Killarney

By Sean Moriarty
<h3>The elderly man who died in a road traffic accident in Newcastle West on Wednesday night was a Friar who was on his way to the Franciscan Friary in Killarney for a holiday.</h3>
Fr John ‘Florian’ Farrelly was a member of the Franciscan community and attached to the Rossnowlagh Friary in County Donegal.
Fr Florian was previously attached to the Killarney Friary and served as the local Guardian in the 1980s.
He was on his way to visit friends and colleagues in Killarney – his first visit to the locality since before the pandemic.
“With great sadness we announce that our brother was tragically killed in a car accident on September 7. He was 87-years-old and a member of the Rossnowlagh fraternity. May his good and generous soul rest in the peace of Christ,” said a Franciscan statement.
“Florian’s kindness, his attentive listening and gentle presence were a blessing in the lives of the many people he came in contact with over his decades of Gospel service.”
John Farrelly was from Sutton, Co Dublin. He joined the friars in 1953 and received the religious name, Florian. He celebrated his Franciscan Profession the following year. After studies in Galway and Rome he was ordained to the priesthood in Rome in 1961. His younger brother Paschal (Michael) also joined the Franciscans and pre-deceased him in 2000.
During his long and fruitful ministry Florian lived in many friaries in Ireland beginning in Waterford. He spent an extended period in Drogheda friary where he was Guardian. He was also appointed Guardian in Killarney and Multyfarnham communities.
Funeral arrangements will be announced later.

Sadness as Friar killed in car crash

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