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John Linnegan as born on a farm at Carrowreagh, on the Causeway Road. He attended the local Causeway School and worked on the home farm for a number of years before joining Harland & Wolff shipyard in Belfast. He moved from there to Londonderry, where he set up an electrical business and married Miss Kathleen McCartney, who was also in business in the city. In 1955 he commenced his Theological studies at Trinity College Dublin and became Curate in Charge of Billis Parish near to Ballyjamesduff, in the Diocese of Kilmore, County Cavan. He moved as Rector to Cappagh Parish in the Derry and Raphoe Diocese in 1959 and served 31 years there until retirement in 1990. The joint parish of Lislimnaghan was added to his duties in 1980 and in 1982 he was appointed as a Canon to the Chapter of St Columbs Cathedral in Londonderry. Following retirement, Canon John and his wife Kathleen turned their interests towards the mission fields in Kenya where he lectured in a number of Theological Colleges to divinity students. Assisted by his wife, they both oversaw the sinking of 12 wells in local communities in Kenya, where previously no safe fresh water supplies had been available. They also supported the development of an orphanage and Nursery school in Maseno, Kenya, through their links with local church leaders, providing for up to 150 children at one stage. Canon John died, aged 83 years in 1999 and his wife Kathleen passed away in 2016, aged 97. Both are buried in the church graveyard. |
