A Mulranny priest, who has been working on the Missions in Nigeria for almost 40 years had his church, the presbytery where he lived and all his personal belongings destroyed when Moslem rebels attacked the Mission on March 11 this year.

But on Saturday and Sunday next the priest's former neighbours will band together and make a Church-gate Collection in Ballycroy, Achill, Tiernaur, Tonragee and of course Mulranny, the proceeds going to the 'homeless' priest.

Fr. John Horan was born in Glasgow in 1922 to John Horan, formerly of The Valley, Achill and Catherine (nee Masterson) from Mulranny.

In 1925 Fr. John returned to Mulranny to live with his grandmother, Margaret Masterson and from there attended the local National School, went to College in Ballinafad and in 1948 was ordained to the priesthood in Newry, Co. Down.

Attached to the S.M.A. Fathers, Fr. John, who secured a B.A., H.Dip degree, went on the Missions to Nigeria and was appointed Principal of The Teacher Training College in Zaria, a position he held until three years ago when he retired from teaching. Since then Fr. John has been Parish Priest of Samaru, which is about eleven miles from Zaria.

During the raid by the Moslems on March 11 a total of 34 churches were burnt. Fr . John Horan from Mulranny, who lost everything when Moslems attacked and burnt his Mission Church and home in Samaru in the Kaduna State of Northern Nigeria.

Fr. John is now residing in Zaria until such, time as accommodation can be provided in Samaru. When the Mulranny people heard of Fr. John's plight they, decided to do something about it and will this weekend hold church gate collections at the various churches throughout the area.

Mr. Tom Luddy, one of the organisers of the Church-Gate Collections told the "Mayo News" that they are confident that, the response from people in the Ballycroy, Achill and Mulranny areas will be very good. The cause is a very deserving one and one we know will be well supported."

Mr. Luddy also stated that they had hoped to hold similar collections in the Newport area but due to a legal technicality this was not possible.

However, he said he hoped that people in this area, who know Fr. Horan and are aware of the good work he is doing on the Missions, will contribute to the collection anyway. Any contribution, no matter how small, should be sent to Fr. Kenny, C.C., The Presbytery. Mulranny.

Mayo News 1893-2004, Wednesday, May 06, 1987; Section: Front page, Page: 1