be so beautiful. To lie in the soft brown earth, with the grasses waving above one’s head, and listen to silence. To have no yesterday, and no tomorrow. To forget time, to forgive life, to be at peace.”
- Oscar Wilde
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Dominican priest Philip McShane died in St Vincent’s Hospital in Dublin on Wednesday, October 18. We talk about people dying with their boot... -
Seósamh Laurence Collins died in Tallaght University Hospital in the early hours of Monday morning, January 22. Larry, as he was known in t... -
Dominican priest Leo Donovan died in Kiltipper Woods Care Centre, Tallaght on Saturday morning, February 17. Leo had been over two years in ...
3 comments:
Michael, this is the best observation on death I have seen to date having dabbled in grief, bereavement, death and dying academically and professionally for many decades. Thanks for putting it out there and thank you especially for keeping the diaspora up to date on Dominicana Hiberniae; much appreciated - Seán O'Seasnáin [aka Gerard M. Sexton OP 1959-1974]
Sean O'Seasnáin/Gerry Sexton/Gerard M Sexton OP. That is a blast from the past and thank you. How did you come across the blog? Delighted to hear from you. Is/was Larry two years ahead of you? Larry was always kind to me and I got to know him very well these last three/four years, maybe longer. I shall miss him. I vaguely remember you. If you wish you can fill me in on details on this. And of course, not for publication
Nice to hear from you
Dia guit Michael,
Apologies for my lethargy in responding to your welcome invitation to let you know how I came across your blog, and to indicate the years (in terms of seniority) between me and Larry. The lethargy referred to here is probably a natural constituent of my DNA but may have been intensified by an aberrant passenger (on an Aer Lingus flight from Toronto to Dublin June 10, 2022) who opened the overhead luggage compartment before the plane came to a complete stop resulting in a steel walking pole falling on my head. I saw stars at the time and nursed a dull headache for the duration of my two-week stay. The waiting time for Emergency hospitals in Dublin (much the same as E here) at the time a/c to Radio Eireann was "11 to 22 hours" so I decided to wait until I returned to Kitchener, Ontario (where I have lived for the past forty years).
When I got to see my family doctor here he determined the headache was connected with Covid-19 and described it as "Labyrinthitis". I got over it; but I still have a lingering tinnitus and a certain lack of energy in spite of my enthusiasms. For an 83 year-old I am in good health - praise the Lord!
I have to tell you Michael I discovered Occasional Scribbles many years ago and it has been my go-to-source ever since Far and Near disappeared and as you observed in OS quite a while ago there is a dearth of Irish Dominican News being made available to the plebs.
The last Catalogus (which I have and in which I am included) is 1971 - my last year in Trinidad - although I was on a leave of absence in Ireland until I left for Canada in March 1974 - this year marks 50 years in Canada - I arrived March 23 ( in Manitoba > New Brunswick 1978 > Ontario 1980) and next year, Deo volente, my wife and I will be married fifty years on June 14, 2025.
Larry (Collins) joined the Novitiate in 1957, I joined in 1959 (same group as Canice Murphy) and Leo was in the group of 1960. I didn't know Larry very well but I recognize what you write in your excellent obituary as being accurate and deserving. [All your writing is of an excellent caliber - please do not take this as plámás]. Leo, I knew very well - a great Dominican and a great human being - what you wrote of him is superb. He featured in my 'afterlife' being sacramentally acquainted with my wife's family in matrimonial and funeral rituals etc. We met him when he retuned to Ireland for good - after 50 years in Trinidad. We and thousands more were very saddened by his death.
Forgive me for going on like this. I want to thank you for your good work - in all its dimensions - it is much appreciated.
My email is fifthprovince@gmail.com; my address is Seán O'Seasnáin, 7 Guelph Street, Kitchener Ontario Canada N2H 5W5, my landline is 519-579-4586, my mobile is 519-239-3919. My wife's name is Emily (aka Sue Ching Wong Kang) and we have three daughters + two grand children. I hope to be in Dublin later this year and would love to meet up with you - should you ever come to Canada, likewise.
Stay well, and keep up the good work!
Slán go fóill,
Seán-Gerry
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