THE CORRAN HERALD • 2020/2021
Fr Liam McDermott OFM (1934 – 2020) Submitted by Ballymote Heritage Group (Introduction by Ursula Gilhawley)
The Ballymote Heritage Group was saddened to learn of the death of Fr Liam McDermott OFM on 9th March 2020. Sean McDermott (later Fr Liam OFM) was born in Ballymote in 1934, son of Matthew and Johanna (nee Healy) McDermott. He was educated at the Convent of Mercy and the Boy’s National School in Ballymote and at the Franciscan College, Multyfarnham, Co Westmeath. He graduated with a BA degree from University College, Galway and B. Phil from the University of Louvain and St Isidore’s College, Rome. He joined the Franciscan Order in Killarney in 1953, was ordained a priest in Rome in 1963 and served in South Africa from 1963 until his death in 2020. Fr Liam was a frequent visitor to Ballymote over the years and wrote for the Corran Herald on two occasions – in 1995 on the Inauguration of Nelson Mandela as President of South Africa (10th May 1995 Issue 28) and in 1996 on his travels in Africa (C’est L’Afrique Again! - Issue 29). Both articles can be read on the Heritage website www.ballymoteheritage.com. Ballymote has a long association with the Franciscan Order. The substantial ruins of the Franciscan friary founded in 1442 under the patronage of the McDonagh chieftains are located near Ballymote Castle. The first members of the Order in Ballymote were three O’Coleman brothers. The Church of Ireland bishop of Achonry reported that seven friars remained in Ballymote in 1731 and four in 1744, at the very height of the penal period. Ballymote Heritage Group extends sympathy to Fr Liam’s family, his brother Hubert and sisters Jean, Anne and Joan. His sister Mary predeceased him. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis. Fr Liam’s funeral was held in South
Africa and the sermon at his funeral mass was delivered by Archbishop William Slattery OFM om the 18th March 2020. The text of the sermon is as follows: Sermon at Funeral of Father Liam McDermott It is not easy to speak of the hidden inspiration behind the life of Fr Liam McDermott. Liam was a quiet man, a man of few and well-chosen words, a man of service and humility and in no way an exhibitionist. He spoke few words, but they were always to the point. He was a man of truth, of confidentiality. Liam once sent me a letter. It comprised four words: Dear William… Yes… Liam. However, luckily, Liam himself reveals the secret of his life in the readings and the hymns which he himself chose for this his funeral and thanksgiving Mass today. He chose the letter of St. Paul to the Philippians, “For the sake of Christ Jesus I have thrown everything away. I consider it all as rubbish so that I may gain Christ… All I want is to know Christ and to experience the power of his resurrection. The Gospel he chose for today was the scene of the disciples with their Master on the road to Emmaus. They walked with Him and recognized him at the breaking of the bread. To have lived close to Fr Liam was a privilege and a joy, for in him one met a man of gentle and practical service. The first time I met him in February 1971 I found him lying under the bonnet of a car with a spanner in his hand. Tomorrow, 19 March, is the feast of St Joseph. There was something of St Joseph about Liam. Like Joseph he spoke little. Both Joseph and Liam were totally responsive to the Word of God. Liam was a totally reliable and trusted friend, dedicated to 83
others, and in fact, dedicated to Jesus and Mary. As the first Franciscan Provincial of the new South African province, Liam listened to everyone, responded honestly, supported all in need and kept confidentiality. He never gossiped; our secrets were safe with him. It was in the liturgy that Liam found the well of Samaria. There above all he met the Lord. He performed the liturgy with great attention and dignity. Everyone knew him as the singing Priest. One Saturday morning the lady in the Sacristy enquired who would celebrate the Saturday evening Mass that day. She asked, “Is it the Parish Priest or Pavarotti?” The Catechism of the Catholic Church in its introduction to the liturgy tells us that every event of the past is history. All our experiences have passed by forever. But there is one event in history which transcends history and is always present, always now, always today – the dying and rising of Jesus when we celebrate the Mass. Jesus in the mass tells us, “Do this in memory of Me.” It could equally be translated from the original Aramaic as “When you do this, you bring Me back.” Here was the wellspring of the life of Fr Liam. He found the Lord in the breaking of bread. For 25 years Liam was the spiritual assistant of all the Poor Clare Monasteries in East Africa, it was work which inspired him. It brought him back to San Damiano and the fresh beginnings of the Franciscan movement. This work took him to many countries in Africa, some in very difficult areas of access. He generally returned to South Africa quite ill. One Christmas day his dinner consisted of one banana in the empty airport of Dar Es Salam. Today, Poor Clare Monasteries in many countries are with us in prayers. I quote from a few tributes. From Zambia, “You were a true
