Archdeacon John Deeney Parish Priest of Taughboyne
1943 until his death 1 June 1966.
VERY REV. CANON DEENEY, ST. JOHNSTON, DEATH OF ARCHDEACON OF RAPHOE
Sincere and widespread regret has been occasioned not only in the
diocese but in many parts of Ireland at the death, which took place
in the Co. Hospital, Letterkenny, on Wednesday of the Archdeacon of
Raphoe, Very Rev. John Canon Deeney, P.P., V.F., St Johnston.
Aged 85, he had been in failing health for some time, but it was
only recently that he had to give up active parochial work.
Born in Glenvar, Archdeacon Deeney was a native Irish speaker and
throughout his long priestly life he was imbued with a strong
attachment to the language and Gaelic culture generally. After
completing his secondary course at the old seminary in Letterkenny
he studied for the priesthood in St .Patrick’s College, Maynooth.
His ordination took place in St. Eunans’s Cathedral, Letterkenny, by
the then Bishop of Raphoe, Most Rev. Dr. O Donnell, in 1909.
He was curate in Golan, Gweedore, Kindrum and Kincasslagh, after
which he spend a number of years as rector of the Marine Industrial
School in Killybegs. He resumed parish duties in Fintown as curate
and it was form there that he was appointed Parish Priest of St.
Johnston in 1943, on the death of Very Rev. James McDaid P.P.
Archdeacon Deeney, one of the best beloved priests in the diocese,
devoted himself with undiminished zeal almost to the end to the
spiritual and material welfare of his parishioners. A man of high
scholarly attainments, he was an authority on local history. He also
rendered valued service to the Pioneer T.A. movement, being chairman
of the Diocesan Council and having much to do with organising
Temperance rallies in the diocese. Deeply interested in music, he
had bands formed in several of his parishes and also in the
Industrial School. In all the parishes in which he ministered he
endeared himself to the people and won the respect and esteem of all
creeds and classes.
Among his fellow priests he was looked upon as one who typified the
highest qualities of the sacred office. He was assiduous in
attention to parochial projects such as the building and renovation
of churches, schools and parochial houses. While in St. Johnston he
was responsible for the provision of the new church at Killea and a
new school at Magherabeg, Manorcunningham.
He is survived by one brother, Mr Hugh Deeney, ex-N.T., Glenvar.
Another brother was the late Mr. Daniel Deeney, Inspector of
Schools, and a sister was the late Miss Margaret Deeney, N.T., a
leading figure in educational circles in Donegal.
