The young man from Kilroot, Newtownbutler, entered the doors of the Passionist Monastery at the Graan just outside Enniskillen, as a 19 year old and has been part of that community every since.

Fr Donegan will celebrate his the 25th anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood with a Mass on Friday July 1st followed by a special blessing with the relic of St Charles of Mount Argus in St Mary’s Church, Newtownbutler.

He was ordained on June 16 1991 in St Macartan’s Cathedral in Monaghan. 

Fr Gary has hit the headlines on several occasion during his time at Holy Cross Church, Ardoyne, Belfast, most recently when he was threatened by dissident republicans.

It’s not the first time he’s received threats. He has criticised police when he felt their operations were heavy-handed and back in 2014 he criticised dissidents when a bomb attack close to the church had disrupted Mass-goers.

He has come a long way from his early days in the townland of Kilroot in Newtownbutler.

Even then when he was an altar boy in St Mary’s Church, he told his family he was going to become a priest. 

But his mother felt he was too young to enter the priesthood until he had turned 19. He was one of nine young men from Scotland, Belfast and other places around Ireland that joined then and today he is the only one left serving in the priesthood.

His sister Caroline Lunney remembers it well. It was a very isolated life back then. There was a lot of prayer and a lot of studying. It was very tough for them,” she recalled.

“There was a lot of spiritual learning and the young priests didn’t get out very often, but when they did travel, maybe to Dublin or other places, they would call into mum for a cup of tea on their way,” she said. 

He progressed really well and was very loyal and dedicated, she said. 

Fr Gary doesn’t get to see his family very much, but he called last weekend while on another visit in the area

“We were with him at the weekend and he tends not to think about himself, but rather everybody else. He’s very much like that,” said Caroline. “There are always a lot of people looking for him and he won’t let them down. He’s not that sort of person. He has a lot of sick relatives at the minute and tries to get to see them.”

He’s been through tough times, but sister Caroline feels his faith and spirituality gets him through it. 

Besides all that he’s a character who loves to have fun and joke around.

“When he comes down home he would be quite spiritual. He’s very much a community man, bringing people together, people of different religions. He doesn’t judge anyone any differently,” she said. 

Fr Brian, rector at the Graan, said he looked forward to celebrating with Gary and his family and friends.

“All at the Graan are particularly happy for Gary who started his road to the priesthood here. We’re very grateful to his family for the gift that Gary has brought to us,” said Fr Brian.

Coming from a close family is very important to Fr Gary, getting back down to Newtownbutler to see mum and dad Michael and Christine as well as brother Mark and sisters Attracta, Caroline and Michaela.

Just recently he climbed Croagh Patrick to raise funds for Multiple Sclerosis.

Just like the man he is he doesn’t want any fuss for his jubilee. But the people of the parish have organised a special Mass at 8pm on July 1st and a small get-together in the church hall afterwards

Patrick McDonald, is a life long friend of Fr Gary’s. They both attended primary school in Newtownbutler and attended St Eugene’s College together.

“He was always strong and committed, even in his early schools days.  We’re life long friends and even when I moved to England and came back to Northern Ireland 18 years ago we have always kept in contact over those 25 years,” he said. 

“I consider him a close friend. He’s a loyal guy and always fair. He’s a humanitarian who is committed to his work.”

He believes that when a friend Fergus Harte died it was the trigger for Gary to move in the direction of becoming a priest. 

“We were there when he was a novice and saw him enter the priesthood,” he said 

Patrick values Gary as his friend and admits they have a deep relationship.

“I’m extremely proud of the guy who lives a life on the frontline,” he said. “He is out there because he is genuinely interested in helping people.”

“When we lost our father Patsy in January this year Gary was a constant support to him and the rest of us. That is not untypical of the guy. 

“It’s not his role as a priest but his role as a friend which I admire most,” he added.