Warm tributes have been paid to Monsignor Michael ‘Ricky’ Devine on his passing at age of 95.
A former Summerhill College past pupil and teacher, he was a passionate supporter of Sligo Rovers all his life, attending his first game in 1948 and his last on August 22nd last at The Showgrounds when Rovers played Waterford.
Father Devine spent most of his life in Florida, US but remained always close to Sligo, travelling back regularly and was part of a fundraising group for the club, presenting a yearly cheque to the club.
Summerhill College held a special place in his heart and the school’s all weather facility was named in his honour and which was officially opened by him in September 2023.
He enjoyed great success with the college’s soccer teams when he was a teacher there in the 1970s.
A native of Ballygar,County Galway, Monsignor Devine was ordained for the Diocese of Elphin on June 23, 1957.
He had returned to Sligo fulltime in the past two years and was cared for at Summerville nursing home in Strandhill. He passed away on Tuesday, October 20.
“Monsignor Devine’s support for the Bit O’Red spanned almost eight decades, and he will be fondly remembered for his longstanding dedication to the club.
Sligo Rovers
In a statement, Sligo Rovers said: “Sligo Rovers Football Club is saddened to learn of the passing of Monsignor Michael F. Devine, a loyal supporter of the club since 1948.
“Monsignor Devine’s support for the Bit O’Red spanned almost eight decades, and he will be fondly remembered for his longstanding dedication to the club.
“We extend our sincere condolences to his family, friends and all who knew him at this sad time.”
Sunmerhill College also posted a tribute:
“It is with deep sadness that we learn of the passing of Monsignor Michael (”Ricky”) Devine, a cherished past pupil, educator, priest, mentor and lifelong friend of CIC Summerhill.
“Monsignor Devine came to Summerhill as a student, attending the college from 1943 to 1948 (as a boarder). During those formative years, he developed a love for learning, faith, sport and community that would remain hallmarks of his life and ministry.
Monsignor Devine pictured with lifelong friend, the late Bishop of Elphin, Christopher Jones
“Following his studies at CIC Summerhill, he entered St Patrick’s College, Maynooth, and was ordained to the priesthood in 1957. Soon afterwards, he returned to CIC Summerhill, having completed his Diploma, as a member of staff, where his influence on generations of young people would prove immeasurable.
“Monsignor Devine was a pioneering educator who understood that education extended far beyond the classroom. Long before such ideas became commonplace, he championed the belief that a healthy mind and a healthy body go hand in hand.
“He dedicated himself to promoting sport and physical activity among young people, establishing leagues, inter-school competitions and opportunities that enriched the lives of countless students, leading teams to All Ireland and European Championships in soccer. Through his involvement in boxing, soccer and a wide range of sporting initiatives, he encouraged young people to strive for excellence, discipline and teamwork.
“His passion for sport was legendary. A devoted supporter and patron of Sligo Rovers, he was a familiar presence at home matches and a tireless advocate for opportunities for young athletes.
“He took particular pride in supporting students in securing athletic scholarships and pursuing their talents, helping many to realise opportunities that might otherwise have seemed beyond reach.
“While his roots remained firmly planted in CIC Summerhill and the wider Sligo community, Monsignor Devine’s ministry also extended far beyond Ireland’s shores. He served faithfully in the Diocese of St Petersburg, Florida, to which he was later incardinated, becoming a much-loved pastor and spiritual leader. His commitment to parish life, pastoral care and community building earned him the affection and respect of all who knew him.
“Although he travelled widely and embraced new horizons, he never forgot where he came from. CIC Summerhill remained close to his heart throughout his life. He maintained strong connections with the school, its staff, students and alumni, taking a keen interest in its continued growth and success, and this recognition has evolved to the naming of the school’s All Weather Pitch and facility in his name.
“Monsignor Devine’s legacy lives on in the countless lives he touched: the students he inspired, the athletes he encouraged, the parishioners he ministered to, and the many friends he made on both sides of the Atlantic. His life was one of faith, generosity, service and unwavering commitment to the development of young people.
“As we give thanks for his remarkable life, we remember a man whose vision, kindness and infectious enthusiasm helped shape generations. CIC Summerhill has lost one of its most devoted sons, but his example will continue to inspire all who follow in his footsteps.”
He was sent to the Diocese of St. Augustine, Florida after ordination for two years and served in Jacksonville and at St. John Vianney, St. Pete Beach.
He returned to Ireland, where he served for the next fifteen years until returning to Florida in July 1974. His assignments include parochial vicar for the parish communities of St. Lawrence, Tampa (1974-1975); the Cathedral of St. Jude the Apostle, St. Petersburg (1975-1979); St. John Vianney, St. Pete Beach (1983); and Our Lady Queen of Peace, New Port Richey (1983-1984).
He served as parochial administrator and pastor of St. Cecelia Parish and School, Clearwater (1979-1982); and St. James Parish, Port Richey (1984-2000), where he led the community during its initial years.
In August 1999, Pope John Paul II bestowed upon him the honorary title of Monsignor. He was appointed pastor of St. Brendan Parish, Clearwater Beach, where he ministered from 2000 until his retirement in 2009.
He remained in residence at St. Brendan, while providing occasional assistance to the parish and to St. Cecelia Parish, Clearwater before returning home to Sligo.
He was always keen to enter the priesthood, particularly after his uncles were chaplains in World War Two.
As a teacher and priest at Summerhill College, he introduced soccer, basketball, and wrestling at a time when soccer was officially discouraged in the school system.
He guided Summerhill College teams to multiple All-Ireland schools soccer titles as well as three national wrestling titles, eventually taking a team to the 1971 European Schools Championships in Switzerland.
Monsignor Devine was a key founder of Collegians FC, a junior soccer club set up for past pupils of Summerhill.
And during his 40 years in Florida, Monsignor Devine brought soccer to the schools he taught in, even naming one of his teams ‘Sligo Rovers’ in honour of the club he supported.
And Monsignor Devine even brought teams from Summerhill over to Florida for a competition to reward their All Ireland triumph, such was his desire to continue giving back to the community.
The Summerhill College soccer team of 1970. with coach, Fr. Ricky Devine.
He recalled how he fell in love with Sligo Rovers in an interview with The Sligo Champion.
“Until I went to Summerhill I had played nothing but Gaelic football. I must be one of the longest serving Sligo Rovers supporters, Sligo Rovers were out of action during World War Two, they came back in September 1948.
“I was a fifth year and I managed to get permission to get out of school to watch them, I didn’t say for what. I paid my six pence to get in. It was a real revelation to me.
“After all these years, I remember the centre half after all these years. Sam Winters, a Scots man. I was fascinated with him, the way he could head the ball half way down the field.”
When he was ordained in 1957 there simply was nowhere in Ireland he could go.
He recalled: “Strange thing at that time was, the bishop said to me ‘you can go anywhere in the world for ten years, we have too many priests, we’ve no room for you’. Isn’t that a big change? I decided to go to Florida, I had a number of priest friends there. I decided to go by ship, one of the last sailings was about to take place, planes were coming in.”
The sailing to the US was very smooth, Monsignor Devine says, and it took four and a half days.
“The night before I left, I went around Ballygar to say goodbye. One man who worked in America, and retired to Ireland told me ‘remember when you go to America, who you know counts as much as what you know’. I didn’t pay much attention.
“I got on board. One of the days we were sailing was Sunday. The purser of first class came to me and asked if I would celebrate mass for the first class passengers.
“I went and celebrated mass. After mass, this man came to me and asked where was I going to. I said ‘I’m going to Miami’, he said ‘we have a house there in the same diocese, maybe some time you might be appointed to that area and we could meet again’.
“He was well informed about Ireland. When we were leaving I said ‘and by the way who are you?’ and he said ‘I’m Senator John F Kennedy’. I hadn’t even reached the shores of America,” he told The Sligo Champion’s Jessica Farry.
The initial plan was to stay for ten years. That didn’t happen. Two years into his stint in Miami, Monsignor Devine was called back to Sligo, as the Bishop needed somebody to move into Summerhill.
That was in 1960. He would spend 14 years teaching in Summerhill College, bringing new sports to the school and giving students opportunities they perhaps didn’t have before.
“I came back to Summerhill but the only sport that was there was Gaelic football. I was willing to do that but there were two coaches for that already. “After lunch one of the days, I went out, and I noticed that every patch of green, handball alleys, there were kids out there playing soccer. I said to myself ‘soccer must be in Sligo’s DNA’. Everywhere I went, I saw it.”
Monsignor Devine
“I came back to Summerhill and I was willing to do it but the only sport that was there was Gaelic football. I was willing to do that but there were two coaches for that already.
“After lunch one of the days, I went out, and I noticed that every patch of green, handball alleys, there were kids out there playing soccer. I said to myself ‘soccer must be in Sligo’s DNA’. Everywhere I went, I saw it.”
But ‘the ban’ was in place. From 1905 to 1971, members of the GAA were banned from playing or watching other sports.
By the late 1960s, the ban was understood to be outdated, and almost impossible to enforce with sports available to watch on television.
“It was no problem,” Monsignor Devine said about coaching soccer in the school. “Monsignor Thomas Finnegan was there and he was very open minded.
Having taken on as many sports as he could himself when he was younger, even winning a 400m title, Monsignor Devine was adamant that the students of Summerhill needed to be able to play as many sports as they could.
It was here in Summerhill that basketball started, and even wrestling.
“I decided to give as many sports as possible to people, when I was there, there was only one pitch, and you’d get two or three times to play Gaelic football because the senior team would get preference. I said I wanted to get as many other sports as possible in the school.
“I even started Olympic style wrestling. One of my students, Michael O’Toole won the British Open, and qualified to go to the World Youth Championships in Lima, Peru. I got a trip there with him to coach him. That was a nice perk.
“The basketball then, I got it up near the handball alleys, we got permission from father Kelleher. We had a job getting it done. The last time I was home I think it was John McGowan who came to me and he gave me the Sligo All Stars jacket and he said ‘you started basketball’. Anything I could do.”
Monsignor Devine founded a local club called Collegians, which was a team for past pupils of Summerhill College.
Through this club, he was able to keep in touch with everyone, even when he left again for Florida.
“Some great people were involved. Martin Dolan was one, a big helper, Michael Mooney as well. He was a big help. They helped with Collegians. I wasn’t there anymore but I would keep in touch with them. They were very successful.”
After 14 years in Summerhill, Monsignor Devine returned to Florida,
“I loved it (Summerhill). The thing is though, after 14 years, I wanted more adventure. The sand had got into my shoes and I wanted to go back to Florida and I was there for 40 years or so.”
At St. Jude’s Cathedral Parish, Monsignor Devine started a soccer team in 1975. Soccer was completely new to the young men there, but they gave it a go.
Several players agreed to give it a go having only played American sports before. And they loved it.
When it came to deciding what to name the team, ‘Sligo Rovers’ felt like the right fit, after all, the players had heard so much about the club from Monsignor Devine.
In 1995 Monsignor Devine founded the Florida Rainbow Company, where he brought protestant and catholic families with ill children from Northern Ireland together to Orlando for two weeks.
In 2001, he was presented with the National Wrestling Hall of Fame’s ‘Outstanding American from the State of Florida’ award for the class of 2001 thanks to his years of commitment and his influence.