First  Posted Saturday, October 26, 2002
On the 9th May 1927 James Neville was born in a Limerick nursing home to Michael and Nellie Neville of Neville’s Cross, Kilfinny, Adare.
His mother, wishing to give her children Irish saints names, intended to christen him Aidan James. When her father, James Neville of Rathkeale, (no relation to her husband) came to take the newly born child out for the Christening, he leaned on the end of the bed and asked "What name will we give the baby?"
Before Nellie could reply, the matron of the nursing home, anxious to please the granddad, spoke up. "What name could you think of giving except the good, decent name, James?" Nellie hadn’t the heart to offend her father by contradicting the matron.
Faith and Fatherland might sum up the ethos of the strongly nationalist Neville household, pub and general grocery in Kilfinny. Mick Neville had played inter-county senior hurling for Limerick and Dublin. He won two All Ireland medals with Dublin in 1917 and 1920. He was very involved promoting the GAA, playing with and running the local teams, being treasurer of the West Board GAA for about twenty-five years, selector with the county senior hurling team, and a delegate to the Annual GAA Congress.
Not surprising therefore, that the family played hurling also. Other members of the family were Ernan, Brendan, Ronald and Eithne. Along with his older brother Ernan, James won a county minor hurling championship medal with Kilfinny in 1943. When senior hurling clubs were allowed to pick a certain number of players from local junior clubs, they both played for Rathkeale senior team, losing to Ahane in the county final. James also played inter-county junior hurling with Limerick, who were beaten in a Munster final by Cork.
He went to primary school in Kilfinny and Adare C.B.S.
For his secondary schooling he went to the Diocesan College, St Munchin’s in Limerick. After his leaving certificate, he went to Maynooth to study for the priesthood for the diocese of Limerick, where he was ordained on Saturday 22nd June 1952. His brother, Ernan, had been ordained for the diocese of Dublin the previous year.
In the 1950′s there was a surplus of priests in many dioceses in Ireland. In that situation, newly ordained priests went on loan to other dioceses in Ireland or abroad. For that reason, Fr James emigrated to Seattle diocese in Washington State, U.S.A. When his family accompanied him to the boat in Cobh in the Autumn of 1952, they did not see him again until he returned for his brother, Ronnie’s ordination in 1958.
For most of those six years in Seattle he was a curate in the very busy suburban parish of St John’s where his Parish Priest was a Fr Egan from Mullinahone, Co. Tipperary. To avail of their one free day in the week, the priests had to take off quickly after their morning Mass. Otherwise; they’d be retained by frequent callers.
James’ recreation was golf in summertime and skiing in wintertime. He became adept at both. He was also introduced to skating by the American husband of a lady who had emigrated from near Askeaton.
On returning to Ireland in 1958, he was appointed Curate in Dromin-Athlacca, after a short period of temporary work in Ballyhahill-Loghill. He immediately became very involved in the social life of the community, in the GAA, Muintir na Tire and he established a drama group
Playing in hurling or football matches was forbidden to priests in those days, and so Fr James’ personel sporting outlet was golf, shooting ("He was a good shot") skiing (mostly on his annual winter holiday in the Continent) and skating. For five winters in succession from 1959 to 1964, Lough Gur was frozen over. Fr James used dazzle onlookers ("he seemed to us to be doing a hundred miles an hour") with the speed and skill of his skating.
"But," said one of his parishioners, "he was first, second and last, a fantastic priest. He gave lovely, down to earth sermons. His sermon on the Holy Souls on one occasion was particularly memorable."
One of his parishioners, who was very active in the social and cultural life of the parish at that time was Tom O’Donnell. He became a TD and later a Government Minister. The evening that he was first elected, all the family were around Tom at the count, all except his widowed mother. Thoughtfully, Fr James visited her to congratulate her and kept her company for some hours until the family returned from the triumph in Limerick.
In 1963 Fr James was transferred to Bruff. Here again, in addition to his priestly duties, he became immersed in the local GAA Club. He helped with novel suggestions for fund-raising to pay for a new stand in the GAA field. More importantly, he concentrated on the youth, which bore fruit when Bruff won the county minor hurling championship in 1966.
However, Denis Barret remembers him best for the way he helped to save his life. Denis had only four months to live because of his heart condition. At that time, the operation required to save his life was only being performed in the USA. Fr James, along with teacher, Michael Russell, led the drive to collect the funds required to get him to The States.
After ten years in Bruff, in 1973 Fr James was transferred to Foynes. The player-manager of theFoynes GAA football team. Pat Lane, invited him to get involved in the Foynes GAA Club. He became treasurer of the club and held that post until he was transferred out of the parish. Even more helpfully, he brought Joe McGrath out from Limerick to help train the football team. As a result, they won the county championship and other competitions in 1973 "after being thirty three years in the wilderness."
In 1979, the year the Pope came to Ireland, Fr James was transferred to St Paul’s, Dooradoyle in suburban Limerick. It was his first city appointment in Limerick. His activity changed accordingly. "Extraordinary worker" "Fantastic organizer" "he knew everybody" are among the tributes parishioners there have paid him.
He established and trained visitation teams, each with its own leader/co-ordinator to establish communication with every household in the parish. A new church had to be built. He achieved this, and pinned down the costing so well before hand, that only a small amount had to be paid beyond the price originally fixed.
At the opening/blessing of this new church, one of the Curates made an unscheduled speech in which he praised Fr James for his many qualities. "He may be a small man," he said, " but he has large ideas." Bishop Newman nodded in agreement.
After his achievements, Bishop Newman transferred him to become Parish Priest of Abbeyfeale in 1988. He made him a Canon of the Cathedral Chapter and Vicar Forane for that area of the diocese. "Here," a parishioner says, " he introduced fantastic improvements." These included the Pastoral Council, Eucharistic Ministers, a special chapel for Perpetual Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, new amplification, and the organization of parish missions and retreats. As Spiritual Director of the Legion of Mary, he faithfully attends their weekly meetings.
His sermons are noted for their clear, at times, courageous orthodoxy. He did not hesitate to give the people clear guidance for example in the recent referendums on divorce and abortion.
For a period of five years he worked hard with a local committee, which he specially organized to get a Sheltering House Scheme and Day Care Centre, established in co-operation with the county council.
At present he is building a new priest’s house beside the church, which he will move into when it is completed.
All of this building and renovation programme was achieved without any begging for money, thanks largely to the generous response and co-operation by the parishioners of Abbeyfeale.
Grateful parishioners have formed a committee to organize the celebration of his Golden Jubilee at 8pm on Friday 28th June next. As he celebrates that great occasion with his parishioners, family and friends, he will be able to look back with satisfaction and gratitude at a very full and fruitful life in the service of the Lord and his people. Deo Gratias.

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