His thunder had been stolen somewhat, but Fr Paddy Callanan did not mind a bit. "No autographs!" he quipped at morning Mass in Shanaglish church, Beagh, south Galway, as he informed parishioners that the media had already been in touch with him.
It was not quite the way it had been planned. Fr Callanan had been primed to make the first public announcement of the return to Ireland of former bishop of Galway Dr Eamonn Casey, in consultation with the Bishop of Galway, Dr Martin Drennan.
Fr Callanan had taken soundings with the south Galway parishioners beforehand, several had helped to refurbish a vacant presbytery in preparation for Dr Casey, and he had his script ready.
"Dr Drennan had to announce it before me," he told The Irish Times. "That's the way it goes."
The previous evening, Dr Drennan had issued a statement confirming reports on Friday night of Dr Casey's plans to return, and he had subsequently spoken to journalists after evening Mass outside Clarenbridge church, 12 miles away.
Dr Drennan said he was not aware that there had been any hindrance to Dr Casey's return. "He was always free to come back. He knew that himself. It's just that he enjoyed his ministry in England. It gave him great privacy.
"He loved being involved in the parish and hospital, and all that ministry has now ended. So he has no more work to do. He'd like to spend his last few days close to his family and friends."
However, as far as Fr Callanan and his parishioners are concerned, Dr Casey may be rolling up his sleeves as soon as he is free to do so.
"Bishop Eamonn will not be involved in any pastoral activities for the foreseeable future, but when he is allowed, and if he so wishes, I will be delighted to let him get involved in the parish," Fr Callanan said.
"I will also be able to avail of his advice when the occasion demands."
Addressing the congregation, Fr Callanan said he had been requested recently by Dr Drennan to agree to Dr Casey living in a presbytery which was formerly occupied by the late Fr Patrick Healy.
Fr Healy was killed in February 2004 when his car was hit by a train at a rail crossing in Oranmore.
"We all know Bishop Eamonn. And from my conversations with parishioners in recent days, it has become very clear to me that Bishop Eamonn will be accepted here with open hearts and open minds," Fr Callanan said. "We know that there is great media interest in Bishop Eamonn, perhaps because he himself was always very obliging and open to the media on many occasions. He was always prepared to make a serious statement when he felt the occasion demanded it. He was chairperson of Trócaire, and through it brought great relief to many parts of the world during those years. Before he became bishop of Kerry, he did wonderful work in the housing sector in London for the Irish emigrants.
"Bishop Eamonn spent six years on a difficult mission in Ecuador after leaving Galway, and during that time he kept in touch with the priests of this diocese, and in fact a number of the priests went out to visit him and almost got shot on one occasion."
Fr Callanan continued: "More recently, he served in the diocese of Brighton in England. It has always been his wish to return to Ireland, and now our present bishop, Dr Martin Drennan, has given him the invitation to come back to the diocese and to live with us in Shanaglish.
"We have no idea how much agony and sorrow Bishop Eamonn has suffered since 1992. He has been in the limelight for many years, and now once again, when he decided to retire, he has drawn media attention. We would hope that from now on he would be let live in peace here in Shanaglish.
"Finally, I wish to thank all of you who have made my job so much easier over the last week and to thank all the people who have helped with getting the house ready for Bishop Eamonn. I wish to thank all of the people of the parish who have indicated to me that Bishop Eamonn is heartily welcome to live here in Shanaglish."
Outside the church, parishioners Gerry Murray, of Loughcutra, and Joe Keehan, of Beagh, were delighted. "He will be very welcome, and it is just a pity he didn't come straight here after all that happened 14 years ago," Mr Murray said. "I hope he says Mass here, there's a shortage of priests, and we need one since we lost the late Fr Healy. I also hope the press leaves him alone."
Mr Keehan concurred and confirmed that most of the parish had known for some days. "A lot of us knew him here, we'd have met him before he left, and it is great to have him back." Parishioner Vera McDermott said she would be very glad if he said Mass. "He's a fine man, we are delighted," she added.
As the sun shone and Fr Callanan prepared to leave for his next Mass in Kilbeacanty, parishioners spoke of how the Beagh GAA club, which has a distinguished hurling record, was preparing to welcome Dr Casey officially. "A great man for sport, he was there when we won in Croke Park," Mr Murray said.
