1928 - Death of Rev. Michael Hannon, Parish Priest of Annaghdown

HANNON (Annaghdown) - August 16, 1928, Rev. Michael Hannon, P.P., Annaghdown, Galway. R.I.P. Obsequies, 11 o'clock, to-morrow (Saturday), 18th inst. Interment immediately afterwards.

Irish Independent, August 17, 1928

  
A full obituary from the Connacht Tribune is given below, together with some further notices.

DEATH OF THE REV. M. HANNAN, P.P.

Tribute by Dean Macken

We announce with regret the sudden death of the Rev. Michael Hannan, P.P., Annaghdown, who, having celebrated his holy Mass on last Thursday morning, and attended to many parochial duties during the day, expired peacefully and unexpectedly on that same evening when his work was done.

One of the most genial and beloved priests in the archdiocese of Tuam, Father Hannan came of a family stock that for many generations has contributed noble-minded, influential and respected clerics to the archdiocese. For spontaneous friendliness and sprightly wit and humour, for his easy but scrupulous observance of the code of honour and integrity that we look for amongst the Irish priesthood he had no superior. Sufficient evidence of the honoured place he held in the minds and hearts of the clergy and laity is furnished by the list of priests from the dioceses of Tuam and Galway and the vast concourse of the laity who came to attend the obsequies on Saturday morning. His late parishioners and his acquaintances who knew him best loved him to most and will miss his kindly presence, his obliging disposition. Those who were nearest and dearest and his immediate relatives have priests' and peoples' deepest sympathy and, when their tears, which now flow so copiously, will have dried, his memory will be their pride and comfort until they meet him where the parting is unknown.

The news of his death evoked widespread regret. Crowds of the parishioners when they heard it cam to sympathise and to offer their fervent prayers for the repose of his soul. Several others came long distances from parishes where he ministered such as Ballinrobe, Claremorris, and others.
The remains were brough to the church on Thursday evening, when priests had come from all parts - Athenry, Leenane, Roundstone, Ballinrobe, Dunmore, Headford, Turloughmore, Maam, etc. High Mass was celebrated on Saturday morning at 11 o'clock. There were about eighty priests present in the choir and fourteen Franciscan Brothers. The Right Rev. Monsignor Dean Macken, P.P., V.G., presided at the Mass, and in very feeling words asked the prayers of the congregation and referred to the work of Father Hannan in the different parishes in which he ministered for the past thirty-three years.

The celebrant at the Solemn Requiem Mass and Office was the Rev. Owen Hannan, P.P., Cummer (brother); deacon, Rev. Andrew Heaney, U.S.A. (cousin); sub-deacon, Rev. Jas. Heany, C.C., Cong (cousin); master of ceremonies, Rev. Thomas Heany, P.P. (cousin); chanters, Very Rev. Joseph Canon Walsh, Adm., V.G., and Rev. Stephen Blowick, C.C.

In the choir were: The Right Rev. Monsignor Dean Macken, P.P., V.G.; RIght Rev. Monsignor D'Alton, P.P., M.R.I.A.; Very Rev. Canon Farragher, P.P.; Very Rev. Archeacon Fallon, P.P., V.F.; Very Rev. M. Eaton, Dean, Maynooth; Canon Curran, P.P., V.F.; Canon McDonald, P.P., V.F.; Very Rev. Canon Ryder, President, St. Jarlath's College; Very Rev. Canon Nestor, P.P., V.F.; Very Rev. CAnon Davis, P.P.' Canon McHugh, P.P.; Canon Griffin, P.P.' Canon Moran, P.P.; Rev. Dr. Browne, Maynooth COllege; Fr. Molloy, O.P.' Fr. Louis, O.F.M. Fr. King O.F.M.; Fr. Canavan O.F.M.; Fr. P. Concannon, U.S.A.; Fr. Cunningham, U.S.A.; Fr. R. Piggott, U.S.A.; Rev. M. Heany, P.P. Rev. M. Diskin, P.P.; Rev. E. Lavelle, P.P.; Rev. T. Morris, P.P.; Rev. P. Forde, P.P.; Rev. P. Lydon, P.P.; Rev. J. Heneghan, China Mission; Rev. J. O'Malley, P.P.; Rev. C. White, P.P.; Rev. J. Greally, P.P.; Rev. Jas. Kelly, P.P; Rev. P. Nicholson, Rev. Ml. Glynn, P.P.; Rev. J. Waldron, Rev. W. Heany, P.P.; Rev. P. Curran, P.P.; Rev. P.J. Egan, P.P.; Rev.  P. McHugh, P.P.; Rev. Ml. Walsh, P.P.; Rev. C. Cunningham, Rev. T. Lynch, P.P. Rev. J. O'Dea, P.P.; Rev. W. Cunnane, P.P.; Rev. Fr. Patterson, Adml Rev. Fr. Goley, Rev. J. Kilgarriff, C.C.; Rev. P. Varden, C.C.; Rev. T. Brett, C.C.; Rev. E. McGough, C.C.; Rev. Jas. Prendergast, C.C.; Rev. A. O'Toole, C.C. Rev. G. Prendergast, Rev. D. Corcoran, Rev. J. O'Grady, Rev. P. Moane, Rev. J. Campbell, Rev. J.A. Burke, Rev. P. McHugh, Rev. P. Murphy, Rev. P. King, Rev. M. Lee, Rev. Ed. Egan, Rev. A. Moran, Rev. B. Canavan, Rev. F. Lynch, Rev. J. Murphy, Rev. Wm. Nohilly, Rev. J. Godfrey, Rev. M. Ryan, Rev. Ml. Lavelle, Rev. P. Glynn, Rev. Ml. O'Connor; Rev. P. Kelly, Rev. Ml. King, Rev. J. O'Reilly, Professors, St. Jarlath's; Rev. Ml. Daly, Rev. P. Joyce.

Franciscan Brothers: Rev. Brother Joseph Daly, Superior-General, Mountbellew; Bro. Virgilius Walsh, Clara; Br. Senanus McDermott, Granlahan; Bro. Bernard Doyle, do.; Bro. Coleman Fox, Farragher; Bro. Columba McQuillan, Brook Lodge; Bro. Benedict Minnock, Cummer; Bro. Francis Donnelly, Kilkerrin; Bro. Stephen O'Reilly, Roundstone; Bros. Ml. D'Arcy, Fidelis Lynch, Bonaventure arley, Joachine Smyth, Annaghdown; Aloysius McGoldrick.

Dean Macken, in asking the prayers of the congregation, said they met in that church to pay the last tribute of respect to the memory of a good and faithful priest. He asked all to unite in fervent prayer in union with the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass for the eternal repose of his departed soul. The death of Father Hannan was rather sudden and unexpected, but this need not be a source of anxiety to his friends, for Father Hannan had always a high sense of the supernatural and his whole life was a life of friendship with God. The Church with all her maternal care does not ask us, to pray that we may be delivered from a sudden death but she urges us to pray frequently that we may be delivered from a sudden and unprovided death. Father Hannan was all his life making provision for the great event of death - the door to everlasting life. The death of Father Hannan is a serious loss to the diocese. He was a zealous, earnest priest, full of zeal for the good of those entrusted to his care. He ministered during his priestly life in many of the prominent missions of the diocese - Knock, Westport, Ballinrobe, and Clifden - and all this shows the esteem in which he was held by his ecclesiastical superiors. 

His brother priests, too, had the highest regard for him, and they are the best judges of a priest's character. He was the soul of honour, a man of uncompromising principles. Above all, he was anxious to promote the glory of his Creator and the best interests of his parishioners. To-day we mourn the early death of a good, holy priest, and the sympathy of the large number of clergy assembled at the obseqies of his brother priests. It must be a real consolation to his friends to see the vast numbers, lay and cleric, assembles at his funeral here to-day. Let us offer up our fervent prayers that the Omnipotent and Merciful God may grant him the reward of a life of fidelity and earnestness in the cause and service of his Maker.

Connacht Tribune, August 25, 1928

Pithy Provincial News. Connaught. Right Rev. Monsignor Dean Macken, P.P., V.G., Claremorris, presided at the Solemn Requiem Office and Mass at Annaghdown for Rev. M. Hannon, P.P. Rev. O. Hannon, P.P., Cummer (brother of deceased) was celebrant of the Mass, and 90 priests and 15 Brothers of St. Francis attended the obsequies.

Irish Independent, August 23, 1928

MONTH'S MIND.

HANNAN - The Month's Mind Solemn Requiem Mass for the eternal repose of the soul of the late Father Michael Hannan, P.P., will be celebrated at the Parish Church, Annaghdown, Galway, on Monday next, the 17th inst., at 11 o'clock.

Irish Independent, September 14, 1928

 

THE LATE REV. MICHAEL HANNAN, P.P.

On Monday last, the 17th inst., Solemn Office and Requiem High Mass was celebrated at the Parish Church, Annaghdown, for the repose of the soul of the late Parish Priest, Rev. Michael Hannan. The attendance of the people from all sides of the parish was very large and the church was filled to its utmost capacity. As on the occasion of the obsequies a month ago, the clergy to the number of sixty attended from all parts of the diocese. The greatest sorrow and sympathy were manifested for the unexpected death of this excellent priest. He was one of the most popular priests in the diocese. He was held in the highest esteem by all the parishioners. The children of the schools loved him for his care and attention to them, and the aged people appreciated his zeal and work in the parish for them in promoting their spiritual as well as their temporal interests. Many a prayer will be offered to God by them for the eternal repose of his soul. R.I.P.

Celebrant of the Mass, Rev. Owen Hannan, P.P., (brother); deacon, Rev. John O'Malley, P.P.; sub-deacon, Rev. James Heaney, C.C.; master of ceremonies, Rev. Thomas Heaney, P.P.; chanters, Very Rev. Joseph Canon Walsh, Adm., V.G., and Rev. Stephen Blowick, C.C., Tuam.

In the choir were: Very Rev. Canon Colgan, P.P.; Very Rev. Canon Walsh, P.P., V.G.; Canon McHugh, P.P.; Canon Moran, P.P.; Canon McDonald, P.P., V.F.; Canon Curran, P.P., V.F.; Father Forde, P.P.; Father Fagan, P.P.; Father Heaney, P.P.; Father Conroy, P.P.' Father O'Malley, P.P.' Father McDermott, P.P.; Father Tuffey, P.P.; Father Mylotte, P.P.; Father W. Heaney, P.P.; Father W. Diskin, P.P.' Father Ed. Lavelle, P.P.' Father S Walsh, P.P.' Father P. Curran, P.P.' Father T. Lynch, P.P.; Father John Walsh, P.P.; Father Varden, C.C.; Father T. Brett, C.C.; Father R. Morrin, C.C.; Father Ml. Ownes, C.C.; Father Thos. Killeen, C.C.; Father Ml. Lavelle, Father E. McGough, C.C.; Father Ml. O'Connor, C.C.; Father Cusack, C.C.; Father L. Lyons, C.C.; Father W. Byrne, C.C.; Father Coyne, C.C.; Father B. Canavan, C.C.; Father T. Burke, C.C.; Father Burke, Diocesan Inspector; Father P. Murphy, C.C; Father Wm. Nohilly, C.C.; Father Ml. McEvilly, C.C.; Father J. Waldron, C.C.; Father Loftus, C.C.; Father J. Heaney, C.C.; Father P. Ruane, C.C.; Father Jas. Moran, Professor; Father P. Waldron, C.C.; FAther Keaveney, C.C.; Father Ryan, C.C.; Father O'Malley, C.C.; Father Hanrahan, C.C.; Father P. King, C.C.; Father Concannon, C.C.; Father Hopkins, C.C., and others.

Connacht Tribune, September 22, 1928.