Fermanagh priest recalls the horror of Holy Cross


A FERMANAGH priest has reflected on the role he played in one of Northern Ireland’s most frightening sectarian standoffs after it was among 889 declassified government files released to the public last week. The Holy Cross Primary School dispute in 2001 made headlines around the world as loyalist residents staged protests against Catholic families walking their […]

Fermanagh priest Fr Gary Donegan has fourth eye surgery


FERMANAGH cleric Fr Gary Donegan has said his admiration for the NHS ‘grows by the minute’ after he underwent another major surgery. Since December, the Newtownbutler priest has been in and out of hospital and he recently underwent a fourth operation on his eye, in a bid to restore hs sight. “Well it’s official. I’ve […]

Fr Gary Donegan has third surgery


FR Gary Donegan said he was ‘genuinely moved’ after a community youth group in Ardoyne sent him ‘get well soon’ messages online, just hours after he underwent a third surgery on his eye. The Fermanagh cleric was admitted to the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast, on Wednesday in a bid to secure the sight in his […]

Fermanagh priest Fr Gary Donegan awaiting third surgery


JUST hours after he underwent surgery on his eye, Fr Gary Donegan has confirmed that he’s going to have to go under the knife again later this month. Since December, the Fermanagh cleric has been undergoing treatment on his right eye, in a bid to save and secure his sight. The Newtownbutler priest underwent surgery […]

Fr Gary Donegan has surgery for blindness


FR GARY Donegan has paid tribute to the many people who have “rallied around” him after he recently underwent serious eye surgery. Originally from Newtownbutler, the Ardoyne-based cleric, pictured below, had an operation to restore the sight in his right eye after losing his vision a few weeks ago when a bleed to it caused extensive damage. To read […]

Priest shortages to hit funeral masses


A FERMANAGH cleric says that the falling number of priests will soon have a drastic impact on  funeral masses for Catholic families here. Originally from Newtownbutler, Fr Gary Donegan was responding to a pastoral letter issued on Sunday by Bishop Donal McKeown warning that dwindling numbers of young people joining the priesthood in the Down and […]