31/07/2025
⭐ People of Passage West: Remembering Fr. Con Cronin
Episode 3 of our new spotlight series.
🕊️ “Unrevealed until its season, something God alone can see.” – Natalie Sleeth
This Sunday marks the anniversary of the tragic loss of a man who truly embodied the spirit, heart, and humour of the Harbour Parishes—Fr. Con Cronin.
Fr. Con was more than a priest. He was a neighbour, a friend, a confidant, a compassionate listener, a man of action—and above all, a powerful reminder of what it means to show up for others with kindness and courage.
We are honoured to feature Fr. Con as part of our new People of Passage West spotlight series. Though he left us far too soon, his impact continues to guide us in ways big and small. As his dear friend Dáithí Kelly shared with us:
💬 "I often wondered what made Fr. Con such a good priest—and every time I come to the same conclusion: his love for God and Mary, his love for the Church, and his natural ability with people."
Fr. Con’s story in Passage West began in 2012 after a chance moment on BBC News where he was interviewed at the Titanic 100th anniversary in Belfast. It was the first time Dáithí saw him speak—and something about him stood out. Their friendship began shortly after Fr. Con arrived in Cork, and the two quickly forged a bond marked by honesty, laughter, and shared purpose.
💬 "He didn’t know the parish well, so I offered to show him around. We ended up going for coffee in Mahon Point. I remember thinking, have we a loose cannon here? So I brought him down to earth by dropping into Mick Daly. Con went in alone. They became great friends."
From there, Fr. Con made it his mission to know every corner of the Harbour Parishes—visiting homes, hospitals, Marymount Hospice, and every place his people needed him.
One story lingers in Dáithí’s memory:
💬 "A very distressed lady asked us to visit a young man in Marymount. Con knelt on a footstool, gently rubbed the man’s head, and whispered: ‘Don’t worry, everything is ok… You are forgiven. Go to the light. Your work here is done.’"
It was moments like this—his grace, his presence, his unwavering compassion—that made Fr. Con not just loved, but unforgettable.
He was not without his struggles. Rejection affected him deeply. But his faith, his humour, and the warmth of the community kept him grounded. As Dáithí recalls,
💬 "I used to tell him, 'Don’t stay where you're not wanted.' He took things to heart, but always came back to love."
One of Fr. Con’s favourite hymns was 🎶 “In the Bulb There Is a Flower.” It’s a song about hope in darkness, life in death, and mystery in the seasons we don’t understand. It’s no wonder it resonated so deeply.
On the Friday before he died, Dáithí joined him for a rare pint in “Dubs”.
💬 "He was with his cousin. We had a few, and I encouraged them to get to bed—he had a wedding to conduct the next day."
That Tuesday morning, August 3rd, 2021, Fr. Con said Mass at 10am. He called Dáithí shortly after.
💬 “He fretted when I told him I was heading to Douglas—said, ‘I’ll see you later.’”
Later that day, the devastating news came. The town stood still.
COVID restrictions meant the church could only hold 50 people—but that didn’t stop the outpouring of grief and love. Rosaries were said on the hour. The people came. The town wept.
And still, today, we remember.
❤️ Fr. Con Cronin, we miss your voice, your spirit, and your wild heart. You were a man of God and a man of the people—and Passage West will never forget you.
🕊️ “In our end is our beginning, in our time, infinity… Something God alone can see.”
