New edition of final work of Cork-born scholar launched

A new edition of the final work of a Cork-born scholar was launched recently in Ballincollig, and it proposes to bring to a wider audience the book’s complex philosophy and core message of kindness.

A Quest for Meaning: A Journey Through Science, Philosophy and Spirituality was written by the late Dr Fr Gearóid Ó Donnchadha and originally published in 2023.

The book brought readers on a wide-ranging exploration of topics, including quantum theory, phenomenology, Celtic spirituality, and the history of the Christian faith. At its heart was a simple but powerful message: that faith and love are central to what it means to be human.

Gearóid Ó Donnchadha was born in Cork city in 1933 and grew up in Killarney. In 1950 he entered Maynooth College Co. Kildare and was ordained a priest of the Kerry diocese in June 1957.

He served in Manchester, Rathmore, Sneem, Birmingham, Tralee and Castlegregory, and in the 1960s and 1970s he taught in Killarney, Newry, and in several colleges around New York.

In 1980 he began teaching in Tralee Regional Technical College, now part of the Munster Technological University (MTU), and he also lectured at UCC.

He retired in 1998, taking an active role in many projects around his home in Fenit, most famously the erection of a statue to St Brendan the Navigator on Samphire Island at Fenit pier. Fr Ó Donnchadha died in a house fire in October 2015.

A new, abridged edition of Quest for Meaning - which was prepared by Fr Ó Donnchadha’s sister, Noreen O’Brien, was launched recently at the Talbot Hotel in Ballincollig.

Drawing on her experience as a teacher and her personal understanding of her brother’s work, Ms O’Brien has created a version that makes the book more accessible while keeping its depth and insight.

Among the speakers at the launch was Gary Ó Donnchadha, chief quality officer at the Department of Education and Youth, and a nephew of the late author.

“Noreen O’Brien's objective… was to create a truly accessible celebration of Fr Gearóid’s amazing mind… and ultimately to invite each of us to pursue our own quest and to be guided on that journey,” Mr Ó Donnchadha said. 

Also speaking at the launch were Risteard Pierse, another nephew of the late author, and Dr Breda O’Dwyer from MTU, a former colleague of Fr Gearóid. Both shared personal reflections on Fr Gearóid’s curiosity, generosity and lasting influence as a teacher and thinker.

The book explores themes such as empathy, curiosity and the message of Jesus, while highlighting the importance of love at the heart of both philosophy and the Christian faith.

Produced with the support of JM Agency Publishing and Design, the book is available in local retailers and online.