Girvan Priests

Parish priests for eight or more years

Fr Walter Dixon

Fr William O'Shaughnessy

Lord Archibald Canon Douglas

Fr Richard Mullins

Fr Anthony O’Connell

Canon Joseph Kerr

Fr Francis (Diarmid) Crowley

Canon Eugene Mathews

Fr John A McGee

1854 - 1863

1872 - 1892

1909 - 1920

1920 - 1931

1926 - 1954

1954 - 1974

1974 - 1982

1982 - 2006

2007 -

Other priests and curates

Fr William Casey

Fr Joseph Conaghan

Fr Alexander Reid

Fr John Kerr

Dom Bertram Schulte OSB

Fr D S Ramsey

Fr John Cameron

Fr Henry Langley

Fr David Barrett

Fr Martin Meagher

Fr William Bohan

Fr Patrick Hennessy

Fr John Quinn

Fr John Donnelly

Fr Cornelius Burke

Fr Laurence O’Sullivan

Fr Sean McNamara

Fr Declan Kelly

Fr John Boyce

Fr Mark Kelly

From 1863

From 1865

From 1869

From 1870

From 1871

From 1892

From 1893

From 1900

From 1907

From 1941

From 1945

From 1949

From 1950

From 1955

From 1969

From 1972

From 1999

From 2006

Very Rev. Eugene Canon Mathews

The Canon (or Father as he preferred), was the oldest serving priest in the Galloway diocese, having retired in 2006. He had always said he wanted to 'die in harness', but that was not to be. He freely admitted he required a new pair of legs!

He was brought up in Dumfries and educated at St Joseph's College, Dumfries, Blair's College, Aberdeen and The Scots College in Rome. After his ordination in 1946 he was sent back to Rome to study Canon Law.

On his return to Scotland he served as curate in St Mary's Saltcoats, and Parish Priest in Kirkconnel, Maybole, Kilbirnie, Kilmarnock and since 1982, Girvan.

In 1989 and 1990 his autobiography, in two volumes was published. These speak clearly of what happiness, joy and fulfilment he enjoyed in following his vocation. Though difficult to obtain now they are worth looking out for in libraries and second hand bookshops!

His holidays were spent visiting family members and friends in Ireland and America and each Monday he would take his day off to visit friends and relatives in the West of Scotland.

Father Mathews lived by the maxim, Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam (AMDG) - All for the greater glory of God.

Epilogue - Father Thomas McHugh

On 1st July 2012, nearly two years after the death of Father Mathews, Thomas McHugh was ordained to the priesthood in St. Patrick’s Cathedral Armagh by Cardinal Seán Brady.

Father McHugh is from the same parish as the neice of Father Mathews. Eileen, as his closest living relative, was in possession of the Chalice and Paten (left) that belonged to her Uncle Eugene. She has now presented them to Father McHugh so that they may continue to be used.

Father McHugh is pictured (right) with Fr Joe McKeever, parish priest.

Father McHugh was ordained alongside Ryan McAleer for the Archdiocese of Amargh.

Parish Website - www.uppercreggan.co.uk

Archdiocese website - www.armagharchdiocese.org