Born: 13 April 1943, Millbrook Road, Oldcastle, County Meath
Entered: 07 September 1961, St Mary's, Emo, County Laois
Died: 29 May 2020, Glenageary, County Dublin

Left Society of Jesus: 29 June 1968

Parents were farmers. Father - Laurence, Mother - Ellen (Brown)

Eldest of three boys with three sisters.

Educated for a year at the Gilson Endowed Secondary School, Church Street, Oldcastle, he then went to St Finnian’s College, Mullingar.

Baptised at St Brigid’s, Oldcastle, County Meath, 16/04/1943
Confirmed at St Brigid’s, Oldcastle, County Meath

1961-1963: St Mary's, Emo, Novitiate
1963-1966: Rathfarnham Castle, Juniorate, UCD
1966-1968: Milltown Park, Philosophy

Address 2000 & 1991: The Kerryman, Clash Industrial Estate, Tralee, County Kerry & Independent Newspapers, Dublin City

https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/tribute-to-leading-journalist-jim-farrelly/39245853.html

https://rip.ie/death-notice/jim-farrelly-dublin-glenageary-408330
The death has occurred of

Jim FARRELLY
Glenageary, Dublin / Oldcastle, Meath

FARRELLY Jim (May 29, 2020) aged 77 after a battle with cancer (Glenageary, Co. Dublin late of Oldcastle, Co. Meath. Managing Director and Editor in Chief of the Sunday Tribune before his retirement in 2004).

He is survived by his wife Joan, daughter Gemma, son Justin, daughter-in-law Megan and grandchildren Jamie, Pai-Lily and Daisy Belle. He is predeceased by his son Jamie. He is also survived by his sisters Elizabeth, Freda and brothers Michael and Gerard.

Prior to the Sunday Tribune Jim was Managing Director of the Drogheda Independent 1990-96, Managing Director of the Kerryman 1996-2000, and Managing Director of INM Provincial Newspapers 1996-2000.

He joined Independent Newspapers in 1968 where he was a reporter and columnist until 1979 when he joined the First Sunday Tribune as News Editor and Deputy Editor. In 1981 he was Editor of the short lived Daily News and in 1984 he re-joined Independent News and Media where he was Features Editor 1986-2000.

A native of Oldcastle, County Meath, he was educated at Gilson Endowed School Oldcastle, St. Finian’s College Mullingar, UCD, The Milltown Institute of Philosophy, and Kings Inns and was called to the Bar in 1977. He is author of “Who’s Who in Irish Politics – the Top 500”.

Jim will repose in Quinn’s Funeral Home, Glasthule on Bank Holiday Monday, 1st June, from 12 noon to 4pm. In accordance with current Government guidelines and in the hope of keeping our friends and family safe, Jim’s Funeral will take place privately in St. Joseph’s Church, Glasthule on Tuesday, 2nd June. We hope to have a celebration of his life at a later date.

https://www.lawsociety.ie/gazette/top-stories/2020/05-may/barrister-and-journalist-jim-farrelly-dies-aged-77

Barrister and journalist Jim Farrelly dies aged 77

Jim Farrelly, of Glenageary, Co Dublin and late of Oldcastle, Co Meath, was called to the Bar in 1977.

An old-school Independent Newspapers journalist, he was regarded as both talented and tough by admiring colleagues, who were also won over by his debonair charm.

Contacts book
His contacts book was vast and impressive, and a source of envy and awe among newsroom colleagues.

He was managing director and editor-in-chief of the Sunday Tribune before his retirement in 2004.

He is survived by his wife Joan, daughter Gemma, son Justin, daughter-in-law Megan and grandchildren Jamie, Pai-Lily and Daisy Belle.

He is predeceased by his son Jamie. He is also survived by his sisters Elizabeth, Freda and brothers Michael and Gerard.

Prior to the Sunday Tribune, Jim was managing director of the Drogheda Independent, 1990-96, The Kerryman, 1996-2000, and MD of INM provincial newspapers, 1996-2000.

Columnist
He first joined Independent Newspapers in 1968, where he worked as a reporter and columnist until 1979. He then joined the first iteration of the Sunday Tribune as news editor and deputy editor.

In 1982, he was editor of the short lived Daily News and in 1984 he re-joined Independent News and Media where he was features editor 1986-2000.

A native of Oldcastle, County Meath, he was educated at Gilson Endowed School Oldcastle, St. Finian’s College Mullingar, UCD, The Milltown Institute of Philosophy, and Kings Inns, and was called to the Bar in 1977.

He is author of Who’s Who in Irish Politics – the Top 500.

His remains will repose at Quinn’s Funeral Home, Glasthule, Co Dublin, on bank holiday Monday, 1 June from 12-4pm and his funeral will take place privately in St. Joseph’s Church, Glasthule on Tuesday 2 June.

https://www.meathchronicle.ie/2020/06/01/death-of-jim-farrelly-national-newspaper-editor-and-managing-director/
The funeral takes place tomorrow in Dublin of Oldcastle native Jim Farrelly, former managing director and editor-in-chief of the Sunday Tribune and a nationally known journalist and editor.

Jim, of Glenageary, Co Dublin, died on Friday after a long battle with cancer, aged 77.

Jim was managing director of the Drogheda Independent 1990-96, managing director of the Kerryman 1996-2000, and managing director of INM Provincial Newspapers 1996-2000.

He joined Independent Newspapers in 1968 where he was a reporter and columnist until 1979 when he joined the First Sunday Tribune as news editor and deputy editor. In 1981 he was editor of the short lived Daily News and in 1984 he re-joined Independent News and Media where he was features editor.

A native of Oldcastle, he was educated at Gilson Endowed School Oldcastle, St Finian’s College Mullingar, UCD, The Milltown Institute of Philosophy, and Kings Inns and was called to the Bar in 1977. He is author of 'Who’s Who in Irish Politics – the Top 500'.

Jim is survived by his wife Joan, daughter Gemma, son Justin, daughter in law Megan and grandchildren Jamie, Pai-Lily and Daisy Belle. He is predeceased by his son Jamie. He is also survived by his sisters Elizabeth, Freda and brothers Michael and Gerard.

In accordance with current Government guidelines and in the hope of keeping friends and family safe, Jim’s funeral will take place privately in St Joseph’s Church, Glasthule on Tuesday 2nd June, with a celebration of his life at a later date.

https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/tribute-to-leading-journalist-jim-farrelly/39245853.html

https://www.lawsociety.ie/gazette/top-stories/2020/05-may/barrister-and-journalist-jim-farrelly-dies-aged-77

Barrister and journalist Jim Farrelly dies aged 77

Jim Farrelly, of Glenageary, Co Dublin and late of Oldcastle, Co Meath, was called to the Bar in 1977.

An old-school Independent Newspapers journalist, he was regarded as both talented and tough by admiring colleagues, who were also won over by his debonair charm.

Contacts book
His contacts book was vast and impressive, and a source of envy and awe among newsroom colleagues.

He was managing director and editor-in-chief of the Sunday Tribune before his retirement in 2004.

He is survived by his wife Joan, daughter Gemma, son Justin, daughter-in-law Megan and grandchildren Jamie, Pai-Lily and Daisy Belle.

He is predeceased by his son Jamie. He is also survived by his sisters Elizabeth, Freda and brothers Michael and Gerard.

Prior to the Sunday Tribune, Jim was managing director of the Drogheda Independent, 1990-96, The Kerryman, 1996-2000, and MD of INM provincial newspapers, 1996-2000.

Columnist
He first joined Independent Newspapers in 1968, where he worked as a reporter and columnist until 1979. He then joined the first iteration of the Sunday Tribune as news editor and deputy editor.

In 1982, he was editor of the short lived Daily News and in 1984 he re-joined Independent News and Media where he was features editor 1986-2000.

A native of Oldcastle, County Meath, he was educated at Gilson Endowed School Oldcastle, St. Finian’s College Mullingar, UCD, The Milltown Institute of Philosophy, and Kings Inns, and was called to the Bar in 1977.

He is author of Who’s Who in Irish Politics – the Top 500.

His remains will repose at Quinn’s Funeral Home, Glasthule, Co Dublin, on bank holiday Monday, 1 June from 12-4pm and his funeral will take place privately in St. Joseph’s Church, Glasthule on Tuesday 2 June.

https://www.meathchronicle.ie/2020/06/01/death-of-jim-farrelly-national-newspaper-editor-and-managing-director/
The funeral takes place tomorrow in Dublin of Oldcastle native Jim Farrelly, former managing director and editor-in-chief of the Sunday Tribune and a nationally known journalist and editor.

Jim, of Glenageary, Co Dublin, died on Friday after a long battle with cancer, aged 77.

Jim was managing director of the Drogheda Independent 1990-96, managing director of the Kerryman 1996-2000, and managing director of INM Provincial Newspapers 1996-2000.

He joined Independent Newspapers in 1968 where he was a reporter and columnist until 1979 when he joined the First Sunday Tribune as news editor and deputy editor. In 1981 he was editor of the short lived Daily News and in 1984 he re-joined Independent News and Media where he was features editor.

A native of Oldcastle, he was educated at Gilson Endowed School Oldcastle, St Finian’s College Mullingar, UCD, The Milltown Institute of Philosophy, and Kings Inns and was called to the Bar in 1977. He is author of 'Who’s Who in Irish Politics – the Top 500'.

Jim is survived by his wife Joan, daughter Gemma, son Justin, daughter in law Megan and grandchildren Jamie, Pai-Lily and Daisy Belle. He is predeceased by his son Jamie. He is also survived by his sisters Elizabeth, Freda and brothers Michael and Gerard.

Born: 28 June 1872, Glasthule, County Dublin
Entered 01 February 1893, St Stanislaus College, Tullabeg, County Offaly
Final Vows: 02 February 1904
Died: 26 July 1959, St Vincent’s Hospital, Dublin

Part of Clongowes Wood College SJ community, Kildare, at time of death.

◆ Irish Province News

Irish Province News 34th Year No 4 1959
Obituary :
Br Denis Fennell

Denis Peter Fennell was born in Glasthule on 28th June, 1872 and died in St. Vincent's Hospital last July. Of his 87 years, over 59 were spent in Clongowes, where he worked patiently and efficiently as accountant and assistant to the Procurator to within a week or so of his death.
From his boyhood he deeply venerated the priestly and religious state and he first cherished the ambition of entering a seminary and devoting himself to God as a priest in the foreign missions preferably, he said, in a remote and painful mission. Family circumstances, however, imposed a delay and he joined the office of the Freeman's Journal in Dublin in 1889. Here, during an exciting and critical period of Irish history, 1889-1892, he worked in the capacity of shorthand-typist and junior secretary to the Manager, meeting the editors of the three papers published from that office and listening to the interesting and informative conversation of journalists and reporters during the dramatic years of the Parnell “split”. He had some interviews with the Provincial, Fr. Timothy Kenny, at that time, and it was suggested that he should pursue his studies and enter as a scholastic; but the disedifying aspects of the controversies then raging and the fact that his newspaper decided to his dismay to advocate the continued leadership of Parnell convinced him that it was time to flee the world. In any case he had, he believed, received a light in prayer that he would please God far more and do far more work for Him as a brother than as a priest. This, he said, overcame his natural reluctance to forego his first zealous desire, so he applied for admission at once and entered Tullabeg on 4th August, 1892.
Before his noviceship had been completed he was sent to Clongowes to undertake some urgent work and he remained there until it was time to return to Tullabeg for his vows. At once he was sent back to Clongowes and he remained there until his death in 1959 with but one break of six years. From 1918-1921 he was in Tullabeg and from 1921-1924 in Belvedere. He was to state towards the close of his life that he felt most grateful to God for this interruption of his long years of service in Clongowes. The sojourn in the quiet of our midland Thebaid and later amid the busy streets of Dublin helped, he felt, his love of solitude and shaped an inclination towards the mystical life, preparing him for the long term that awaited him among the account-books and money bags of Clongowes. Indeed, he once stated with an endearing simplicity that for a Jesuit he was exceptionally contemplative! He mentioned too that while a few past pupils, notably Sir Gilbert Laithwaite and Mr. Bobby Keogh, invariably went in search of him when they visited the old school, as regards other Old Clongownians, however much he might esteem and like them, he usually succeeded in following the counsel of the Imitation of Christ to keep from the company of men as much as he could”.
While he was in Tullabeg he wrote a little book entitled The Loving Adorer of Jesus. It consisted of 96 closely-printed pages of prayers in verse, and was, he proudly said, “honoured with the imprimatur of Archbishop Byrne and published by the Catholic Truth Society of Ireland”. He insisted on its being published anonymously but a few of his religious brethren and some old friends came to know the secret.
His long years of devoted service in Clongowes were passed within a narrow compass - his office, the chapel, his room. Apart from these places and in dispensable visits to the refectory, only the library saw him. Here he would peruse the news columns of the daily papers for half-an-hour or so, sometimes while Fathers waited with a kindly smile for the old man to finish his reading. His view of the world was that of the prelude to the meditation of Two Standards and he believed that he could see in the daily news items the working out of the conflict between the forces of Christ and the forces of the Evil One, thus drawing matter for contemplation even from the morning paper.
The study of history too was a favourite hobby of his and here again his standpoint was the same. I do not know if in his youth he had read De Civitate Dei or l'Histoire Universelle, but in heaven he will have discovered an affinity with Bossuet and St. Augustine. Not surprisingly his interest began with Irish history, as he felt that his vocation had been to some extent determined by it. His views were, of course, occasionally extravagant and unbalanced, for he lacked professional training in that study. But he had as much as some of those who looked askance at this hobby of his and had read more widely and systematically than most. In his service of God in Clongowes he was a model of punctuality, exactitude and method: even if the method was peculiarly his own it was intelligent and it worked. Members of that community have said that it was always a pleasure to deal with him. He was kindly, deferential, soft-spoken, always a perfect gentleman. When Fathers who were about to travel went to him to collect a viaticum, he invariably inquired anxiously if they were sure they had enough a solicitude not always remarked in keepers of the common purse-courteously and charitably presuming that their devotion to holy poverty was not less than his own. Finally, he was a religious who kept on working to an age when most others would have drifted into a well-merited retirement. The very large number of Jesuits who attended the funeral Mass said by his nephew testified to the esteem in which he was held by the Province in general and by all who had connections with Clongowes in particular. The community there will miss him and the Brothers have lost an old companion who was interesting, well-informed, edifying and withal possessed of a deep and charitable sense of humour - a remarkable man and a remarkable Jesuit Brother. May he rest in peace after his long labours.

◆ The Clongownian, 1953

Jubilee

Brother Denis Fennell SJ

In February Brother Fennell celebrated his Diamond Jubilee as a member of the Society of Jesuis. He first came to Clongowes in November, 1894 and, with the exception of the years 1918-24 which were spent in Tullabeg and Belvedere, he has passed his long and devoted life here.

Early on in his life in the Society, Brother Fennell's talents in book-keeping were recognised by his superiors. He was appointed accountant and assistant to the procurator of Clongowes and has been employed in this exacting work ever since. Over the long years he has given splendidly efficient but unobstrusive service in the procurator's office and Clongowes owes him a debt of deep gratitude. It is characteristic of Brother Fennell's devotion to duty that he spent the most of his Jubilee day at the books. His sixty years of signal service have in no way diminished his ardour for work and we pray that Brother Fennell with his useful talents may long be spared to us.

Editors of the Clongownian in the past have been under deep obligations to Brother Fennell, who since his arrival in Clongowes, set in order many valuable memorials of the College's history. His collections of press cuttings, and printed documents relating to social activities in the College for the past century and a half (nearly) will in days to come make historians of the College bless his memory. A feature of Brother Fennell's Jubilee celebrations was the number of letters of congratulations and enquiries from many of our Past. Ad Multos, Annos.

◆ The Clongownian, 1960

Obituary

Brother Denis Fennell SJ

Last July, shortly after the boys had left for the holidays, died the oldest member of the Clongowes community, Brother Denis Fennell, in the 88th year of his age. And it is almost certainly true to say that when they returned after the vacation not a single boy missed him or even noticed his absence. For he was one of the many who in the background or behind the scenes perform the work, humdrum and tedious, on which so much depends, without which the school could not continue. For almost 60 years he had toiled for God in Clongowes, spending his days among ledgers and bills and receipts, passing the rest of his time in prayer or exploring the curious by ways of history, a study which he loved much, At last, unthanked by any of those whom he had served in successive generations through such long years, he quietly left to meet his Master, a likeness of the good and faithful servant of Our Lord's parable.

Schoolboys are thoughtless - they have, most of them, received so much loving care from their parents and others that they take for granted and as a matter of right anything that is done for them. But perhaps their elders are often at fault in allowing them to ignore so blithely the realities of life and their debt to others. The passing of a man like Brother Fennell should furnish matter for reflection for our past and present boys, for their parents, and indeed for some of our facile theorists in the popular subject of education,

He was born in 1872 in Glasthule and from an early age was attracted to the priesthood. Family circumstances however seemed to impose a delay in carrying out his plans and he took to newspaper work, joining the staff of the Freeman's Journal and serving on that paper during a most interesting and dramatic period of Irish history, an intelligent young observer of events that included the Parnell “split”. Before very long the impulse towards the religious life made itself felt more strongly and he received, he believed, a light in prayer that God wished him to become a religious brother rather than a priest. And so this talented young man left behind the world and the prospect of an interesting career.

The story of the long years that followed is briefly told: almost all of them, after the noviceship, were spent in Clongowes where his skill in accountancy was to prove most useful until the end of his life. For him the service of the school was the service of the Divine Majesty, and was therefore performed with no thought of reward, no hungering for human gratitude or recognition. Such is the foundation of supernatural dedication on which a school like Clongowes is built; such is the capital of selfless enthusiasm and service on which a school like Clongowes runs; and it is lives of prayer and toil like Brother Fennell's that bring down God's blessing on its activities. And here is the secret which is apparently so seldom penetrated even by those who profit most from it. It is surely fitting that such devotion should be occasionally acknowledged and that those for whom Brother Fennell worked so hard should pray for him now that his long years of labour are ended.