Fr Michael O'Neill: Fr Michael O'Neill of the Missionary Society of St Columban, who has died aged 89, was a former editor of the Far East and also ministered with the Columban missions in China and Chile.
Born in Rathgar, Dublin, in 1916, he was one of the two children of John O'Neill, a clerk, and his wife Nora (née Nugent). Educated at Holy Faith convent, Haddington Road, the O'Brien Institute, Donnycarney, and CBS Synge Street, he became a seminarian at Dalgan Park, Shrule, Co Galway, in 1934 and was ordained priest in December 1940.
During the second World War, he was assigned to various parishes of the diocese of Menevia. Appointed to China in 1946 he worked for three years there, ministering in Nancheng, Kiangsi, (1946-47) and Hanyang, Hupeh (1947-48). Recalled to Ireland, he was appointed to the staff of the Far East. He spent the next 20 years as assistant editor and editor of that magazine, but never lost his interest in China.
By 1954, the last of the Columbans had been expelled from there. Fr O'Neill continued to keep abreast of events in that vast country. He became an adviser to the superior general on Chinese matters and was one of those consulted by the Department of External Affairs in the run-up to Ireland's decision in 1971 to support China's bid for a seat at the United Nations.
More recently he followed with fascination China's emergence as a major world power. Once China opened again to visitors from the West, he was one of the first to visit and he continued to read all major publications about the country right to the end of his life.
In 1973 he was appointed to Chile. He ministered in parishes on the periphery of Santiago for five years. The Columbans were involved in many social issues during the years of Pinochet's dictatorship - parish soup kitchens, participation in protest marches and the Sebastian Acevedo anti-torture movement.
In spite of the tensions of those years, Fr O'Neill always spoke of his time in Chile as a deeply enriching experience.
In 1978 he was appointed editor of Columban Intercom, the in-house journal of the Columban Society. The issues of the magazine from that period bear the stamp of his careful editing, his courage in printing controversial material and his wide range of interests.
In 1984 he was reassigned to the Research and Information Service where he did much detailed research on the life of Columban Bishop Patrick Cleary, expelled from China in 1952 as an "enemy of the people", and other pioneer member of the Columban Society until poor health forced him to resign in 1996.
Following his retirement he lived at Dalgan Park, Navan, Co Meath.
A colleague last week described him as an enthusiast and a man of ideas, who loved nothing better than a stimulating discussion.
"A loyal friend, he sought out the company of members of the society younger than himself; he encouraged them to be radical and innovative in their thinking, and his own thinking remained radical until the end. He wrote well, and counted many journalists among his friends.
"As a perfectionist he could be a demanding critic, but he was always helpful and totally authentic."
Fr Michael J O'Neill: born November 15th, 1916; died May 25th, 2006