Fr Michael Irwin was born in Ballingarry, Co Limerick on 19th July 1936. He was educated at Ballingarry N.S. and St Munchin’s College, Limerick.
In 1954 he entered St Patrick’s College, Maynooth and was ordained a priest of the Diocese of Limerick in 1961. He volunteered to work in Peru with the Missionary Society of St Columban and spent in the following years in Lima, serving in the Parishes of Villa Doloras and Sta Cruz.
On holidays in Ireland, he helped out in Bruree and on his return to Lima, Michael served until 1975 in El Monton.
In 1978 he joined the Society of St Columban and was assigned to Chile. He served for the next 22 years in San Marcos, Puento Alto, Bajos de Mena and San Rosario.
From 1989 he also served very successfully as a part-time Regional Bursar.
In August 2003 he was appointed to pastoral work in the Diocese of Limerick. Over the next thirteen years he helped in various parishes in Ardagh, Patrick’s Well, and Kilcolman Pallaskenry until his retirement in 2016 to Kilteragh, Dooradoyle, Limerick.
As his health deteriorated, Michael returned to Dalgan earlier this year. In recent week he moved to the Nursing Home. He died suddenly in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Navan, on 22 December 2022, where he had been briefly confined after a fall.
As a vegan he was generally in good health. He lived very simply and was an excellent preacher.
May he rest in peace.
Evening Prayer and Funeral Mass of Fr Michael Irwin: