 life, but to fire your old, to fire your old intro, Father Sean, because it was just the start of tens and tens and tens of thousands of people's day for 27 odd years, or however long you had that introduction that dun, dun, dun, dun, dun, dun, and also what popped up on my memories, Father Sean, is it's six years ago in 10 days to the 14th of July, I believe when we had the program that was you saying goodbye to Island Radio, which is unbelievable. And what a six years it has been for you. Talk to me about that. Yeah. Good morning, Greg. Good morning. Sorry. I like your mugs, by the way. I never got these. Look at this. This is much swankier than I know. Yeah. Yeah. What was the question? The question was how's the last six years been for you? Well, I just it was just bringing memories back because my last day in here, I was sitting at the end of the show. I had not got a clue, as you know, there were everybody was upstairs and they'd flown my twin in and Maria, my sister and all friends and, you know, all my colleagues. And there was this big surprise party and last end of the broadcast upstairs and I was I was asked to go outside and I thought what's going on here. Had a clue and I went up the stairs and everybody was there. There was I don't know how many and it was a it was a wonderful, a wonderful thing. And I was so shocked. But how has it been? Well, it's been a journey. But life's a journey, isn't it, Greg? You know, so this was just been another part of the journey of my life. And very significant obviously change in my life, which I'm very grateful for. You know, you don't often suppose imagine you're going to get chances to change the direction of your life so dramatically, you know, so I'm very grateful that God has given me this chance to to serve him in a different way. And we'll talk a little bit more about that journey. But I just want to talk about the the ordination on Sunday. It was an amazing thing to be a part of. And I was just trying to put myself in what it must have felt like for you. Because obviously you had the bishop there and you had all your brother priests there and behind you, dependent on what part of the process it was, you had a packed cathedral and then this moment that you've built yourself up towards where you are finally ordained and how that must have felt and how you could have been in the moment so that you can reflect on it and like what was Sunday like for you? Yes, I mean, you wake up the same as you wake up in any morning, you know, with that kind of time in the morning. And then it triggers in that there's been so much preparation done beforehand and all by other people, you know, people, as you know, we're preparing all kinds of things surprises for me and everything else, which I find out about later on. But during the all just before the ordination, I arrived at the cathedral and the priests were arriving and you mentioned Bishop Dolan and Bishop Boyce graced us with his presence, of course, to which was beautiful. And I then forgot what I had to do in my head. And I said, I can't remember what I've got to do now. And so oh, you'll be fine. Everyone was saying all the priests were saying you'll be fine. You'll know it'll all come to your will look after you, you know. And it did go, you know, it did go fine. And yeah, there's a lot of peacefulness happening and the laying on of hands. And and at the same time you're you sometimes you're conscious of what you have to do next, but somehow it just happens. There was a couple of lovely moments and maybe it's normal at ordinations. But obviously, this was the first I'd been to where the bishop embraces you. That was so emotional. I don't know what it was like for you. But it was like, it was if say he was saying to you, you know, I don't know what it was. And then there was another moment to where you after that you sat down. And I don't know which which priest it might have been, but he just simply put his hand over onto your hand. And it was just a reassuring tap as if to say, right, that's it. Or I don't know what he was trying to say. But it was those little moments that, you know, you could feel I felt the hair stand up on my neck. Yeah. And quite a number of people said that particularly about that moment with the bishop when he does the they call it the kiss of peace, but it was a real embrace. It was just as if to say welcome or I don't know, but it was just beautiful. That's it. Yes. And of course, that's what it's about. You know, as a brother priest, he is of course my bishop, but we're brother priests. And he's it was it was a lovely moment. And you mentioned the tap on the shoulder. And yeah, because they've all been through that moment, you know, most of them, of course, are much younger age than me. But they know what that feels like, you know, and how it feels. But you are carried along, you carried on. I mean, I was of course, I was carried along by the prayer of all the people who came. And as you know, Greg and your lovely partner, Ashling was there as well, who I'd never met before. And just to have so many people from all areas of my life, you know, it was the multiple families you talked of. Yes. Which I thought was a great way of phrasing it and in the different stages of your life. Yeah. And they were there from the beginnings of my life with my family, of course, and my twin sister, and all of my family and my sister and flew in from New Zealand. My brother, Jimmy, who's listening and watching now because I've just had a message from him with a picture. Hi, Jimmy. And all my family came, you know. And I think there was a moment to if I'm not mistaken that this is the first time all of your family had gotten together. I think I heard one someone reference 35 years and another reference ever ever. It was a remarkable thing as well. And it makes it another special occasion on such a special day. Well, it was because I mean, we had my my own brothers and sisters. And also, we hadn't all been together because when my mother died in 1988, and I was only 22, then, you know, and as a matter of fact, just as a sort of an aside here, my mother, I found out from being in the cathedral that was baptized, married, confirmed, married and buried from the cathedral. You found that out last week? Yes. For definite. I knew she was married and buried. I wasn't I thought maybe could have been long tower, but for the baptism, but it wasn't. It was all in the cathedral. So it made it very, very even more, I suppose, significant and special in that sense that there was this this beautiful link with my beautiful, wonderful mother here. And also, there were cousins there from my mother's side and my father's side that had never we'd never all been together. And, you know, Father Daniel, my cousin, he's my father's brother, his son is Father Daniel, and he's based in Scotland. So he was there with his family and he vested me. So that was very special. And he came over, especially for it. And a number of other priests came and traveled and the vice rector of Rome came last night for the first mass. But to have all of my family there was was just quite special. And we never had it before. Because when my mother died, my sister, Anne, lived in New Zealand, and she had missed he hadn't got back in time. And when my brother died, he was only 42 and he only lived for a short time with cancer. And Anne had come over and she was on the plane back and he died while she was on the plane. So she was so there was never that link of everybody together, Greg, but there was for this. And you know, that's it's a very, very special, special moment. Yeah. And as I say, just learning that information about your, your, your mom as well. We'll come back to that, but just maybe a little bit back to the start, because you have a very distinctive voice instantly recognisable. And that is obviously from your many, many years living here, but also your birthplace of Stoke and Trent. You you talk to me about your family moving to the Northwest, John. Well, my mother and father would have gone to live in England when they married. So that was a long time ago. My mother was born in 1928. So, you know, we're probably talking what the early 50s or whatever she moved to England with my father. And I think they were in Malcolm at the beginning. So my father worked in the mining industry. And he had a job where he sunk the shafts of the coal mines, which meant he traveled a lot with his jobs. That meant when he went, he was usually given a house with it, you know, that's what happened in those days. I don't know if it does now. And so some of the family were born in Salford, I think, Lou Jimmy, who's listening in England now. And others others were born in Newcastle, under Lyman Staffordshire, which is next to Stoke on Trent. But every time I say Newcastle, I say, Oh, is it Newcastle on time? Or is it Newcastle County down? But it's near Stoke. And, you know, a good number of us were born there, because a big family. There was five sisters and three brothers. Patricia died when she was six in Salford, which was an enormous burden for my my parents. You know, it was a very, very difficult time for them clearly. My father had died just before my brother died. So my mother was supposed to have before my brother died, but they'd had to deal with this tremendous cross. And then my own, yeah, so that was like that was a big family of us, you know, they moved there and they traveled to different places to live. But we ended up then as a family located mainly in Newcastle, under Lyme. And Anne moved to New Zealand when she was married. And she has two sons who are living in New Zealand. And so Matthew and Christopher, great golfers, they lived on a golf course. So they've got brilliant brilliant golf players and lovely lads. And they came to live in England for a time, which nearly broke Anne's heart. And then they've moved back now. And now Anne's got her own grandchild. So it's all it's all worked out beautifully. Because, you know, when you're over in New Zealand, and even you've got your husband and your sons, which is your family, your main 100% you know, draw there's a drag, isn't there? There's a connection there. It always was. And as I as I've been, you know, we slow that she's in, she's back at home in England now with the family. And so that's how Ellie lives in a different part of England. But most of us live around the Newcastle, under Lyme area. And so we have Maria and Christopher and Jimmy and Margaret and Ellie and and Sharon, of course, me, twin. And so they will then their husbands and partners and various nieces and nephews were there to, you know, which is which is lovely. So that's how we all ended up there. And I came today in my early 20s. And my mother came back with me eventually. But it was you came first. But she was very ill. She got cancer. And it developed. She had cancer when me and Sharon were born actually. And so throughout her life, it was always, I think something that she was acutely aware of, because she was always had to go for these checks, you know, which I know we should give a terrible anxiety, understandably. And it was always a worry, you know. But, you know, unfortunately, she was obviously only in her late 50s. In fact, she was my age and younger when she when she developed the cancer again. And she came to Derry. And I mean, obviously, it was a great blessing for me that I was able to look after my mum and my auntie, Alan, who's who's gone to her reward as well, looked after my mum and her family. And she died with me and Derry when she was just 60. So some of my family, the last time they were in the cathedral was at her funeral and next time was at my ordination, you know. But yeah, so that was it. And then I I did, but you know, I had a different career then because I had a bit of acting theatre experience from England, you know, and I'd done a bit of that stuff. Always, always loved the church and loved my faith. And it wasn't something I was obviously broadcasting about, necessarily, people knew I had gone to magic or in places like that. But I was going to get to that. When you present a program like this, as you did, and you clearly have a strong faith and we'll pick the story up back there and fast forwarding a little bit. Do you have to keep it in check or is it a challenge in that regard in that you don't want to come across as I mean, you want to, you know, represent how caring you are and your understanding and your faith, but at the same time you don't want you to be presenting a show that maybe it's perceived as being through the prism of your faith. Was that a tough line for you to walk or something you were able then to do subconsciously, Father Shaun? I think you're right. It's subconscious. And you know this. I mean, you're asking the question, but I know you know the answer because you have to do it. And it is a difficult one, but something that I always was very conscious of from the day one that I began broadcasting here that I wanted to be fair. Now, I know being fair doesn't always mean that, you know, you stay completely, you know, it's kind of can be a cop out as well to just, you know, let other people do then not you. And I know you particularly are not afraid to give your opinion, you know, and be strong. And it takes courage to do that. Today is not the great day to mention that. It's not it's not necessarily an opinion. Why what have I missed? Well, maybe I do, but I don't actively it's not that I give my opinion. I think it's really more it's more the the line of questioning, which I would say most of the times devils have a couple maybe received his opinion. But anyway, this is not about this is not about me. It's back to you. I think it's a quality, actually, you know, because I think it stands now. Obviously, not if your opinion becomes a show. I'm not talking about that, but you have the courage to say, no, well, isn't it this way? Isn't it that way? And sometimes you have to do that, you know, so you did too. Yeah, for sure. I mean, you held people to account for further for, you know, when I think when you when you've got these earphones on, Greg, you know, you don't know what's coming and, you know, and sometimes, you know, you'd be in the middle of an interview or somebody would call in and then the story develops. You have to adapt. Don't you? Yeah. And then also to, you know, be conscious of the other person if there's a debate on two people or a listeners are having a debate, you know, that you're conscious of if somebody and, you know, you have to say, well, hang on, you know, exactly. And that was important. And I hope I was fair. I tried to know you are everyone. That is the one thing that that always comes back to you as a your empathy, be your understanding, see your ability to include in everything, but also your fairness as well. So you certainly achieve that. But in terms of of religion, playing a very important part in your life and when you were doing the bit of acting and that type of stuff. And then as you moved into into media, in the early part of your life, did you consider the priesthood? I mean, was that something that you considered or were you was it just that you were strongly religious person? I think I had a tremendous grounding in the faith as a child. You know, I really did. I went to St. Wollstone's Catholic School in Newcastle, underline. And I had great people. You know, I was an altar boy, the priests were tremendous. Father Carr, Father McCabe was my earlier priest and Father Carr. I served a lot with him because he was more that age when it became sort of 9, 10, 11, whatever it was. And he was a lovely man, a great priest. And so these people all had a strong influence on me plus others. And of course, some of the teachers as well and sisters, the sisters who sisters of mercy actually who looked after the school as well. And so I had a good grounding. And then at about, I think I was about 14, I thought maybe 15, I thought I'd like to at least pursue the possibility of looking at this. And yeah, and there was a weekend retreat in, I think it was St. Albans. And there was Sacred Heart Brothers and Priests. And I thought, I'll try that. And I went down and I absolutely, I thought this was it, you know, I loved it. And they were very, very interested in me pursuing it. And I thought at that time, I don't think I could do this academically. You know, I was, I wasn't a faith thing. It was the academic side. I knew confidence. You know, I just didn't have confidence. I wasn't a very confident young person. And I, you know, I was probably was insecure and everything. And I thought, oh, I don't know if I could do this. And I mean, that stays with you, you know, you know, you, you, your nature changes in some ways but not. They self doubt all your, your core personality traits are with you your whole life, aren't they? Yeah. And basically, I thought, well, I don't know if I could do it. Now they didn't think like that. They kept writing to me, but I just, I don't have the confidence. That was really, and fear. And you never should let fear, you know, if I let fear stop me, I'd never be sitting here today as a Catholic priest. It was fear will, you know, stops. Do you wish you could have half an hour with your 14 year old self? Yeah. No, in some ways, no, because I think that because I have had the experiences in life that I've had now, it has given me an opportunity to understand and empathise with people in a much different way. Yeah. Wouldn't have happened if I liked that. So there's no regrets. You can reflect on the decisions perhaps you could have made at 14, but also you can say, you know what, maybe everything happens for a reason. And now look at the person that you are and what you can bring with your life's experience. We are all the same, Greg. I mean, I, of course, I've got many regrets and I've made many mistakes and, you know, and that because I'm human and, you know, in my human nature, you know, I've made many mistakes and I've, you know, I've got, I'm aware of that. And as a result of that, we should be. And as a result of that and the pains and the difficulties you go through in life and everything else and, and, you know, you understand what I'm talking about in terms of bereavement as well. And and all of that, it gives you then hopefully and through the mistakes, some empathy for others in their pain and their difficulties. And because I'm doing what you're doing, I did what you're doing now. You develop techniques for listening to people. And I think in ministry, you need to listen. And as a broadcaster, the best gift that you can give anyone is to listen to them and that people feel listened to. And you know when you're having a conversation with somebody, they know when you're listening to them, when you're not, you know. And and that's what I think a lot of people in our society today, many of our, our us need is, is someone that will just listen without judgment, without saying, oh, no, you should do this. We're doing that way. Listen to people first. Listen to what their story is, because we don't know what their story is, you know. And we all make judgments like, I mean, I'm no different than anybody else. But then I have to reflect and think, well, hang on, I don't know what what happens to people in their lives and what makes them the way they are or makes for person. You know, we just get we clash off each other and all these things. And then I sort of reflect, hang on, Sean, you know, cop yourself on, you know, you have made mistakes. And I think when you when you get older, you realise that more. And if I'd have if I'd have been a priest, I don't know the answer to this. But if I'd have been a priest as a young man, you know, if I'd joined that sort of order then, who knows, you couldn't have the knowledge that you have now. It would be impossible. That's not to say that young priests can't do that because God gave the grace when it's needed. But I do feel what I think I'm trying to say is that God will always and does turn our mistakes. He's you were called when you were ready as the person you've become through everyone that's influenced you for every good thing, for every mistake we've all made. And that was the time that that may you had to make really big decisions. So you had to make those decisions with some guidance. You couldn't. It'd be very difficult to make the decision to leave this job and to pursue your new life. Yeah. Without some you have to feel that you're in being assisted in that decision and not just by trusted individuals around you. But it is not a leap of faith but you have to say right now is my time. And the thing is life is very, very tough. And it's only when in a situation like this where you recount your life and I'm listening to you as you talk of it. And then I'm thinking of, you know, mine if I were on your side and I was explaining the losses in my life and if it was Caroline or if it was Kevin behind you maybe he's young and it might not be. But when you put it down like that, your timeline it we've an awful lot to go for your mom had so much to go. I'm thinking when she was pregnant with you. Twins, twins like back then what treatment options were available, what decisions were made, what choices did she have to make? You know, and all of the different layers of what we talk about life is really, really it's wonderful. But it can be tough, it can be tough for everybody. Yeah, exactly. Honestly, and you know, when I was in Roma, I did some work with the Vatican radio over there, little bits of work. And they were very interested in Rome. Anyway, generally, they were very interested in the broadcasting past. And they would say, well, actually, it's your broadcasting that has brought you to the point because, because as you know, Greg, we have heard and do here so much that many of the things that I'll be listening to now and I'll listen to I've been a deacon for a year, so people do come to you, obviously, and talk to you. It's different as a priest now you're here and are able to manage the sacrament of reconciliation. So you can't do that as a deacon, but people still come to you with issues. And they there's very, as they say, very little a priest hasn't heard, you know, but as a radio presenter and doing a program like yours now, very little you haven't heard. So the human story, the human condition and the difference for me now is obviously I'm ministering in a different way because I'm bringing people hope, I hope through, you know, the God's mercy that is shown to me in my life and his love for me. And if he loves me, he loves you and he loves me no more than he loves you and everybody else that's listening to this. And I think that's the message and mercy. And Pope Francis, as you know, is very, very strong on the mercy and taking people where they're at on their journey, you know, take people where they're at, where are you now? You know, let's accompany you, accompany you in faith, you know, and help. And I love that. So then as you began your career in broadcasting, Highland Radio wasn't your first gig, but then you come in here, you settled into your show and on you go. You've had many different roles and responsibilities, of course, in this organization, but primarily, I think for the listeners' perspective, it would be, I mean, obviously they went on shows with the stuff, but it would be the broadcasting. Through, as you grew up, you know, you matured as a human. You were a baby when you started doing this. And then over 27 years, you know, we go through all of our roller coasters in life and what have you. Was that 14 year old Sean always there? With the interest in the priesthood? Did it come and go? Did it come in waves? Did you doubt yourself as a 28 year old, as a 33 year old say, I kind of still feel there's something there, but nah. Like how was that? No, I don't think it was, I don't think it was something I was thinking about daily, monthly, to be frank. Because, you know, this was my life. I loved and love Highland Radio. I always talk about Highland. I was so glad, you know, so many of you, as you know, with this massive picture, I think it was the biggest picture of the day at the ordination, was the Highland family over the whole span of Highland Radio. And I couldn't express in words what Highland, it's part of me. It is, yeah. Absolutely part of me. And my life, the people that supported me and listened and put their, you know, trust in their stories with me as they do with you on a daily basis, that's a privilege that we never, ever can take for granted. And people from Derry, Donnie Gull, Tarone, you know, Donnie Gull gave me such a welcome. And people used to say, you know, I remember a couple of people when I got the job at the beginning saying, oh, oh, actually more so when I went away. Say if we do a show somewhere else, maybe in, or London or New York, I know you've done a few in London. They would say to me, oh, how did you get on with that English accent? It was never, yeah, it was always people outside, actually. But Donnie Gull put their arms around me, you know, and gave me such a loving embrace. I always felt held by people, you know, in the county who sort of had me back, you know, and you reflect on it afterwards a lot as well, you know, especially after I left. And people said, you miss Highland? Of course. How could you not? But I haven't left it because it's part of me. And you're part of it, of course, forever. Did you find, how did you deal with, not, I don't know how to describe it, you obviously had to listen to a lot of people and a lot of it is people's very difficult times. And people going through terrible loss of children and all that kind of stuff. And maybe you might be better equipped now to sort of deal with people coming to you with their concerns. Did, how did you deal with doing a show like this for so long whereby, you know, you can go home, things don't leave you, they stay with you. Did you learn to cope with that? Was it always difficult or what? It depends on the mood you're in, I think, as well. Because, of course, there were some profoundly difficult moments, as you know, and stories. And you in your, I've been listening to you in Rome, and Father John Joe Duffy was on the altar last night for the first mass, along with other brother priests. And he came to the ordination. And I don't know if people in the Northwest realize worldwide, and I mean worldwide, and in Rome, it was mentioned to me several times how much his ministry at that time meant and was felt. I know by the family and the friends and those who lost so much. And I referenced it last night at my first mass because he was there. And he got a round of applause, and quite rightly so, but that round of applause went out to the, from the hearts of people for the families. I was in Rome, and I know you were broadcasting and listening to these stories and I was listening to you as it was developing. I saw a clip come up that was an event, and my heart, I knew, you know, and I know when the media, you know, this is something else, this is a big event. And I hadn't, nobody had an idea at that point how big it was and how tragic it was gonna be. And in Rome, I was watching it from a distance, and everybody was praying our hearts were gone out and still are for the families, for those who lost their lives, for those who have been, you know, injured and their families and friends, you know, everybody affected by it, deeply affected people, of course, the first primarily, the families, but also others, and it was, and Father John Joe, as you know, better than I, because you spoke to him many times, he had a pivotal role there. He's along with others. Yes, he's something, Father John Joe is just, and he, and amongst others too, and those that supported me was amazing. And you're right to, and I think, and I get the point that you're making, I'm changed forever by that, not in any way close to what others are, and I would speak to the families, or some of them families, and I would say, but it does, you do this job, and it does, everything, it does impact you, and it does change you, and you take these things with you. I'm gonna take a break as you would understand that has to be done. I probably won't take them all, so I might get the sack, but you'll stay with us just at the end of the show, will you? Yes. These are comments that are coming in for you. I don't even know where you might start with them, but the great thing is we can give them to you, and you can take them at your leisure, but it's just an absolute outpouring of love. People delighted to hear you, people delighted to see you, and we're gonna fast forward a wee bit maybe to, I think your time in Medjugorje was really important to you, wasn't it? And we might talk about that afterwards, if that's okay, and whatever you wanna talk about, Sean, I mean, you've been doing this way longer than I have, so if you wanna just go off on a tangent, please do. Okay, we'll be back with more from Father Sean Daherty after these messages. We are delighted to still be in the company of Father Sean Daherty, who's so kindly made himself available. To come back, it is room, this is his room, really, that he has entertained and informed so many of you for so long. Sean, Father Sean, so is there a moment? Is there a moment whereby something happened or something clicked that you says right now is the time? Yeah, and you've actually just prompted me to mention Donna McGettigan and the McGettigan family. Donna lives in Medjugorje and her mother died last week and James was her father. And he often mentioned Medjugorje to me, Donna, she went there during the early apparitions and ended up living there, she had a big family there. And she came to the ordination just after the funeral and it was very, very hard for her. And I just really, I couldn't thank her enough for making that effort. I didn't expect it and Jimmy as well. And so when I went out to Medjugorje about 15 years ago or so, Donna arranged the accommodation and I just heard about it. I just, you actually, I've told this story many times, probably not to you because I've been away when I was telling it, but you were coming in to do the news and I don't even remember this. I said to you, it's in the middle of the week, I says, oh, I must be due a holiday soon. And you said, you're booked from Friday or Thursday, do you remember that? It's a fake memory of it. A nice, really? I have another memory of me ending up doing a 5K, but anyway. Yes, I couldn't get it. I was bum-cran it and you weren't even, you know, you... You wasn't even running shoes. I know, I couldn't get over that because we were all sort of preparing and you just, and you ran it anyway. But go on about it. But anyway. I says you booked Friday. So I went, I said, I'm going to go to Medjugorje. I'd heard about it, you know, and Donna had been always saying to me, I was particularly a daddy and I went out and I was really impacted by it. And most people are, very few would not be. And of course now the church, you know, allows for pilgrimages to go and it's a beautiful place, a very peaceful place. People of faith and no faith go. Lots of stories, conversion stories and a lot of vocations. And over the years I went and along with my community found a father, Neil Carlin, of the Columba community, who I cannot fail to mention and hopefully we'll talk a bit more about him because he has gone to the Lord, but he had a profound impact on me along with the Columba community. And Marguerite is now the leader of that and they did so much planning for this, as you know. They met them for the ordination. But father Neil had been to Medjugorje with me twice as well but he'd been in the early years of the early apparitions. And I went anyway and I just found it incredible. And I don't know, unless you've encountered it, I suppose it's very hard to explain it. It's a very beautiful, peaceful place. And I made my decision there, actually. And I came back here and that's when I... I made it very clearly there. It was a very peaceful decision. Like, yeah, this is what I'm going to try and do. But not... You can't say for definite because it's something... I'm going to at least take space now, leave hand and consider it. And that's what I did. How big of a decision was that? I mean, do you make that decision on your own? I know that sounds like a loaded question. I did, yeah. Okay. And I'm not about the decision for this to be your path of your life. You know what I mean. But did you feel... Did you get a sense of guidance when you were in Medjugorje or was it just the whole environment and your conversations and the influences from people that... No, I would say you're right. There was definitely guidance. I feel guided, you know. I'm not going to say, you know, I got hit by a flash. No, I'm not suggesting that. I'm saying just that sometimes we need to help with a decision and we don't know exactly precisely how that's delivered to us, but we hear it. Yeah. And that's really quite... That's impactful, that's big. Yeah, well, having gone for so many years and so many times, you know... I mean, people may joke to me, you've been more times than Mary, you know. And that was one of the seminarians in Rome, but he went himself then, so we got Mary back on him. But yeah, I went and over those years, I think it's a developing thing, but I started to consider, you know, maybe there's something happening here in my life, a change happening, you know. And definitely when I made the decision, yes, of course there's guidance, because you don't make these decisions on your own, obviously. You know, it's not about if it's you doing it and you're not considering what you think. Now, you have to be very careful trying to imagine what God's will is for you because, you know, God is almighty and we can only hope we're doing what God wants us to do and trying to do what he wants us to do and hopes for us. And I felt very peaceful about it. I want to leave enough time for you to talk about the people that are important to you and the influences that's okay, and rather than sort of try and carry the story through, because I don't want you to leave here without that opportunity because you've referenced Father Carl and I, so I think that's important. So maybe if you, we should, and you reference them to, because there's so many people. I think the impression I got from you, Sean, is that every person you've interacted with, is important. Everyone. You know, even the most fleeting of things. But obviously then there's going to be people that are far, you know, far greater. So can we talk about some of those people now, because they've helped to get to where you are now. Well, Billy Patterson's sister, Christine, is probably travelling in the car now with her husband, Michael O'Dowd. And they're travelling with sister, Carmel, from Rome, who was a sister in Rome with me. She's now back in Ballina Slo. They're taking her back. They may be listening. I hope they said they would be in the car now, going back. And she wanted to meet Father Neil from Rome as well. She'd heard about him in Reddy's book. And she managed to meet him before he died. And anybody who encountered Father Neil never forgot him. A very, very, very inspirational man. Very, very important figure during the Troubles. And also, of course, the founder of White Oaks Rehabilitation Centre, which is, of course, part of the Columba community. I encountered him at about 20-something in Columba House. He still remembers where I was sitting when he met me. That's the kind of man he was. That's the people he would meet. Yeah. And you know, Greg, when you're speaking to Father Neil, and I did interview him a few times before I ever became involved in the community, he could read you. I don't know. It was very hard to explain. He had very piercing blue eyes, a man of deep faith, tremendous compassion, and humanity, and strong. You know, I mean, he wasn't afraid to say, but very compassionate, you know, and loving, and his family, a wonderful family. And he founded this community, the Columba community. We've got the Celtic Prayer Garden. We've got White Oaks. We've got the Easter Centre. You saw it. Amazing. Yeah, the Celtic Prayer Garden. We've got Columba House. All these wonderful places. And they all formed a big part of it. And yeah, so the Columba community, Medjugorje, lots of people encountered through Highland who all, I mean, if I went away to Medjugorje, I was always impressed by, and I know I gave things to you as well, you were always pleased to get a medal or something, and everybody was. And it didn't matter where people were on the journey. I know people who had no interest in the Catholic Church whatsoever. But I would say, I've got you this from Medjugorje. Oh, thank you. And when I'd meet them, they'd open up and say, look, I still have it. You know, people still have, people, you know, in their hearts, most people are searching for, and maybe there's a hole in their heart, and they don't know what they're looking for. Maybe we fill it with drink or drugs or whatever it is we do. But that it is actually God that I've realised. Well, this was my understanding, and it's God we should be filling it with. How we do that and when we do that. And that's something I've heard. And I think that's come, I don't feel in a position to say, so you knock it back or whatever. I think your life experience and everything that you've been through in your life, you're coming with a very understanding approach. Every time you speak, you try and speak to everyone, not just people who are very religiously practising Catholics, or not even Catholics, or not people of faith, or not even church goers. But you seem to go out of your way in an incredibly positive way to include everybody. And I think this has come from your career here and your whole life, that you don't leave anyone behind, you include everybody. And when you speak, it's clear to me that that's what you're doing. In a very natural way, not in a very deliberate way, but I'm getting the impression that's something that's incredibly important to you, that you speak to everybody, regardless of where they are in their life or on their journey. And it should be, because as Catholics that's what we're called to do, as Christians that's what we're called to do. And read the story about Zacchaeus, on the outside, down to see Jesus climbed up the tree. But Jesus brought him down and went to his house. And he didn't say, you've got to convert before I come into your house. He went into his house and he out with him. And he was so overwhelmed by meeting Jesus and encountering him. And he wanted to, everything, all the mistakes he'd made and the debts he owed, I'll pay ten times or double it or whatever you want to, you know. So Jesus was not looking, he was looking for the lost sheep and he would go, my card, my prayer card for the ordination was a lost sheep, you know. You know, we're all lost at different stages of our lives and, you know. And we'll be again. Of course. Because life is a challenge. We're never always there, are we? We're always stumble. Of course. We just get up and keep moving forward. Of course. And as long as we know that and as long as we know, you know, I spoke to parents last night and they'd lost a child. And I didn't realise who they were until they were speaking to me. Because I didn't know them personally but I knew the story and they were talking. And, you know, it's profound stuff and only somebody who has lost a child would understand that, you know. And that's the privilege of the job that you're doing and the role you have now. And we do it through their age. It was a very different way now as a priest that you're trying to listen and it was trying to listen to them, you know. The difficulties and the struggles. But Jesus, I was, you know, obviously there are people of faith. But of course, those moments you might question, where's God in all of this? But I says, what? Never fails to amaze me. That the people who've been through the most tremendous difficulties in their lives and you might say, have every reason to say, how could there be a God, you know. How could this happen? How could this happen? Have this faith? And they say, only for my faith it gets them through. And that, you know... Yeah. And I think, you know, part of me is envious of the position that you will have now, the position of trust, the position that people will come to you, the comfort you'll be able to give people and do give people. I think that's a beautiful gift to have. If you know what I mean, a beautiful position to be in. Well, we're all in unique positions. You're in the position of being a wonderful father. I've seen you with your children. I've seen you the posts as well because I, you know, I've seen your older children and they're lovely and then you saw them as little children. So you have that which I don't have. So we all have our own experiences or our own journeys, our own vocations. And not everybody is called to priesthood. Not everybody has, you know, a different status in life. And that's fine. OK. I'd rather show on Daherty. We've just had so many, so many comments and requests and so many people listening and watching. And I think that's a testimony to you. And also, as I said to you all fair, I've never seen anything that's good news. Have the reaction that I have to your, like, you know, you talk about family, it's clear people still see you as part of their family because the reaction they've had is on Highland, whether it's on Donegal Daily, whether it's on Donegal Now or any of it or wherever it might be, people are genuinely so happy for you, which is lovely. It is lovely. It's probably not required, but it's a lovely thing to have. It's a lovely thing and I'm aware that not everybody, you know, has a great relationship with the church or would, you know, maybe think he's a great guy to be. That's fine too, you know, because I probably would be thinking that of others. That's the way of it. You know, I'm aware of that. I wanted to mention, Greg, the Donegal Hospice, because as a patron, I've not been around and I know that people have been very supportive of it and, you know, Grace and Isabelle were there at the ordination, so I know and I'm very grateful that people continue to support it and I know that you as a group of Highland Radio and Davey James doing this jive-in and everything, he's been doing brilliant work and please keep supporting them in the Foyle Hospice and the Ray of Sunshine in Africa, you know, maybe you get you out one day, you could take a whole team. Oh, they would love that, Ollie would love it. And, you know, and to Caroline, the last thing that happened made a terrible mistake, the last show, because, you know, it ended all like this will now very quickly. And I never, the mic went off and the only person I hadn't thanked was Caroline Orson. She still hasn't forgiven you. No, well, she will now. So to the priests, Father Paul, Father Michael and those who helped me through my ordination to Bishop Donegal, Bishop Boys, all the brother priests, all the people who came, all those who sent me good wishes and love and prayers. And those, I'll never be able to thank enough the people of Highland and the listeners and those who've supported me and Caroline Orson, the producer as well, who'd, you know, you know. She's really the person who does the show with Truth be told. Don't tell everybody that. No, but I'm just the math. You will not know where you're going to be based for another while. At 11, maybe around next week then. And are you doing any other masses in Donegal soon? I'm doing one in Earth which is where my father is from in Clown, near Clown Mani, on Friday evening. So there'll be mass there on Friday evening. That's my first one in my dad's parish. Do you remember how you used to sign off your show? Whatever you do, do it. George, save. Whatever you do, do it nicely, do it safely, but most of all, do it with Highland and Radio. Father Sean, it's been wonderful and it's been wonderful to see where you... I know it's just a lovely story as I said earlier on. Thank you. Thank you so much for coming in. Thank you. Thank you.