THE DEATH OF FR. KEVIN BYRNE S.D.B.

Salesian Priest  1920-1969

Father Kevin Byrne

Fr. Byrne was born in Dublin on December 24th 1920 and baptized Andrew, Christopher, Kevin. His father a member of the I.R.A. was in prison awaiting possibly execution. He was sharing the cell with the one who wrote the "Soldiers' Song". Immediately, he wrote to his wife and said:"Call him, Kevin!" in memory of the young 18 year old rebel executed by the British shortly before. As a baby in a way he played a part in Ireland' s fight for freedom, for his mother had guns  and amunition under baby Kevin’ s matress as she pushed him in his pram. His father was saved when the treaty gave Ireland( except for the six counties, freedom, and his father became secretary of the Irish Soccer Team,"Shamrock Rovers", and secretary also of the Irish F.A. Kevin ,an Irish rebel's son, grew up passionately fond of the English game, soccer. He confided in me he had three conflicting ambitions in life:- to be a priest, to be an Eire soccer international, to be an Irish revelutionary.

The first and most noble won the day,- but Kevin was such an accomplished soccer player  tha t I am sure he would have realized the second ambition had he chosen it. It is sad, though appropriate that Kevin died after a game of soccer. You might say "he died with his boots on!" Kevin and I arrived in Shrigley, the Salesian Junior Seminary or Missionary College, in Cheshire ,England, in September 1934 on the same day. Kevin though not quite fourteen immediately made his name as a soccer player. We made the Novitiate together during the drammatic Munich year, 1938-39, and even now (we were so she1tered) the events of that year I only know of through: history… When we came out professed Salesians, the Germans were on the Polish border ,and World War II was declared three days later. Kevin with Seamus Cummins and myself were destined for Palestine, but we did not get going until February, 1940. ( Kevin often said:Why don’t you write an account of our trip out.It would beat anything you have written?It would. We were like three men ina boat.) Palestine and the Middle East was not a very peaceful place to come to. However, Kevin did his studies there while acting liaison between the British authorities and the Salesians interned in our big institute in Bethlehem. Nearly all the Salesian in Palestine were Italian. When we reopened our Salesian School in Haifa in 1944, or rather took it over again. Kevin, Seamus and I were reunited. We were '°'ordained in Bethlehem in 1946 … on July 7th, and we said our First Mass on Calvary,Jerusalem, the following day, Ordained with us was Fr. Luis Orio, a Basque-Spaniard, and Fr. John Cott, a Pole. The latter is back in Poland, Fr. Cummins in Ireland and. Fr. Orio was shot and died two days later by a Jewish gunman in Haifa a year later. I'll never forget  how grieved Kevin was then. Our school was mostly for Arabs and most of them left in the following months  and we closed down.Kevin left for Egypt and from there was sent to Tehran: where he was associated with the pioneering days of our huge school - ANDISHEH- now, with about 1500 pupils. In those days we were really struggling. Most of the time Kevin has been Head Master. I have never known a teacher so well liked by his pupils. Naturally, he excelled in every game, but he would never, except in a real competitive game  seek to dominate the game, but always bring the boys into it. He was always smiling and easy-going. He didn't have an Irish Paddy. Headmaster is a job that is 24 hours a day and 12 months a year  and even in the summer in our camp at the Caspian Kevin was always there with the lads whether swimming or playing or in chapel. God knows how they are going to replace him.

 Kevin lost his father and elder brother while he was in Palestine during the war. His Mother is still living with his Sister, Madge, who emigrated to California with her husband and family. His only other brother is also a Salesian Priest, and thank God he, too, at this moment is in California, and I only hope he can bring confort to his poor mother. Kevin told me how she was saving up and planning his Silver Jubilee in 1971, when they were to meet in Ireland again. I recommend Kevin’s soul, and his mother, Brother and Sister to your prayers, and also the poor Tehran Community who are just like afamily who lost the brad-winner.

I have just been able to get Fr Picchioni, the Rector of the Salesians in Tehran. He had just got back from Fr Byrne’s funeral. He said it was a real triumph. Archbishop Salvatore Asta, theNuncio, celebrated the Mass, at which assisted the two Chaldean Bishops, Mgr.Cheikho, and Mgr. Issayi, and the armenian Catholic Bishop, all the priests and nuns of Tehran, representatives from the Government whose names I couldn't get over the phone, the Italian Ambassador and other diplomats, amid a countless number of friends. The words of appreciation from those of the Nuncio to the boys were really moving. There were over 200 floral tributes, and over 200 cars.The funeral had a police escort - four motor cycles and car with loudspeaker clearing the heavily congested Shah Reza Avenue. I feel that the funeral was some indication of how well Kevin was loved, but only God knows the good he did to countless boys and young men in over 24 years of apostolate in our schools. I am one among thousands who feel they have lost a friend, but I feel that they, too, thanks to Kevin's influence ,are able to say not. goodbye but au revoir - till we meet again. May God, who didst raise thy servant , Kevin, to the dignity of he apostolic priesthood, deign to number him among thy apostles, Bishops and priests forever •••• "

Father Kevin Byrne at Scouting Camp

Autor of this Biography was Fr. Mulligan (passed away 1989 at age 69)

• " Father Mulligan had written this letter in English, and was discovered by Fr. Laconi Giovani from Cremison, Jerusalem who has forward it to Stefano ( Jan. 2010)" and in turn to Robert Dabaghian.