Media diary notice for the Episcopal Ordination of Father Niall Coll as Bishop of Ossory

17 Jan 2023

  • You, or a representative, are invited to the celebration of Mass for the Episcopal Ordination of Father Niall Coll as Bishop of Ossory.  For journalists wishing to attend please contact the Catholic Communications Office in advance.  Details:

    Date and time             Sunday 22 January 2023, at 3.00pm

    Venue                         Cathedral of Saint Mary, Kilkenny, Diocese of Ossory

    In attendance              Laity, religious, clergy, family and guests

    Media arrangements

    At 2.00pm this Sunday, Martin Long of the Catholic Communications Office will be available to brief journalists at the dedicated media centre located in the Cathedral Parish Office which is located on the grounds of Saint Mary’s Cathedral.  The media centre will be open until after the Mass and will offer internet access and refreshments.  Hard copies of the homily to be preached by Father Kieran O’Shea, other addresses from the Mass, the ordination booklet (which contains details of the Liturgy and the biography of Bishop-elect Coll) and related information on the Diocese of Ossory will be available here.

    Media representatives will have an opportunity for photographs and brief interviews with Bishop Coll after the Ordination Mass.

    Photographs from the ceremony will be available to media by contacting photographer John McElroy on + 353 (87) 241 6985 and/or by email on [email protected] to obtain photographs for publication purposes.

    The Ordination Mass will be livestreamed on www.stmaryscathedral.ie.

    Ordination Ceremony

    The Chief Ordaining Prelate will be Archbishop Dermot Farrell, Archbishop of Dublin, who will be assisted by Co-Consecrators Bishop Denis Nulty, Bishop of Kildare & Leighlin and outgoing Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Ossory, and Bishop Alan McGuckian SJ, Bishop of Raphoe.  Monsignor Julien Kaboré, Chargé d’Affaires of the Apostolic Nunciature in Ireland, will also attend.  Father Kieran O’Shea of the Diocese of Ossory, will preach the homily.  The Cathedral Choir will provide music for the Mass and Master of Ceremonies will be Father Roderick Whearty of Ossory.

    ENDS

    Notes for Editors

    Life and ministry of Bishop-elect Niall Coll

    Niall Coll was born on 25 August 1963 in Letterkenny, Co Donegal, Diocese of Raphoe.  Bishop-elect Coll’s ministry has comprised leadership in Catholic education and, along with his priestly appointments, has included conducting retreats for clergy, as a contributor to various publications, including Doctrine and LifeThe Furrow, The Irish Theological Quarterly and The Tablet and as the Editorial Director of the Catholic School ethos journal Le Chéile.

    Education

    1981 – 1984    BA National University of Ireland, Saint Patrick’s College Maynooth, Co Kildare

    1984 – 1987    BD Pontifical University Saint Patrick’s College, Maynooth, Co Kildare

    1988                Priestly Ordination: 3 July 1988 Incardinated in the Diocese of Raphoe

    1987 – 1989    Licence in Dogmatic Theology Pontifical Gregorian University, Rome, Italy

    1991 – 1992    H Dip Ed University of Dublin, Trinity College

    1992 – 1995    Doctorate in Christology Pontifical Gregorian University, Rome, Italy

    Appointments

    1989 – 1991    Teacher: Saint Eunan’s College, Letterkenny, Co Donegal

    1995 – 1998    Lecturer: Saint Patrick’s College, Carlow

    1998 – 2001    Curate: Parish of Dungloe, Co Donegal

    Chaplain and Teacher: Pobalscoil na Rosann, Dungloe, Co Donegal

    2001 – 2019    Professor of Religious Studies and Religious Education,

    St Mary’s University College, Belfast

    2019 – 2021    Parish Priest: Drumholm-Ballintra, Co Donegal

    2021 – 2022   Parish Priest: Donegal (Tawnawilly) and Clar, Co Donegal         

    For media contact: Catholic Communications Office Maynooth: Martin Long +353 (0) 86 172 7678 and Lisa Sheridan +353 (0) 86 084 3175.