Australian honour for the Rottnest monsignor

A KILKEE priest has been honoured for his half-century of service to his 200-strong flock on an Australian island.
Eighty-two year-old Monsignor Seán O’Shea arrived in Australia in 1955 as a missionary priest and just four years later took up a post on Rottnest Island, off the west coast of Australia.
Today, he is one of the most famous people on the island, which is located just 19km from Freemantle on the mainland. As well as saying masses he also acts as a tour guide.
To mark his 50 years of committed service, he was this week presented with the third annual Des Sullivan medal by the Rottnest Island Authority for his outstanding contribution to the local community.
Speaking at the event, Monsignor O’Shea, who is chaplain of the Church of the Holy Trinity, described Rottnest as “one of the most special places in the world. I said I would accept the medal because it might help give the island some publicity”.
The medal was introduced in 2006 to commemorate former island manager Des Sullivan, who transformed Rottnest into a tourist destination. Mr Sullivan, who had strong Cork links, was formerly a World War II Lancaster bomber airman.
Western Australian tourism minister Dr Liz Constable heaped high praise on the monsignor at the awards ceremony. She said he was a deserving recipient of the medal, which recognised an outstanding contribution to the economic, social or environmental sustainability of Rottnest Island.
Monsignor O’Shea has officiated over daily masses at the Church of Holy Trinity since he first moved to the island nearly 50 years ago.
“He’s an important part of the Rottnest community, with his humour and hospitality well known among those who frequently visit the island,” the minister said.
“During his 50 years at Rottnest, the monsignor has a developed a wealth of knowledge about the Island and its history,” she added.