A SENIOR priest who offered to resign - after a row with his church choir - has withdrawn his resignation.
Canon Sean Durkan, a member of the Killala Diocesan Chapter and a former GAA Mayo County Board chairman, offered his resignation as parish priest of Castleconnor, near Ballina, on November 5th. The row with the choir had been running since last spring but came to a head on November 1st when Canon Durkan named from the altar three choir members who had written to the Bishop of Killala, Dr Thomas Finnegan, to complain.
On November 10th a statement of apology and explanation from Canon Durkan was read out at all masses in Castleconnor. In it the priest expressed his sorrow and regret at the hurt he had caused, and especially to the three people he had named from the altar.
However, he also told the parishioners that he had handed his resignation as parish priest to Dr Finnegan. It is understood he had felt hurt for some time at the attitude towards him of some parishioners, who had not wanted his popular predecessor to be moved.
In a statement last night Dr Finnegan said he had held a meeting at his house last Thursday to discuss the issues involved and to try to bring about a reconciliation between the priest and the choir members.
He said two points were unanimously agreed between them the letters to the bishop had been written in good faith; and there was never any intention to demand Canon Durkan's resignation.
After a reconciliation was achieved, a letter from the bishop asking parishioners to assist in restoring the "peace, harmony and goodwill that were enjoyed in the parish previously" was read out at all masses in Castleconnor last weekend.
The bishop also requested Canon Durkan to withdraw hiss resignation. This the priest did last night.