New Director for Catholic Communications Office

20 Oct 2003

PRESS RELEASE

20 October 2003

NEW DIRECTOR FOR CATHOLIC

COMMUNICATIONS OFFICE

Bishop Joseph Duffy, Chairman of the Episcopal Commission on Communications
of the Irish Bishops’ Conference has announced the appointment of Mr Martin
Long as Director of the Catholic Communications Office in Maynooth with effect
from Monday 24th November 2003.

Mr Long (34) has been Public Relations Manager of the Irish Insurance Federation
since 1999 and is a former Associate Director of Bill O’Herlihy Communications.
He is a member of the Public Relations Institute of Ireland and worked as a Dáil
Researcher and Councillors’ Liaison Officer with the Fianna Fáil Party from 1995
to 1997, and during this time served as Secretary to the Fianna Fáil delegation
at the Forum for Peace and Reconciliation. Mr Long served as Special Adviser to
the Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Development
from July 1997 to September 1998.

A native of Dunboyne, Co Meath, Mr Long was educated at Belvedere College and
at University College Dublin where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in
Economics and Politics. In 1993, he obtained a Post-Graduate Diploma in Legal
Studies from DIT College of Commerce. He is married with two children.

Welcoming his appointment, Mr Mark Mortell, recently appointed Chairman of the
Advisory Board of the Catholic Communications Office, said “ the appointment of
Martin Long as the new full time Director at the Catholic Communications Office
(CCO) is an important step in the new communications infrastructure being
established to support the Bishops’ Conference. Martin brings much relevant
experience and skills to the role and working with the new Advisory Board will
help to develop and implement a full and comprehensive communications and media
relations programme”

Mr Long replaces Fr Martin Clarke as Director of the Catholic Communications
Office who, after a six-year secondment to the Bishops’ Conference, is returning
to work with the Archdiocese of Dublin as Director of Communications.

The Catholic Communications Office (incorporating the Catholic Press and Information
Office) is an Agency of the Irish Bishops’ Conference and is based at the Columba
Centre, St Patrick’s College, Maynooth, Co Kildare (www.catholiccommunications.ie).

Note:
A photograph is available on request from
the Catholic Communications Office (01) 505 3000


Ends

20 October 2003

FURTHER INFORMATION:

Fr Martin Clarke (087) 220 8044
Ms Brenda Drumm (087) 233 7797
Mr Martin Long (086) 859 4887