We regret to announce the death in Culloo, Valencia Island, Ireland on 30^th June 2008, at the age of 69, of

Daniel Joseph O’Connell

May he rest in peace

Dan was born on 16^th January 1939 in Pound, Portmagee, Killarney, Co. Kerry, Ireland to Thomas O’Connell and Mary Corcoran. He had three brothers and seven sisters.  He went to the local school in Portmagee and then studied at St Joseph’s College, Freshford between 1953 and 1958.  He went to University College, Dublin in 1958 to take up Philosophy and received his B.A. Honours in 1961.  He took up his theological studies at St Joseph’s College, Mill Hill between 1961 and 1965.  He took his Perpetual Oath on 19^th March 1965 and was  ordained by Cardinal Heenan on 10^th July 1965 at Westminster Cathedral. 

After his ordination, Dan was appointed to Ngong Diocese in Kenya.  From October to December 1965 he was in Narok.  Then he moved to Ngong and was there until 1968 when he went to Kajiado. From Kajiado, he was transfered to Kilgoris in 1972 where he spent the next twelve years.  During his time in Kenya, Dan was particularly involved in building projects.  During his home leave in 1984, Dan took the three month renewal course at Navan.  He returned to Ngong and for the next two years he worked on a church building project in Narok.  On 13^th February 1987 he was appointed to do organising work in the Dublin area and took this up in November 1987.  On 9^th June 1989 he was appointed the Organising Secretary in Ireland and the Rector of St Joseph’s, Freshford House in Kilkenny from 1^st October 1989.  He was responsible for the smooth transfer of the Organising Department from Freshford to Kilkenny when the College at Freshford was sold.  When his term of office finished in 1992, Dan took up retreat work in schools and also gave weekend retreats for adults.  He also assisted in some hospital chaplaincy work at St Luke’s Hospital.  He had been very involved in the Charismatic Renewal since 1990, particularly in the healing and deliverance ministry. His particular charism was the Family Tree ministry through the celebration of Mass for “the healing of the generations.”  In January 1997 he went to take up the Clinical Pastoral Education course at Cork University Hospital in preparation for full time chaplaincy work at St Luke’s Hospital.  However, this did not work out as planned and he was appointed to take up organising work in Mill Hill on 1^st September 1997.  He became the APF-Mill Hill organiser in Brentwood Diocese and later, for Northampton Diocese.

On Monday, 30^th June 2008, while out fishing with his nephew at Culloo, Valencia Island in County Kerry, Dan collapsed and was pronounced dead at 10.42 am.  He had just celebrated the golden wedding anniversary of his sister the day before.   His body was taken home and transferred to Tralee General Hospital to await a post-mortem.  On Wednesday, he will be moved to St Patrick’s Church, Ballinskelligs, Portmagee at 8.00 pm and will be buried after the Requiem Mass at 12 noon on Thursday, 3^rd July 2008.

The previous obituary notice (12/2008) was that of Fr Brian Clarke, who died in St James’ Hospital, Dublin, Ireland on 25^th June, 2008.