Reverend Fr. Declan Deasy O.S.A.

My grandfather Michael Blanchfield was born in Courtmacsherry, Ireland and came to the US before WW1. I met Fr. Declan Deasy (Fr. Billy) when he made numerous trips to California to see his uncle and cousins. The stories he told! A ministry in Quito, Equador that required using a canoe to get down the river to the Indigeous people to serve mass. Teaching at a boys schools in Rome where he was ordained and stayed on at St. Patrick's Church where he was able to give family and friends an amazing walking tour of that fabulous city. Teaching also at schools in So. California and a boys school in England. His final assignment was to St. Augustine's in Galway, Ireland. As he was pretty much retired, he had lots of time to walk and take the ferry out to Inishturk Island. It was his favorite place to go. A rugged place, the winters storms howled as they came in off the wild Atlantic. Billy was a great letter writer, book reader and a terrible tease :) This is a bit of the last letter we received from him...

25-10-2024
"In a few days I shall be 95. Doctor not too pleased - can't find anything wrong with me!! Indeed I feel really well. I'm even allowing my hair to continue growing. No glasses, no hearing aid, I just feel real great." Love to you and all, Billy

So happy and grateful that he was part of my family...

Our Sincere condolences to Fr Billy’s family. Fr Billy married us in beautiful Rome 24 years ago he was a lovely gentle priest we have fond memories of our time in Rome with him.
May he rest in peace

So sorry about Fr. Declan's passing. May he rest in peace

My uncle Fr. Billy came to stay with us in Mendoza, Western Argentina for one month in 1996, a year after we had moved out west after two very busy years in Buenos Aires. My father-in-law Omar Lopez travelled from Resistencia in the NE to meet Billy (a twenty hour bus trip)
Fr. Billy then said mass in spanish in our living room to honor the effort made by Omar.
Ar dheis De go raibh a anam.

I was deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Fr Declan (Billy). He was a great friend and support to me and my family for many decades. Noel my late husband (Billy’s first Cousin) and I were privileged that he officiated at our wedding back in 1957 and fifty years later in 2007 celebrated mass for our golden wedding anniversary. Billy was a support in both happy and sad times and his many visits to Clare were always special and memorable. We shared a great love of gardening and often swopped plants and cuttings. Billy was a knowledgeable historian and excellent tour guide. I recall fondly many enjoyable days spent with him around the sights of Rome and Galway more recently. May his gentle soul rest in eternal peace.

Sincere sympathy to all on the passing of Fr Declan or Billy as affectionately known to us. It was with great sadness we learned of his passing. We have fantastic memories of times spent in his company down through the years particularly in Clare, Galway and Rome. Billy was a kind and gentle person with a wonderful sense of humour. He had a keen interest in people, nature and history. Billy also had a great love of gardening and plants from our garden now grow in his beloved Inisturk garden close to his final resting place.
Rest in Peace Billy

Sincere sympathy to the Deasy family on Fr Declans death rip Often heard of him from june his sister my neighbour

Deepest sympathy to Fr. Billy’s family and to his Augustinian family. He was a kind and good priest , a man of deep faith and a dear friend.

Deepest sympathy to the Deasy family and the Augustinian Community on Fr. Declan’s passing. RIP. He has been a close family friend for over 70 years in particular our late brother Fr.Ben O’Rourke O.S.A. R.I.P.

Sally, I extend condolences to you and all the family as you mourn Fr Declan. My Mam spoke so warmly of him following her visit to Rome to spend time with my brother, prior to his solemn profession. May he rest eternally in perfect peace.

Sincere sympathy to the Deasy family and the Augustinian Community on the sad passing of your beloved Fr. Billy fear uasal. Ar dheis Dé go raibh anam dílis Fr. Billy.

May your gentle soul rest in peace, Fr Deasy. You have left a void on Inishturk that will never be filled, though your memory will live on with us forever.
Ní bheidh a leithéid ann arís.
Sending my heartfelt condolences to all of your family.

Fr Declan was a special man with special human qualities
I will miss him

Sincere condolences to the Deasy family and to the people of Inishturk Co Mayo who took Fr Deasy into their hearts. His presence ion the island will be missed .. Fr Deasy’s love of plants will live on in the gardens around the islans. I met fr ready here working as a nurse a very kind gentle priest. A great historian, the trees on Inisturk he planted decades ago live on and are beautiful to see. It is reassuring to k ow he is still here on the island.fond memories of the beautiful masses he said on the island especially around Christmas he will never be forgotten. May Fr. Declan rest in peace

Deepest sympathy to the Deasy family and the Augustinian Community on the sad passing of Father Billy.
Treasured memories of many years of friendship.

Deepest sympathy to all who mourn the sad passing of Father Billy.
May Father Billy now rest in perfect peace on his beloved Inisturk Island.

Sympathies to The Deasy Family and to The Augustinian Order; Fr Declan got his great D.N.A. from his great Father, Michael Deasy, a proud Corkman , who served with distinction as a Garda Sergeant in DUNGARVAN Garda District - May Fr. Declan now rest in peace.

Condolences to the extended Deasy family and to Fr Declan’s friends and colleagues on his passing. May he Rest in Peace.

Rest in everlasting peace, Fr. Deacy. Fear uasal, a noble & caring human being has departed this earth. A wonderful ambassador for nature and the simple things in life.Thank you for sharing your gift for seeing the magic in the everyday! It feels like late October and the swallows have left,
but all good things must come to an end, and so today, as you are laid to rest, we think of a life well lived and thank you for your time spent among us. You lived life to the full, to the end. So fondly remembered. Deepest sympathy to your family.
Ar dheis lámh Dé go raibh tú anois a athair Deacy

Sincere sympathy to the Deasy family and to Fr. Tony and the Augustinian Community in Galway on the death of Fr. Declan - a committed and dedicated priest and religious. May his gentle and generous soul find eternal rest with his many confrers gone before him.

As a regular attendee at the 8:30am daily Mass, I witnessed firsthand the kind, gentle holiness of Father Declan. He will be missed. May he rest in peace.

Deepest sympathy to the Deaey family and friends on the passing of Fr Deasy a true gentleman, may his gentle sole rest in peace 🙏

Deepest sympathy to the Deasy Family and the Augustinian Community on the passing of Fr. Billy.
May he rest in peace.

Sincere sympathy to the Deasy family on the passing of Father Declan.
We will always have fond memories of him at home in Inishturk. Rest in peace in the beautiful tranquil churchyard where you spent many days tending to your plants and flowers. 🙏🙏

Deepest sympathy to the Deasy family on the passing of Fr. Declan, he was a pleasure to work with, may he enjoy his rewards in heaven. Rest In Peace . Peter & Mark at Sweeney Funeral Directors, Louisburgh.

Requiescat in Pace.
Arte et Labore.
RIP

Sincere condolences to the Augustinian Community and the Deasy family.May Fr.Deasy rest in peace.

Fr Deasy made Geography fun to learn and I would thank him for that .It helped me a lot.
I will not forget you Fr Deasy.

Fr. Deasey taught me at Austin Friar, Carlisle. Wonderful man. RIP

sincere sympathy to the family of Fr. billy .rest in peace.

Sincere condolences to the Augustinian Community and Deasy family at this sad time. I have fond memories of meeting Fr Declan many times when I had responsibility for the Islands when based in Westport. Fr Declan was a man of good humour, inner simplicity and gentleness. May Fr Declan be welcomed into the fullness of Life.

Many an 8.30 mass I've been to with fr declan saying the mass.
He gave great interesting historical details on saimts and martyrs and had a glint in his eye.
I for one will miss him
Rest his soul

We offer our condolences to John and the extended Deacy family, also to the Augustinian community on the death of Fr Declan.
He will be missed by many in the Augi.
Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam uasal.
.

So sorry to hear of Father Billy's passing. My sincere sympathy to the Deasy family and his Augustinian community.
We had a shared interest in history, art and plants. I regret not taking up his offer of a tour around Rome to visit the incredible art and architecture.
I still have a few of his plants in my garden. Unfortunately I am unable to attend the funeral but will be with you in spirit on Inisturk as I'm sure will be his many friends in Dungarvan and West Waterford.

Sincere sympathy to John and all the family and friends of Fr Billy Deasy.
May he rest in peace.

Sympathy to the Deasy family and the Augustinian community on the death of Fr Declan. We met Fr. Declan in the last 12 months when our son was singing at the Church in Galway. The cup and tea and chat afterwards was special. Rest in peace God's servant.

Sincere condolences to the Deasy family and to the people of Inishturk Co Mayo who took Fr Deasy into their hearts. His presence in the harbour will be missed when we land there. Fr Deasy’s love of plants will live on in the gardens around the island where he sowed many young shrubs over the years and they will be a constant reminder of the years he spent there.

Pat, Nikola & family
The Crew of Inishbofin Ferry.

Sincere sympathy to the Deasy family on the death of Fr. Declan Deasy. May he rest in peace.

Sincere sympathy to John and all the family and friends of Fr Deasy.
May he rest in peace.

Sincere sympathy to Fr Declan's family and the Augustinian Community. He was a lovely man and we will miss him.
Charlie, Vinny and all the staff in the bookshop.

Our sincere sympathy to Fr Deasys family and friends
In our thoughts and prayers at this time

Sincere condolences to Sally and the Deasy family on the sad passing of your uncle Fr Deasy . Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis .
Eamonn and Una Lonergan

Sincere sympathy to the Deasy family & the Augustinian community on the death of Fr. Billy .

My sincere sympathy to the Deasy family on the death of Reverend Fr Declan,May he rest in peace.

So sorry to hear of the sad passing of Fr. Declan, sincere condolences to the family of Fr. Deasy and his Augustinian confrères. May his kind and gentle soul rest in peace.
Ar dheis Dé go raibh a hAnam dílis.

Rest in Peace Fr.Billy 🙏 Condolences to all.

Sincere sympathy to the Deasy family and Augustinian community on the death of Fr Declan. I have many happy memories of meeting him on Inishturk during my time on the islands. A man of deep spirituality with a great love of humanity and nature. His heart was very much at home on the island as he ministered to the locals and visitors. As his mortal body rests in the island cemetery may he share in eternal peace. 🙏

Very sorry to hear of Fr. Declans passing.
He was an inspiration to us all. His daily morning mass were uplifting and spiritual.
RIP

Sincere sympathy to the Deasy family on the passing of Fr. Declan Deasy.

I will miss you terribly Father Deasy. You were a guiding light to me and I always looked forward to visiting the church when I came to Galway.
You were human and Christian, you preached simply but inspirationally and I loved your love of life, sense of humour and humanity.
We watched the sharks once.
I'm sure you'll enjoy paradise even more than the islands.
'My own dear Galway Bay'.

May we offer sincere sympathies to Fr. Declan's nieces and nephews and extended family who together with the Augustinian Community throughout Ireland will have lasting memories of him and his words of wisdom which hopefully you can recall from time to time. We will also remember his gentleness and care and thank him for his time here in Galway. May he rest in peace.

Deepest sympathy to Fr Declan’s family and the Augustinian Community, ar dheis De go raibh a anam uasal.

RIP Fr Declan
Condolences to the Deasy family.
Fr Declan’s 830am morning Mass where he displayed reverence humanity and humour is sadly ended and he will be missed by all.
Tom

Sincere sympathy to the family of Billy on his passing. I knew him as Billy as he was in our home a lot when I was growing up in Ardmore. Called to see us always when at home on his holidays. A lovely gentleman and a wonderful friend to my departed parents. May his gentle soul rest in peace.

Condolences to the Deasey family and the augustine brothers on the passing of Fr Declan.
Its truly fitting he's been laid to rest on Inishturk.
Rip Fr Declan

Some man, Some life.
Always looked forward to stopping at Inisturk sailing around Ireland on Lady Belle. One of the first people you would meet after landing.
You will rest well on Inisturk Fr. Billy.
Thanks for the memories.

RlP Fr Declan, a great friend to my family after the death of my husband Patrick RlP in 1985. Appropriate that Declan's final resting place is to be his beloved lnish Turk. Rest in peace Declan. Bernie Morrissey.

Sincere sympathy to all Fr Declan family and the community. A lovely man.Always there for 8.30 mass.May his gentle soul rest in peace.

Our sincere sympathy to The Deasy family on the death of Fr. Deasy.
May he rest in peace.

Deepest sympathy to Fr Deasys family, many friends and his Augustine Brothers on his sad passing. Cherished happy memories of him on Inishturk. We will always Pray for you and Pray to you and hold you forever in our hearts. Sleep well and Rest in Peace Fr Deasy with the angels in your lovely home on Inishturk.