SIX PRIESTS took to the skies for “A Leap of Faith”, a charity skydive coinciding with the Feast of the Ascension in Co Offaly yesterday.
Supported by hundreds of well-wishers and spectators, the five first-time parachutists and one novice jumper took part in a 10,000ft tandem skydive at Birr Airfield in aid of Offaly Hospice.
For Banagher-based Fr Pierre Pepper, who has a long-standing fear of flying, the prospect was truly terrifying.
“Ten years ago I flew to Malta and I couldn’t get out of it,” he recalled, adding that he spent the entire holiday worrying about the flight home. “I was actually going to get a boat from Malta to Italy, travel on to Le Havre and across to Rosslare,” he said. “When I got in the plane I thought I was going to die,” he said after the jump. “They were all chatting and joking and I had to say, ‘Lads, shut up’.”
However, Fr Pepper’s fears had somewhat diminished by yesterday’s experience. “I guarantee you I would get up there and do it all again but this time I would open my eyes and know what was happening,” he told the crowd on landing.
Tullamore-based Fr Shane Crombie was cheerful as he prepared to take to the skies: “Today is the Feast of the Ascension, so God goes up in shouts of joy and we come down with screams of terror.”
On landing, Fr Crombie said, “I’m a very proud Westmeath man but when I came through the clouds I was never as happy to see Co Offaly. I’m delighted to do it for Offaly Hospice, that’s why we made eejits of ourselves today.”
Also jumping were: Athlone’s Fr Charlie Healy; Sligo’s Fr Vincent Connaughton, Fr Pat Gilbert of Birr and Navan-based Fr Kevin Heery, the only one to have participated in a parachute jump before.
Although the six had hoped to collect an estimated €5,000, the finally tally is expected to be well in excess of the target.