Fr. Francis Canavan Plaque Unveiled

On Friday December 6th 2024, a plaque marking the birthplace of Fr Frank Canavan was unveiled on Main St., Headford by Jacqueline Née Creaven d Towey who gave a detailed and insightful talk about Fr Canavan’s courageous and sad story. The plaque was erected by Paul Duffy on the wall of the building that was once home to Duffy’s Hardware Store, and in earlier years was the location of Canavan’s Shop.

Fr. Francis Canavan was born on Main Street, Headford, Co. Galway on February 15th, 1915. He died in Korea on December 6th, 1950.

Having completed his secondary education at St. Mary’s College, Galway, Frank entered Dalgan in 1934 and was ordained priest at Dalgan in 1940. Due to World War II he was unable to go on overseas mission so he worked in the diocese of Galway.

He went to Korea in 1949. During the Korean War 1950 – 1953 the Korean people endured unimaginable sufferings and losses. At the beginning of that Conflict, seven young Columban priests, including Fr. Frank, opted to stay with their parishioners and not abandon them in their pain and loss. These men paid the ultimate price and joined countless martyrs of the young Korean church.

When the North Korean Army invaded in 1950, Frank, along with Bishop Thomas Quinlan and Phil Crosbie, was taken into custody and compelled to take part in the notorious “Death March” to the far north of Korea. He died in a prison camp there. The immediate cause of his death was pneumonia. Frank is buried where he died.

Link to Fr Canavan’s grave

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