We remember Michael with much fondness and we pray for the happy repose of his soul. We extend our sympathies to the Western Road community and to Michael’s nieces, nephews and friends.

Michael was born on May 2^nd 1911 in Tralee, Co Kerry, the son of John and Ellen Carrick. He was educated at Presentation Brothers Primary School, Tralee and the Christian Brothers Secondary School, Tralee.

Since there was no centre of philosophical and theological studies for MSC students in Ireland, Michael had to travel to Belgium where he entered the novitiate of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart in September 1929. He made his first profession on September 21^st 1930 and began his philosophical studies. In 1932 Michael moved to Stein in the Netherlands where he made perpetual profession on September 21^st 1933.

He was ordained priest on August 10^th, 1935, in Stein and having completed his theological studies he returned to Ireland in the Summer of 1936 and took up his first appointment on the teaching staff in the newly opened MSC house of studies in Moyne Park near Ballyglunin in Co. Galway where he lectured in Scripture. For thirty years of his priestly ministry Michael taught mathematics and Greek at the Sacred Heart College, Cork, as well as in Coláiste an Croí Naofa, Carraig na bhFear. Actually Michael was one of the original members of staff and priest in charge of the community in the very early days of the Coláiste. In 1959 Michael was appointed to the Western Road Community where he taught once again until the Summer of 1965 when the pupils moved to the new college in Carraig na bhFear. From that time forward he remained active in parish ministry in Ireland, England and the USA. In more recent years Michael enjoyed his retirement in the Western Road community in Cork where he kept a keen eye on all that was going on in the world. He was interested in most sports. He especially enjoyed horse racing but never put on a bet!

In 2005 Michael celebrated the Platinum (seventieth) anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood. In a tribute to him for that occasion his fellow county-man, Fr. Jim Mannix, wrote about Michael’s fine singing voice as well as his violin playing which was a regular part of concerts and gatherings and was often heard as he played for his own pleasure in his room. In his article Jim went on to attribute his own success in Leaving Certificate mathematics “in no small part to Michael’s perseverance with the slower learners in that subject”. Jim recounted the prayerfulness of the man whose attention to the reverent celebration of Mass as well as his meticulous recitation of the Divine Office left a lasting impression on the young students.

A thoroughly pleasant, warm and jolly individual, Michael always delighted in the visits of Missionaries of the Sacred Heart to the Western Road. He loved to chat at night recounting happy memories of bygone days as well as recounting stories about the days of his youth in Kerry. He loved to visit his native Tralee as often as he could and appreciated the love and welcome of his family and many friends.

Mass for Michael was celebrated at the Sacred Heart Church on the Western Rd in Cork on Tuesday December 1^st.  The following day his Funeral Mass was celebrated in Tralee followed by his burial at Rath Cemetery, Tralee.

Michael will be sorely missed by his family who loved him dearly as well as by his MSC confreres who will miss his gentle and pleasant company. We pray that he may rest in the peace and loving kindness of his Lord whom he served so faithfully all his life.