Fifty percent fall off in priests in Killaloe Diocese

Priest numbers in the Killaloe Diocese have fallen by up to 50 percent over the past 30 years.

New Diocesan figures show there’s currently 100 full time parish ministers, down from 150 in the late 70’s.

However two men in the diocese are currently studying for priesthood for the diocese of Killaloe – one at St. Patrick’s College, Maynooth and one at the Irish College, Rome.

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In other changes.there will be new parish priests for Kilkee and Tulla.

Priest numbers in the Killaloe Diocese have fallen by up to 50 percent over the past 30 years.

New Diocesan figures show there’s currently 100 full time parish ministers, down from 150 in the late 70’s.

However two men in the diocese are currently studying for priesthood for the diocese of Killaloe – one at St. Patrick’s College, Maynooth and one at the Irish College, Rome.

In other changes.there will be new parish priests for Kilkee and Tulla.

Gerry Kenny, Diocesan Secretary to be Parish Priest in Kilkee and a member of the team of priests serving in the West Clare Cluster of Parishes.

While Martin O Brien, the current administrator at Tulla will be come the parish priest there.

Elsewhere and reverend Pat Sexton.Parish Priest at Scarrif will become the priest in residence there while Ger Nash, Priest in Residence in Crusheen and Imeall Boirne parishes to be also part time Diocesan Secretary.

Donagh O’Meara P.P. Kilkee to work in the Diocese of Port Elizabeth, South Africa while John Molloy, CC Cathedral Ennis to go on Missionary Work in South America.

 Rev. Fergal O’Neill recently ordained to be C.C. at the Cathedral Ennis and Michael Casey PP Cross to be also spiritual director to the Apostolic Work Society in the Diocese of Killaloe.

 Rev. Oliver Ryan to continue working in O’Callaghan’s Mills Parish pending the appointment of a Parish Priest and Pat Deely CC Toomevara  to take sabbatical leave of absence to pursue studies at Milltown Institute in Dublin.