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Canon Liam Leader, B.A., B.D., H. Dip in Education.
Canon Liam Leader was born in Glanmire, formally a rural area about 3 miles east of Cork City, Glanmire is now contained in the Parish of Carraig na bhFear. He was one of a family of seven and attributes his interest in priesthood to a number of influences, referring to his parents as ‘people of deep faith, with great respect for the Church and for the Mass.'
After cycling to secondary school in the North Monastery and Farranferris, he began studies for the priesthood at St. Patrick's College, Maynooth, in 1946, just as the Second World ended..
Fr. Leader was ordained with a class of 58 young priests on June 21st 1953 in Maynooth, by Archbishop John Charles McQuaid. On his return to Cork, Fr. Leader undertook further studies at UCC graduating with a H.Diploma in Education, while teaching part-time in Farranferris and in the Vocational Education system as a religion teacher.
In March 1957, he was appointed chaplin to St. Patrick's Hospital, Cork, which is in St. Patrick's Parish and is now best known for it's Marymount Hospice.
It was in the summer of 1958 that Bishop Lucey directed Fr. Leader to go to Bantry, Co. Cork, and start a new secondary school for boys, and ‘to go that same evening'. When Fr. Leader explained that he was due to hear confessions in St. Patrick's that evening, the good Bishop replied, ‘Well, tomorrow will do so'
A site was found in the grounds of the Mercy Convent, Bantry for a new school and a building was erected. During the planning and construction stages of the school, Fr. Leader started and conducted school studies with the help of local people in the Boys Club Hall. Fr. Leader was principal of the school for nineteen years when in 1997, he received his first full-time parochial appointment as curate in Bandon, Co. Cork.
His first term was as parish priest in the newly developing Knocknaheeny/Hollyhill estate on the northern outskirts of Cork City, during the period 1984 to 1990.
Canon Leader transferred to St. Patrick's parish in 1990 and will celebrate his Golden Jubilee of Ordination with his parishioners and family on 21st. June 2003.
Canon Liam Leader PE, died peacefully on 17th. October 2018 at the Cork University Hospital.
Liam was born on 13th. January 1929, dying just short of his 90th. birthday.
Canon Liam Leaser's daily Prayer of the Faithful
"Teach us the truth we ought to know
Show us the way we ought to go
Fill our hearts with your love
So that we may find our joy in giving and not in getting
In sharing and not in keeping
In generosity and not in selfishness
We ask this prayer through Christ our Lord, Amen"