Sharon’s life personified hope, courage, resilience and determination.

Her life was all about ability: her ability to overcome physical restriction, to be determined, to engage in friendship and community, to share, to reach out to others with friendship and compassion – and, ultimately, her ability to inspire in others a sense that we have much to be grateful for and life indeed is certainly worth being lived to the full.

Sharon never ever complained, and perhaps she had much reason to. Instead, she embraced the challenge and relished every opportunity to enjoy her life.

Sharon was blessed with a loving family.

My heartfelt sympathy goes to her mother and father Carmel and Brendan, to her sister Melissa, her brothers Kenneth, Brendan, Justin and Darren; to her aunt Catherine, her uncles, grandmother and extended family.

Sharon was also blessed with fantastic friends, whose love and deep friendship was so palpable at her requiem Mass.

Memories were shared of her young life growing up in Hanover, Carlow, playing the usual childhood games and forging lifelong friendships with many of her neighbours.

This friendship would later see her pay visits to Archie’s pub and Mimes Nightclub.

She loved ‘music and craic’ and nothing more than revelling in her pint of Bulmers and her customary straw.

Stories were told of how, when reaching Quinnsworth, the trolley would often be used as ‘an aid of transport up that famous hill, en route to Hanover’.

Her blonde hair, legendary fashion and bright eyes brought so much happiness and love wherever she went.

Sharon’s life was a model for independent living. The support of the Irish Wheelchair Association and carers facilitated such independence. I greatly affirm these agencies, and people who encourage those who live with physical restriction to live life to the full.

Sharon was also a woman of faith. I’m sure her faith fuelled that sense of compassion that often befriended many who felt isolated or on the margins.

Sharon was part of the famous youth pilgrimage to Rome in 1981, where she held the hand of the late Pope John Paul II. She also made many pilgrimages to Lourdes.

At just 44 years of age, Sharon’s diagnosis with terminal cancer seems so unfair for a woman who already had so many crosses to overcome.

Often, faith does not provide the answers to the why of human suffering; rather, it helps embrace the vulnerability and wounds of the human spirit. Sharon, typical to her resolute character, bore her final illness with courage and acceptance.

Sharon loved the sun. She took full advantage of the warm rays and made many holidays abroad with family and friends. The light of Sharon’s life is brighter than the darkness and pain of her loss.

Sharon’s ability proved to be so inspirationally greater than the disability of her physical restriction.

I pray that in the light and warmth of eternal life her blonde hair and elegance will dance and sing to the beautiful music of our eternal home. Sharon, the people of Carlow will always treasure your life and your legacy. Amen.

Reposing at his residence with removal at 11.30am on Wednesday to St. Andrew’s Church, Bagenalstown, arriving for Requiem Mass at 12 noon. Burial afterwards in the Cemetery of the Assumption, Bagenalstown.

Rest in Peace

Reposing at his residence today, Thursday. Removal on Friday evening, arriving at St. Andrew’s Church, Bagenalstown, at 7pm. Requiem Mass on Saturday at 1pm, followed by burial in Kiltealy, Co. Wexford. Rosary will be recited at his residence this Thursday evening at 9pm.

Rest in Peace

Last year’s award-winning movie The King’s Speech tells the true story of England’s King George VI, struggling to find confidence in his voice. He grew up in an environment where emotional affection was absent.

He lacked an experience of affirmation and hence suffered from very poor self-image, manifesting in a debilitating voice/speech impediment.

King George VI began a process of reclaiming his voice, through the help of a gifted friend and counsellor.

The conclusion of the film visits the crucial speech given by him to the British people, offering hope and encouragement on the eve of World War I.

I was greatly disturbed and saddened by the recent silencing of the prophetic voice of Fr Tony Flannery.

A founding member of the Association of Catholic Priests, he is a tireless preacher and advocate for justice throughout his priestly life.

Fr Tony’s voice, I believe, brought a dynamic and relevance to issues concerning the life of the church.

He believes passionately in the liberating energy that is contained within the Second Vatican Council and is a vociferous advocate of its vision and pastoral theology to be fully implemented to the life of the local church.

His establishing of the Association of Catholic Priests afforded more than 800 priests the opportunity to partake in an environment where our voice, our needs, our hopes and fears would be listened to with a sense of encouragement and compassion.

The vision of this association is not to create an ‘exclusive clerical club’, it is more about allowing the relevance of the Good News to be communicated with confidence in these times when so much burden is felt in the lives of so many.

Because of Fr Tony Flannery, Fr Kevin Reynolds found a supportive network and was equipped with the necessary resources to challenge the scandalous RTÉ Prime Time documentary Mission to Prey.

We now know that Fr Reynolds was fully vindicated and RTÉ continues to face huge challenges in rebuilding public confidence as a consequence.

Fr Tony and the Association of Catholic Priests were instrumental in allowing the voice of truth to be spoken here.

I truly struggle to come to terms with the silencing by the Vatican of this man’s voice.

His writings and preaching was always challenging, engaging and deeply fuelled by a passionate enthusiasm for the Good News.

I suggest that maintaining a culture of silence within the church and labelling courageous men like Fr Tony Flannery as “dissident priests”, is most worrying.

The recent Apostolic Visitation Summary Report speaks in the language of reform and renewal.

An environment where conversation and dialogue is stifled and silenced seems to me to be the contrary. Jesus of Nazareth ‘spoke with authority’.

His courageous voice challenged the structures of dysfunction and injustice in his time.

His voice of courage led Him to the cross – a voice transformed in resurrection, announcing peace and hope.

I pray that the leadership of the church will adopt a less fearful and autocratic attitude regarding the necessity for dialogue and conversation within the church.

I pray also for Fr Tony Flannery, a good and kind follower of Christ, whose voice, now silenced, may be listened to in the spirit of openness and mature reflection.

Funeral prayers in Somers Funeral Home, Bagenalstown, on Saturday morning at 10am, followed by removal to St. Andrew’s Church for Funeral Mass at 11am. Burial afterwards in the Cemetery of the Assumption.

Rest in Peace