Local priests set for leap of faith

An Offaly priest who vowed he'd never get into a plane after taking his first flight and hating it will join four other priests in a parachute jump for charity this weekend in Birr. Fr Pierre Pepper from Banagher will join Fr Pat Gilbert from Birr, Fr Shane Crombie from Tullamore, Fr Charlie Healy from Athlone and Fr Kevin Heery from Navan as they take what's being dubbed a leap of faith in Birr airfield on Sunday in aid of Offaly Hospice. The novel idea is the brainchild of Banagher man Mark Woods and was organised by Fr Pepper. As recently as last month however the Banagher priest was still trying to work up the courage to sign up to the challenge himself. "I had to fly once and it was the worst experience of my life," he said at the time, adding that he planned to "put in the application form and see if I can work up to it". Working up to the event was helped along by friendly pressure from locals Fr Pepper revealed this week, leaving him with "no option but to do it". Looking ahead to the feat Fr Pepper's main form of defence appears to be denial. "I'm trying not to think about it," he said, adding that he didn't really relish the prospect of talking about it either. Instead he's trying to adopt a no-nonsense attitude and just get on with the job in hand, which he says looks like it will be seen by crowds. "The whole parish seems to be going," he said. Fundraising for the event - which had a target of €5,000 - has mainly been taking place via sponsorship cards. At time of speaking Fr Pepper said just ten cards had been returned so far, but already the €5,000 target looks likely to be smashed. Between the ten cards already €3,000 has been raised, and Fr Pepper said he's expecting a total of closer to €15,000 at this stage thanks to local generosity. Anyone wishing to donate to the cause can do so via sponsorship cards or by sending donations direct to Fr Pepper at Banagher Parochial House.