‘A man of great integrity’ - Tributes paid to Tipperary priest on his passing

A popular and well-liked Tipperary priest has been described as a man of “great integrity and very honest” on his passing last month.

Fr Pat Currivan was a Thurles native, but was based in Limerick parish of Caherconlish and Inch St Laurence for 47 years, serving as parish priest.

The All-Ireland winning minor hurler with Tipperary will remain part of the spiritual fabric of Caherline and Caherconlish after he was buried in the adjoining cemetery of Our Lady, Mother of the Church following Requiem Mass on Monday.

Fr Currivan, who recently turned 90, passed away peacefully, in the wonderful care of the University Hospital Limerick staff, on Thursday, April 24.

His mind was as sharp as his touch on the GAA field in his youth but his body had begun to display the years on the clock.
Fr Roy Donovan succeeded Fr Currivan after he was appointed to the parish in 2009. The duo worked hand in glove for the past 16 years.

“He was a man of great integrity and very honest. He was a man that was at home in his own skin. There was no mask. He was his own man.

“He was very non-judgmental and I never heard him complaining or giving out. He was just a very genuine man. He had wonderful knowledge and wisdom. He was a great man to talk things through with. I always took his advice,” said Fr Donovan.

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His words are echoed in a beautiful tribute on the Caherconlish Caherline Facebook page.

“Fr Currivan was more than a spiritual leader - he was a steady presence in the lives of so many. With quiet strength, deep compassion, and unwavering faith, he guided our parish through joys and sorrows, celebrations and challenges. Whether at the altar, at a bedside, or simply in conversation, he met each person with genuine warmth and care.

“His sermons, always thoughtful and filled with kindness, left lasting impressions. He listened without judgment, comforted without condition, and served without seeking recognition. Through baptisms, weddings, funerals, and everyday Masses, he became part of the fabric of our lives.

“Fr Currivan’s legacy will live on in the community he helped build, the faith he nurtured, and the countless lives he touched. He reminded us, by example, what it means to live a life of service, humility, and grace.”

Fr Donovan said Fr Currivan’s 47 years in the parish was a wonderful gift.

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He baptised many in the parish who he later married and gave them all the sacraments in between.

Fr Donovan said Fr Currivan had routines during his long life - prayer, Mass, visiting his sisters, a few pints with his wide circle of friends, watching The Sunday Game and attending the pastoral council, from which the Millennium Centre grew, and the Wednesday Club.