Deceased
Parish Of Birth
Clonakilty / Darrara
Colleges Attended
St. Patrick’s College, Maynooth Co Kildare, Ireland
Details Of Ordination
St. Patrick’s College Chapel, Maynooth, Co. Kildare
19/6/1949
Appointments
Clogagh AP : 16/7/1999 – 11/6/2000
Retired ex Timoleague : 16/7/1999
Timoleague PP : 1/9/1986 – 16/7/1999
Skibbereen Adm : 14/9/1981 – 1/9/1986
Castlehaven Adm : 20/6/1974 – 14/9/1981
Courtmacsherry CC : 18/8/1965 – 20/6/1974
Clogagh CC : 12/12/1961 – 18/8/1965
Skibbereen CC : 21/5/1961 – 12/12/1961
Sherkin Island CC : 1956 – 21/5/1961
Leap CC : 1954 – 1956
Ministry Abroad/ Hexham & Newcastle : 1949 – 1954
Notes
He was an outstanding local historian. His published works include:
- A History of Timoleague and Barryroe (1969),
- Utopia in Glandore (1970)
and
- A Bishop of Penal Times (1981).
He co-founded and edited Seanchas Chairbre.
Date Of Death
11/6/2000
Place Of Death
St Moluada’s Church, Clogagh, Timoleague, Co. Cork
Place Of Burial
Church of the Nativity of Our Lady Grounds, Timoleague, Co. Cork
Obituary
The death occurred unexpectedly on Sunday June 11th, 2000, of Fr. James Coombes, retired parish priest of Timoleague.
Fr. Coombes was a native of Clonakilty and was ordained in Maynooth in 1949.
He was parish priest of Timoleague between 1986 and 1999 when he retired but continued to assist in the parish saying Mass in Clogagh church.
Fr. Coombes’ early years as a priest were spent in Newcastle in England and his ministry at home saw him serve in almost every parish of Ross diocese.
He served terms as Administrator in Castlehaven and Skibbereen parishes before becoming parish priest of Timoleague.
He was buried in Timoleague after concelebrated Mass on June 13th.
Published in the Cork and Ross Diocesan Directory 2001.