The ‘biker priest’ Fr. John Kearns who co-founded the ‘Gone But Not Forgotten Bikers Memorial’ died on Monday following a long illness.
The Monaghan-born priest served for many years in the Clogher Diocese including most recently in Belleek- Garrison parish.
Bishop Larry Duffy led tributes to Fr. Kearns. He said: “Fr. John was a committed priest and a larger-than-life character.
Fr John’s journey towards priesthood began in the mid-1970s when he went to the St Patrick’s Missionary Society (SPS) seminary at Kiltegan, Co Wicklow. Bishop Duffy said: “He took some time out from his studies in the 1980s and became a lorry driver and then joined An Garda Siochána for a time before returning to answer the Lord’s call to priesthood. Following ordination in 1990 he spent several years in Zimbabwe. In the late 1990s he returned to Ireland and to his native Diocese of Clogher where he served in the parishes of Pettigo, Monaghan & Rackwallace, Clones, Brookeboro and, Belleek-Garrison parish in north Fermanagh where he ministered until struck by illness.”
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Paying tribute to Fr. John’s work with communities, Bishop Duffy said: “He was always a missionary, seeking to make Christ known to others; helping people encounter the Lord in all kinds of ways. He will be remembered for his love of motorcycles and his devotion to the bikers. He was well thought of too in country music circles and he counted among his friends some of the big names in that walk of life. John was at home with everyone. During his long illness, his many friends brought him great comfort, for which he was very grateful. He loved people and people loved him.”
He concluded: “On my own behalf, and on behalf of the clergy, religious and wider family of the Diocese of Clogher, I extend my sincere sympathy to his family, to his parishioners in Belleek-Garrison and to his brother priests here and in the St Patrick’s Missionary Society. Let us commend his soul to the Lord! Go ndéana Dia trócaire ar a anam (may God have mercy on his soul).
The committee of Gone but Not Forgotten Bikers memorial paid tribute to Fr. John who co-founded their organisation and served as chairperson. Speaking on behalf of the committee, PRO Brian MacUaid said: “Fr. John was a co-founder of the Bikers Memorial, an event he looked forward to every year and one which he put his heart and soul into.
“He had an ability to lift people from their grief, to give them something to hold on to and show them that their struggle was not alone, it was shared with the Biking family. His positivity and his sense of humour eased the pain of everyone attending our annual memorial and kept so many coming back year in year out.”
He continued: “His love of motorbikes, particularly Honda, from an early age made him an instant hit with his fellow Bikers. His death after a long, bravely fought illness will have an impact all over this country as well as further afield.”
Fr. John Kearns was buried on Wednesday, December 22 at St Michael’s Church, Corcaghan, Co. Monaghan following his funeral Mass.
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