Tributes paid to Omagh-born priest

An Omagh-born priest who served communities in County Derry for decades has been remembered as a man with fine intellect and outstanding integrity.

Fr Aidan Mullan died at Omagh Hospital and Primary Care Complex on Thursday.

His Requiem Mass will be celebrated today (Monday) at 12 noon in Sacred Heart Church, Omagh, with interment immediately afterwards at St Mary’s Cemetery, Drumragh.

Fr Mullan grew up with his family on the Brookmount Road, and attended the Christian Brothers Grammar School.

When his time at the Brothers ended, he boarded at St Columb’s College, Derry – an institution with which his relationship would last long beyond his school years.

Fr Mullan was ordained as a priest in 1976, and was the parish priest in Glendermott from 1998.

Before his death, he was the parish priest in Long Tower, Derry.

In a message posted on St Columba’s Long Tower parish Facebook page, they paid tribute to Fr Mullan.

“He was a man gifted with a fine intellect which he employed generously throughout his life in the service of others, first serving as a maths teacher at St Columb’s College before later going on to be vice-principal.”

They continued, “A strong advocate of Catholic education, he chaired the Diocese of Derry CCMS board for a number of years.

“Serving as a diocesan priest, he ministered to the Glendermott,
Dungiven, and Three Patrons Parishes.

“In September 2016, Fr Aidan was appointed as the new administrator of the Long Tower Parish, a position to which he devoted the rest of his life with great warmth, zeal and
giftedness, as his overseeing of the recent refurbishment of the Long
Tower Church makes manifestly clear.

“We mourn his loss as a man and priest of outstanding integrity who lived the Gospel values each day with faith, compassion and love. He leaves behind a strong legacy of Christianity in action and a deep-seated belief in the power of prayer to heal the world.”

By Emmet McElhatton

e.mcelhatton@ulsterherald.com