Our dear brother, Pat Conlan OFM, died on 30th May. He was 83 years old and a member of the Dun Mhuire fraternity in Killiney, Co Dublin.

An only child, he was born in Limerick City and educated by the Jesuits in Crescent College. However, he joined the Franciscan Order in 1958 since from a young age he had been an altar boy in the Henry Street Friary.

Pat celebrated his First Profession as a friar in Killarney in 1959. After studies in Galway, Louvain and Rome he was ordained a priest in 1968. In the following decades he ministered in various friaries in Ireland.

Pat had a passion for Irish Franciscan history, and over the years wrote several books and many articles on the topic. His most important contributions were the volume Franciscan Ireland and a book on the history of the Irish Franciscan College in Rome, St Isidore’s. He also lectured on themes of local Franciscan interest throughout the country.

His Funeral Mass was celebrated in the Franciscan Church, Merchants Quay, Dublin on 1st June and burial took place in the Franciscan plot in Shanganagh Cemetery, Shankill.

The Light of heaven to this faithful servant of the Lord.