Tributes paid to Fr Derek, former Clondalkin curate

TRIBUTES were made following the death of Fr Derek Smyth, a former curate in Clondalkin.

Fr Derek died on August 13 at St Vincent’s Private Hospital.

Among those to pay their respects were the Holy Spirit Parish in Greenhills.

In their weekly newsletter, Holy Spirit said: “Fr Derek studied at Clonliffe and was ordained at St John’s, Clontarf, by Bishop Carroll in 1972. During his ministry he served as teacher in Whitehall, chaplain in UCD and in the National Maternity Hospital, Director of Vocations and parish priest of Holy Redeemer, Bray. He was also curate in Dunlavin and Clondalkin, and latterly in Foxrock.”

Condolences online praised a forward-thinking “chaplain like no other”, a man of “compassion” whose homilies received “hushed attention and appreciated applause.”

There were also condolences from residents who knew him as a “good priest in Clondalkin.”

A message on RIP.ie said: “Rev Dr Derek Smyth of Foxrock, and formerly of Clontarf, passed away peacefully, on August 13, at St. Vincent’s Private Hospital, Dublin, surrounded by his family and close friends.

A funeral Mass was celebrated at the Church of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour, Foxrock on Saturday, August 17.