The late Monsignor Richard Mohan was laid to rest yesterday (Wednesday, January 4) as the Bishop of Clogher Larry Duffy led tributes.

Having officiated at the funeral Mass of Mickey Rooney on Friday, December 30, the news of Monsignor Mohan’s unexpected death on January 1 has brought shock and sadness to his local community, family and all who knew him. Leading tributes, Bishop Duffy said Monsignor Mohan will be remembered with “great fondness”.

Coonian

Monsignor Mohan was born in July, 1944, and was a native of Altamullaboy, Coonian.

He was ordained in St. Joseph’s Church, Carrickmore by Bishop Patrick Mulligan on June 21, 1970, and served as a member of staff in St. Macartan’s College, Monaghan, before being appointed as Religious Education Advisor for Primary Schools in the Dioceses of Clogher from 1973-85.

From 1985 to 1990, Monsignor Mohan served in the Cathedral Parish of Monaghan and Rackwallace.

In 1990 he was appointed Prior of Lough Derg, and also Administrator of the Parish of Pettigo, Co. Donegal. He remained in these positions until 2013, and during that time oversaw many developments at this national shrine.

In 2013, Monsignor Mohan was appointed parish priest of Clones – a post he held until September, 2020, when he became PE in that parish, moving to Aghadrumsee. He was still active in pastoral ministry at the time of his sudden death.

Shock

Speaking on the death of Monsignor Mohan, Bishop Larry Duffy said: “The death of Monsignor Mohan has come as a great shock to myself and to all who knew him – especially his family, the parishioners of Clones and the diocese of Clogher.

“Throughout his priestly ministry, he gave great service to people of all ages and in various places. He was a very competent catechist who is remembered with great fondness by the many people with whom he came in contact through his 12 years working in our primary schools as Diocesan Religious Advisor.

“His time at Lough Derg was a period of development and change, and being a man of vision and openness to the Lord, he managed that well.

“Above all, Fr. Dick was a priest whose priesthood was rooted in walking with Christ every day. He fulfilled that ministry of Christ’s love right up to the final hours of his life.

“May the Lord now grant him eternal peace in the fullness of God’s Kingdom.”

The Prior of Lough Derg, Father La, and the team at Lough Derg were also deeply saddened to hear of the death of Monsignor Mohan.

“Father Mohan will be fondly remembered by thousands of Lough Derg pilgrims all over the island of Ireland and beyond, having first served as a priest on the island in 1974, and as part of the team every year until his retirement as Prior in 2013,” a statement said via Lough Derg’s social media.

‘Legacy’

“His legacy will live on at Lough Derg not only in the development of the fabric of the island, but also and perhaps, more so, in the friendships made with staff and pilgrims and in the great pastoral support that he is renowned for.

“We extend our deepest sympathies to Fr. Mohan’s family and friends and all who mourn him. May his soul rest in eternal peace.”

The Funeral Mass for Monsignor Mohan was celebrated in the Sacred Heart Church, Clones, on Wednesday, followed by burial in St. Joseph’s Cemetery, Coonian.