Kilkenny native Fr Anthony Boran celebrates his 100th birthday

It was a special day as Fr Anthony Boran, OFM Cap. recently celebrated his 100th birthday, in the company of family, friends and colleagues.

Fr Anthony is a resident at the Sacred Heart Nursing Home, Killester, Dublin for the past few years. He constantly praises the staff for the care and love they bestow on him. They, in turn, have great affection for the patient, cheerful, gentlemanly priest who is in their care.

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Born Peter Anthony Boran in Crutt, Castlecomer, on May 22 1923, he is the last remaining member of the 14-strong family of Peter Boran and his wife Margaret D’Arcy Boran.

One of eight sons and six daughters, education was a luxury when Peter and Margaret were raising their large brood.

Nevertheless, thanks to the dedication of teachers, such as Miss Dooley at Clogh National School, children with aptitude were put forward for scholarships, which enabled them to attain secondary education and in the case of this family even third level was within their grasp. They were noted for their intelligence by many in their community.

Peter travelled to Kilkenny where he attended the Christian Brothers’ Secondary School. His first job was with Kilkenny Co Council in whose office he worked for 14 years.

While there he learned many of the skills he was to put to good use in his later life as a friar. During those years he became a member of the Third Order in the Friary, Kilkenny.

Anthony entered the Capuchin novitiate in Rochestown Friary, Cork on October 3, 1956 and made temporary profession a year later in the same place.

Following his philosophy studies in University College Cork he made perpetual profession in Ard Mhuire Friary in Donegal on October 4 1960. After theology studies he was ordained priest by Bishop McNeely of Raphoe on May 23, 1963, also in Ards Friary.

The next 45 years saw Anthony busy in roles which included administration, formation and leadership in the Province.

Following a year’s course in Pastoral Theology in Raheny he was appointed Mission secretary in Church Street Dublin for six years beginning in 1964.

In 1970 he was elected Vicar Provincial and then Provincial three years later for a three year period, while at the same time taking on the role of Provincial Bursar, which he held until 1982, as well as being Secretary of the Missions for part of that time too.

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Then it was off to Carlow for three years, where he forged strong links with the Poor Clare Sisters, which lasts to the present day, followed by a return to Kilkenny, where he was Master of the Novices for three years.

For another three years he served as Guardian and Director of Postulants from 1988 to 1991 in Carlow.

He was appointed as Vicar in Holy Trinity, Cork for the following three years before being transferred to Halston Street, Dublin where he worked as Provincial Secretary for seven years until 2001 when he was once more appointed Mission Secretary.

At long last his journeys ended with his arrival at the Friary in Raheny in 2010.

The ability of his ancestors and neighbours to endure backbreaking work in the coal mines is in his blood and stood him in good stead during his lifetime of work and service for the Lord.

Fr Anthony is much loved by his many nieces, nephews, grand nieces , grand nephews and indeed great grand nieces and nephews. He has touched many lives during his own long life of ministry.