Fr.
Brendan Howard underwent the rite of Installation in Ballon Church
on Sunday September 14th, 2008
(Thanks to Michael Dawson for picture and narrative)
A Christian Brother from 1956, Fr. Howard dispensed from his religious
vows to the Brothers in 1996 and was ordained a Deacon for Kildare and
Leighlin. He was ordained to the priesthood by Most. Rev. Dr. Laurence
Ryan DD in the Cathedral of the Assumption, Carlow on July 6, 1997.
The following day he celebrated his first mass in the Cathedral – his own parish. His first appointment was to the Cathedral Parish from 1997 to 2000 and he was then appointed to Myshall/Drumphea Parish until 2008.
Fr. Howard was born at Ardreigh, Athy on May 24, 1942, his family moving
to Jerusalem, Carlow soon after. He attended Levitstown National School
and Bishop Foley School in Carlow before moving on to the CBS Academy,
Carlow for his secondary education.
In 1956 he joined the Irish Christian Brothers at St. Josephs, Baldoyle
and continued his education there and at Colaiste Ioghaid Ris, Dun Laoghaire.
He qualified as a Primary teacher in St. Mary’s, Marino in 1966
and went on to teach in Limerick, Portarlington and Drimnagh Castle, Dublin
before taking up Secondary teaching at the latter school from 1972 to
1975- a period during which he obtained his BA and HDE (Hons.) degrees
at UCD.
He obtained a M. Ed. Hons. Degree at Maynooth in 1977 and was Superior
and Manager at St. Brendan’s College, Bray, CBS, Portlaoise, Colaiste
Eoin, Athy, CBS, North Monastery, Cork and St. Mary’s CBS, Kilkenny
between 1977 and 1993.
In 1993 he enrolled in the Jesuit School of Theology, Berkley and obtained
a Masters of Theological Studies in 1995 before deciding to become a priest.
Throughout his life Fr. Howard has been immersed in the GAA and embraces
the ideals as set out in 1884. As far back as 1962 he was secretary of
the County Limerick Bord na nOg to be followed by a similar position in
County Laois and as his teaching took him across the country he was involved
with clubs in places as diverse as Bray, Portlaoise, Athy and Dicksboro.
He is currently president of The O’Hanrahans Club in Carlow, Naomh
Eoin and Miseal Coiste na nOg, chairman of Co. Carlow Coiste na nOg and
Irish Officer for Carlow County Board since 2002.
All his life Fr. Howard has had an abiding interest in athletics and has
fond memories of winning medals in the sport as well as in hurling and
football. He encouraged and supported athletics in every school where
he was stationed and held various positions in many clubs. From 1966 to
1969 he was president of the newly formed BLOE and was secretary of the
Drimnagh Castle Club in Dublin when Eamon Coughlan was a member there.
From 1970 to 1975 he was secretary of the CBS All Ireland Athletics which
had 32-county participation.
He was also involved with both CBS, Portarlington and North Monastery,
Cork when they won National titles in Basketball in 1970 and 1986 respectively.
He was a founder member of the reformed Athy Boxing Club in 1986 and was
also associated with the Portarlington Club.
Fr. Howard was one of the first to promote Alcohol free discos in Walkinstown
in the late 1960s where there was a regular attendance of 600. He was
also involved with the Legion of Mary and was Chaplin in many centres.
He was also involved in the Knights of Columbanus and was Grand Knight
in Laois/Offaly (1980/85), Cork (1986/90) and Kilkenny (1990/93).
Between 1977 and 2008 he was actively involved with Boards of Management
and currently is chairman in both Myshall and Drumphea.
Another of Fr. Howard’s many and varied interests is Tidy Towns
and he has work with committees in Portlaoise, Kilkenny Carlow, Myshall
and Clonegal and is currently president of the Carlow Committee.
He is also the current Chairman of FAS for three parishes – Myshall/Drumphea/Fenagh, Clonegal/Kildavin, and Ballon/Rathoe and is a member of the Board of Directors of CRISP.
With Fr. Howard’s interest and enthusiasm there is little doubt
that he will be actively involved in many organisations, both cultural
and sporting, in Ballon/Rathoe very soon.
Fr. Howard will continue to live in Clonegal but has set up a Parish Office
in Ballon Business and Training Centre next to the Community Centre where
he will be available to meet parishioners most mornings from 11.15 a.m.
to 1.00 p.m. Phone messages, faxes or E.mails may be left with Eileen.
The phone number is 059-9159447 and the fax number is 059-9159377. E-mail address is ballonbts@gmail.com . Fr. Howard can be contacted personally on 087-6232654.