A Typical " Father Tom,"

Evening Star, Issue 8769, 9 March 1892, Page 4

A Typical " Father Tom,"

We regret to announce (says the ' Manoheater Guardian') the sudden death of Father T. J. Flannery ("Father Tom") of Carna. Father Tom would have been a remarkable personality anywhere. He was a praotioal man—knew all about making roads, constructing bridges, building boats and Bailing them. His activity and energy were surprising. Only suoh a man could attend to the needs of auch a parish, a considerable portion of whioh consists of islands; but he had a smart boat for the water and a smart pony for tbe land, and a frame which appeared never to know fatigue, and he so managed to visit the cabins and hovels, and to learn the needs of every family, that it is no exaggeration to say that in many cases the loss of the breadwinner would have been IeBS felt and deplored than the loss of the beloved priest. At the door of hisohuroh in Carna, when some collection was beiog made for the Pope, not a soul was allowed to leave without being personally scolded or praised by the priest. It was: "Now, Biddy, faix and His Holiness will be ashamed to reoeive a solitary sixpence from the like of yourself "; or, " Molly, sure an* a shilling's very handsome for a lone widow, an' its your name will go to His Holiness in front of it." Each appeal was followed by a good-natured slap on the back or a twitch at the ear. The people adored him, as well they might, for it wanted a hero to be an efficient priest at Carna. That wild pariah stretohes for many miles along the Connemara coast, and it is a mere waste of rooks, bogs, meres, and salt-water inlets. Often " Father Tom " would be called up at midnight to administer the saorament in some distant part of the parish, which he could only reach by the help of relays of peasants lighting him with torches over dangerous crags and trackless morasses. Wear glasses and you will look wise. Wear gold-rimmed glasses and the world will believe your wisdom pays dividends. _ Since young Jones began visiting Miss Brown the parlor lamp in the Brown domicile is the latest thing out.