Fr McCluskey was a native of Carrickahogue in the Raferagh area of Carrickmacross parish, where he was born in February 1939. He was educated at Corcreaghy National School and St Macartan’s College, Monaghan before pursuing his studies for the priesthood at St Patrick’s College, Maynooth in 1957. Fr McCluskey was ordained at Maynooth on 21 June 1964. His first appointment in the diocese was as Curate in the Clara area of the north-Monaghan parish of Errigal Truagh, where he served until his transfer to Aghadrumsee in Clones parish in September 1970. In 1979, he was appointed Curate in Scotshouse (Killeevan-Currin-Aghabog parish) where he served for ten years. In 1989 he was appointed Administrator of the Parish of Dromore, before becoming Parish Priest of Kilmore & Drumsnatt (Threemilehouse-Corcaghan) in 1992. He faithfully served the people of that parish for twenty-three years until his retirement in 2015. Following his retirement as Parish Priest, he moved to Killanny parish where he generously served the People of God for the last two years.
In a tribute to Fr McCluskey, the Diocesan Administrator of the Diocese of Clogher, Mgr Joseph McGuinness, said:
There is a sense of deep sadness in our diocese today. We have lost a deeply committed and faithful priest whose gentle devotion and kindness endeared him to his fellow priests and to all the people whom he served. We offer our heartfelt sympathy to Fr Joe’s sisters, nephews and nieces, and all who grieve for his loss, in particular the parishioners of Killanny and of Kilmore & Drumsnatt. Our prayers are also with all who have been affected by this tragic event.
May the loving kindness of God, so beautifully reflected in the ministry of Fr Joe, support and console us all at this time.
FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS:
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Reposing at the Parochial House, Killanny, on Sunday, 3rd December, from 1pm until 3:30pm. Removal to St. Enda’s Church, Killanny, arriving for prayers of reception at 4pm. Reposing at St. Enda’s Church until 9pm.
Funeral Mass on Monday, 4th December, at 12 noon followed by burial in St. John’s Cemetery, Raferagh.
Directions to Killanny: From Carrickmacross take the Dundalk Road, R178, for aprox 2km, turn right onto the L4700, stay on this road for aprox 5km. Funeral signs mark the route.
ENDS
Notes to Editors:
1. The Diocese of Clogher encompasses all of Co Monaghan, most of Fermanagh and portions of Tyrone, Donegal, Louth and Cavan. It has a Catholic population of 88,000, across 37 parishes, which are served by 64 priests and 1 deacon. There are 85 churches in the diocese. Monsignor Joseph McGuinness is the Diocesan Administrator of the Diocese of Clogher, pending the appointment of a new bishop by Pope Francis. Mgr McGuinness is also the Administrator of the Parish of Tyholland, Co Monaghan.
2. The Parish of Killanny is one of the most southerly parishes in the Diocese of Clogher. It comprises of 50 townlands, straddling the Monaghan-Louth border and the provinces of Ulster and Leinster, with 31 townlands in Co Monaghan and 19 in Co Louth. The parish has 403 families and a Catholic population of 981. St Ultan is the patron of Killanny and the parish church of St Enda’s was dedicated in 1931. The Killanny parish website is www.killannyparish.ie
3. The abbreviation P.E. stands for Pastor Emeritus, meaning a retired Pastor or Parish Priest.
