His Holiness Pope Francis appoints Father Denis Nulty as Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin
His Holiness Pope Francis has appointed as Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin, the Very Reverend Denis Nulty, Parish Priest of Saint Mary’s Parish, Drogheda, Diocese of Meath.
ENDS
- Please contact the Catholic Communications Office for a photograph of Bishop-elect Nulty.
- Life and Ministry of Bishop-elect Denis Nulty
Denis Nulty was born in Slane, County Meath on 7 June 1963 to parents Den Nulty and Nan Balfe. He is the youngest of five children, with two brothers and two sisters. The family farm was the home where Denis and his siblings were reared.
He attended Primary School at Saint Patrick’s National School, Slane and Secondary School at Saint Patrick’s Classical School, Navan, completing the Leaving Certificate exam in 1981.
Denis entered the seminary at Saint Patrick’s College, Maynooth in September 1981, completing a BA in 1984 and a BD in 1987.
He was ordained a Priest for the Diocese of Meath in Saint Patrick’s Church, Slane on 12 June 1988 by Bishop Michael Smith in the presence of Bishop John McCormack.
In September 1988 Bishop Smith appointed Father Denis as Curate in the Cathedral Parish at Mullingar where he served for ten years until 1998.
In August 1998 Bishop Smith appointed Father Denis as Parish Priest of Saint Mary’s, Drogheda where he has remained until the present day.
In 2006 Father Denis followed a course of study in All Hallows College, Dublin, leading to an MA in Management for the Pastoral and Voluntary Services being awarded by DCU.
In September 2006 Bishop Smith appointed Father Denis as Vicar Forane for the Duleek Deanery which comprises seven parishes. Father Denis has been Chairperson of the Council of Priests in the Diocese of Meath for the past eight years.
Notes for Editors
- The Diocese of Kildare and Leighlin consists of County Carlow and parts of Counties Kildare, Laois, Offaly, Kilkenny and Wexford. There are 56 parishes in the diocese. It has a Catholic population of 248,000. There are 95 priests in active ministry and another 22 retired.
- Saint Brigid of Kildare is the principal patron of the diocese. Secondary patrons are Saint Conleth (first bishop at Kildare) and Saint Laserian (first bishop at Leighlin).
- There are four large urban areas in the diocese: Naas, Newbridge, Portlaoise and Carlow.
- The present shape of Kildare and Leighlin diocese dates from 1678, when the previously separate dioceses of Kildare and Leighlin were for the first time placed under the pastoral care of the same Bishop, Dr Mark Forristal O.S.A.
For media contact: Catholic Communications Office Maynooth: 00353 (1) 505 3017, Martin Long 00353 (0) 86 172 7678 and Brenda Drumm 00353 (0) 87 233 7797, in Carlow (Diocese of Kildare and Leighlin)
