St. Joseph’s Church, Miltown Malbay, Wednesday 29th of April, 2026
We gather today in faith and gratitude to commend to God the soul of Canon Seamus Mullin — priest, teacher, pastor, and friend — a man whose long life of 95 years was, in truth, a life poured out in service.
Seventy of those years were lived as a priest. That alone is a remarkable witness. But numbers, however impressive, only hint at the deeper story — a story of fidelity, generosity, and love.
Seamus was a son of Kilrush, shaped by the rhythms of faith, language, and community from an early age. Those roots never left him. They blossomed in the gifts he shared so freely: his love of the Irish language, particularly logainmneacha, the orgin of place names, his gift for music and liturgical song, and his deep appreciation for culture as a pathway to God.
Pioneering Educationalist
As a teacher and later President of St. Flannan’s College, he formed generations of young students — not just academically, but personally, pastorally, spiritually. He had a particular care for those who needed encouragement the most. Long before it became widely recognised, he understood the importance and dignity of special needs education. He saw potential where others might not have looked, and he nurtured it patiently.
Sportsman
And there was another side to him — the sportsman. His love of hurling, soccer but particularly football was not simply about winning matches, though his teams were often successful. It was about discipline, teamwork, and belief in young people. He knew that formation happens as much on the field as in the classroom.
Pastor of the People
Yet, above all, Seamus was a priest of the people, be it in Ennis, in St. Joseph’s Church, as diocesan spiritual director to the Charismatic Movement in vogue at the time or in his role in the promotion of sport, tirelessly and enthusiastically developing and expanding structures to encourage the game of football in county Clare.
In Miltown Malbay, he was not simply assigned — he belonged. A dedicated pastor, he walked with his people through the ordinary and extraordinary moments of life: baptisms, marriages, funerals, quiet conversations, and countless unseen acts of kindness. He was present. And presence, in the life of a priest, is one of the greatest gifts.
Last Canon of the Chapter
As the last Canon of the Cathedral Chapter in the Diocese of Killaloe, he represented a link with a long tradition of service. But he wore that title lightly. What mattered most to him was not honour, but ministry.
Semper Fidelis
The Gospel reminds us: “Well done, good and faithful servant.” Those words feel especially fitting today. Seamus was faithful — not in grand gestures, but in the steady, daily offering of himself.
- Faithful in prayer.
- Faithful in teaching.
- Faithful in friendship.
- Faithful in priesthood.
A life like his reminds us that holiness is not something distant or unattainable. It is built quietly over time — through commitment, through care, through showing up again and again.
Today, we mourn his passing, and rightly so. We feel the loss of his presence, his quiet voice, his wisdom. But we do not grieve without hope. For the God whom he served so faithfully for 70 years is the same God who now welcomes him home.
- May he be reunited with those who have gone before him.
- May he hear the music of heaven, richer than any he led on earth.
- May the language he loved find its fullness in the eternal Word.
- And may he now rest in the peace he so often prayed for others.
And for us — may we carry forward something of his legacy: his kindness, his dedication, his faith.
Canon Seamus Mullin, priest and servant of God,
may you rest in peace. Go lonraí suaimheas síoraí ort a Chanónaigh agus solas na bhflaitheas do d’anam uasal Gaelach.
Áiméan!