A WELL-known priest has died this week after a short but severe illness.

Father Dermot Nunan dedicated decades of service to the Teesside area after being ordained in 1967.

The parish priest of Sacred Heart Church, Lobster Road, Redcar, died on Monday, December 30, aged 72.

Father Nunan was born in Quianna, Limerick on August 18, 1941, to parents Thomas and Bridget, and was the youngest of seven children.

His early schooling was at the National School in Monaleen and St Munchin’s College, Limerick. Following his seminary formation at St Patrick’s Seminary, Thurles, he was ordained as a priest for the Diocese of Middlesbrough on June 10, 1967.

Father Nunan’s first appointment as a curate was to last five years at the then recently opened Church of St Andrew in Teesville, followed by three years in Corpus Christi, Brambles Farm and then three years at St Pius X, Park End in Middlesbrough.

His first assignment as Parish Priest was at Sacred Heart, Northallerton from 1978 to 1984 which was followed by an eleven year appointment in St Joseph’s, York. Father Nunan served in his final Parish of the Sacred Heart, Redcar from 1995 until his death.

During his 18 years in Redcar, he also took on the responsibility of St William’s Church, Dormanstown from 2001 and later assumed the pastoral care for the part of Redcar which had formed St Alban’s Parish when it was closed in 2010.

Father Nunan’s body will be received into Sacred Heart Church, Lobster Road, Redcar on Tuesday, January 7 at 7pm where Mass will be celebrated.

His Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11am the following day in St Mary’s Cathedral, Coulby Newham, Middlesbrough.