‘Go-getter’ priest’s funeral tomorrow

Reverend Father Eugene Delahunt was remembered by his colleagues as a “go-getter” and a “very zealous priest.” He died last Thursday at St Finbar’s Geriatric Home.

Born in January 30, 1914, Fr Delahunt was ordained a priest in July 1939 and came to Trinidad in 1945. During his lifetime he worked as Parish Priest of Maraval, Sangre Grande, San Juan, Siparia, Carenage and St Ann’s. He was responsible for construction of schools and was active in the early days of the Credit Union movement in TT and the Catholic Youth Organisation. He also served for a short time as editor of the Catholic News. For the past nine years Fr Delahunt worked with the sick at the Geriatric Home. He visited them daily to give them communion. Fr Paschal Tiernan who met Delahunt when he came to Trinidad 48 years ago, said anything he (Delahunt) decided to do “he went about in a big way and did not stop until it was finished.” This earned him the nickname “Dollarhunt” by which people still fondly recall the priest.

His resolve resulted in a school being built in Paramin and installation of a water tank there in the 1950s. He divided the Siparia Parish into two — Siparia and Penal, and San Juan into Mt Lambert,  Bourg Mulatresse, and Barataria. He also spearheaded presbyteries being constructed in Mt Lambert, Bourg Mulatresse and Barataria, and the church at Quarry Street, Siparia. Fr Delahunt tried to get the name Quarry Street changed to St Martin’s in honour of St Martin de Porres but the civil authorities did not support this idea. In the 1960s Fr Delahunt went to Antigonish, Nova Scotia, Canada to do studies in the Credit Union movement. During the early 1970s he returned to Ireland for health reasons. He spent six years abroad before getting the all clear to return to TT.

Fr Vincent Compton described Fr Delahunt as a deeply religious priest. One image has remained with him from his days as a student — a photograph in the Catholic News of Fr Delahunt riding a donkey going over the hills of Paramin. His friend Sydney Charles, who is Bishop of Grenada worked with Fr Delahunt in San Juan and knew him as a very zealous priest. “I can only hope he is enjoying everlasting life now,” said Fr Compton. The funeral of Reverend Father Eugene Delahunt takes place at 9 am tomorrow at Finbar’s Church, Four Roads, Diego Martin. Superior of the Dominican Order Fr Tom Lawson will officiate. Papal Nuncio Emil Tsherrig, Archbishop Edward Gilbert and Bishop Charles will also be in attendance.