Eternal rest grand unto them,

O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them.

May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.

Amen.

Fr. Timothy (T.T.) Vaughan was born in Ballydesmond, Co. Cork on the 3rd of April, 1931. His parents Timothy and Hannah (nee Jones) were shopkeepers in the town and ran the local post office. He had two brothers and two sisters. TT went to Duarigle National School, Newmarket and Ballydesmond National School. He did his secondary studies in St Colman’s College, Fermoy (1945 to 1950). He then spent a year in Good Counsel College, New Ross. He came to Kiltegan in September 1951 and having completed the Spiritual Year moved to St Patrick’s, Douglas, Cork. From there he attended University College Cork and was awarded a B.A. degree in 1955. Returning to Kiltegan, he studied theology for four years and was ordained with his 23 classmates on the 23rd of May, 1959 in Killamoat Church The ordaining bishop was Bishop Thomas McGettrick of Ogoja Diocese to which T.T. was appointed shortly afterwards.

 

TT travelled to Nigeria in September, 1959 together with 12 of those who were ordained with him. In Ogoja Diocese, his first appointment was to Afikpo where he taught in a Teacher Training College. He was principal of St Joseph’s Teacher Training College, Igbeagu and also worked in Ishiagu and Nkalagu. Because he was getting a lot of ill health and recurrent malaria Bishop McGettrick sent him home to Ireland in the late 1960’s. While at home he helped with the promotion programme. He was still anxious to go back to the missions and did so in the early 1970s when he returned to Ogoja. However poor health again necessitated his return to Ireland.

 

On the recommendation of Dr Joe Barnes given in 1974 he remained home for good. Once again he did promotion work in Ireland and later in England. In 1981 he was appointed bursar and guest master at St Patrick’s College, Buchlyvie, Scotland. In 1983, he was transferred to his native Diocese of Kerry to replace Fr Tom Randles who had been appointed editor of Africa. TT worked in Milltown, Beaufort and Bere Island until August, 2002 when he returned to Kiltegan for health reasons. He was very actively engaged in Kiltegan until he suffered a stroke in June, 2008.

 

TT was a very friendly, helpful and jovial person. He made friends easily and was very loyal to them and to his family He is remembered for his interest in ham radio, a passion he shared with the late Michael Gallagher.

 

TT’s last years were spent in the Care Unit in Kiltegan where he was exceptionally patient and cheerful. After a few months of critical illness borne with great dignity and courage he died peacefully on Friday, the 21st of March, 2014.

​Place of Rest: Kiltegan