Fr Michael O’Leary RIP Obituary and Funeral Notice
Tuesday 21st July 2026We are sorry to share the sad news that Fr Michael O’Leary died peacefully on Friday 17th July at Little Sisters of the Poor Care Home in Longsight.
Fr O’Leary was in his ninety second year, the sixty ninth year of his Sacred Priesthood.
Michael O’Leary was born on 10th November 1934 in Church Place, Rathmore, Co. Kerry and baptised on 11th November at Rathmore Parish Church. He was educated at Rathmore National School, St Patrick’s College, Millstreet and All Hallows College, Dublin.
Michael was accepted as an Ecclesiastical student for the Diocese of Salford in April 1953, continuing at All Hallows College, Dublin.
Father Michael O’Leary was ordained to the Priesthood on 22nd June 1958 at All Hallows College, Dublin.
Fr O’Leary served the Diocese of Salford in the following appointments:
Assistant Priest at St. James, Pendleton and then at St. Joseph’s, Darwen. Following that, Fr Michael served for a number of years as Chaplain for Withington & Christie Hospitals.
In 1973, Fr O’Leary moved away from the Diocese to minister with the Catholic Missionary Society in London and spent some time in teaching.
On his return to Salford, Fr Michael served as Assistant Priest at St. Vincent’s, Norden and then as Parish Priest at Ss. Aidan and Oswald in Royton.
Fr Michael retired in December 2005, residing in Formby. In January 2016, he relocated to Cathedral House before moving to Little Sisters of the Poor in 2022.
Fr O’Leary’s body will be received into the Cathedral Church of St. John the Evangelist for concelebrated Mass at 7.00pm on Thursday 6th August.
Bishop John will celebrate the Requiem Mass at the Cathedral on Friday 7th August at 12:10
Please remember him in your prayers and in the celebration of Mass. May he rest in peace.
