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
1872 - 1892
1909 - 1920
1920 - 1931
1926 - 1954
1954 - 1974
1974 - 1982
1982 - 2006
2007 - 2023
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 1865
From 1869
From 1870
From 1871
From 1892
From 1893
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
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
Autobiography
Volume 1 + 2
Published 1989, 1990
