- Bishop Niall Coll of Ossory has announced the following clerical appointments for the diocese, effective from 30 August 2025, Feast of Saint Fiacre
Very Rev Liam Barron, PP, Mullinavat, to retire and will continue to reside as Pastor Emeritus in the parish of Mullinavat. To assist in the Pastoral Area of Aghaviller, Ballyhale and Mullinavat.Very Rev Liam Cassin, PP, Aghaviller, to retire and will continue to reside as Pastor Emeritus in the parish of Aghaviller. To assist in the Pastoral Area of Aghaviller, Ballyhale and Mullinavat.
Very Rev James Murphy, PP, Saint Canice’s Parish, to retire and reside in the parish of Thomastown. To help with Chaplaincy ministry in both Saint Columba’s Hospital and Grennan College, Thomastown. In addition, to assist with Chaplaincy ministry in Loreto Secondary School and in C.B.S. Secondary School in Saint Canice’s Parish.
Very Rev Daniel Bollard, PP, Thomastown, to retire and reside in Saint Canice’s Presbytery, Granges Road, Kilkenny. To assist with Masses in the Pastoral Area of Saint Canice’s, Saint John’s, Saint Mary’s and Saint Patrick’s and with Chaplaincy ministry in Saint Luke’s Hospital, Kilkenny.
Very Rev Patrick Guilfoyle, CC, Tullaroan, to retire and will continue to reside in the parish of Tullaroan.
Very Rev Sean O’ Connor, PP, Ballyhale, and Pastoral Area Coordinator of the parishes of Aghaviller, Ballyhale and Mullinavat, appointed Parish Priest of Aghaviller and Mullinavat, while continuing his service to the people of Ballyhale and as Pastoral Area Coordinator.
Very Rev William Purcell, PP, Clara, and Pastoral Area Coordinator of the parishes of Clara, Gowran and Tullaherin, appointed Parish Priest of Saint Canice’s Parish, to reside in the Parochial House, Dean Street, Kilkenny.
Very Rev Francis Purcell, PP, Inistioge, and Pastoral Area Coordinator of the parishes of Thomastown and Inistioge, appointed Parish Priest of Thomastown, while continuing his service to the people of Inistioge and as Pastoral Area Coordinator.
Rev Patrick Carey, Chaplain, Saint Luke’s Hospital, Kilkenny, appointed Parish Priest of Clara and Pastoral Area Coordinator of the parishes of Clara, Gowran and Tullaherin, to reside in Clara.
Very Rev Raymond Dempsey, Team Member, Saint John’s Parish, appointed Chaplain to Saint Luke’s Hospital, Kilkenny, to reside in Saint Canice’s Presbytery, Granges Road, Kilkenny.
Very Rev Thomas O’ Toole, PP, Glenmore, appointed Team Member in Saint John’s Parish, to reside in Saint John’s Presbytery.
Rt Rev Mgr Daniel Cavanagh, PP, Rosbercon, granted sabbatical leave from July until December 2025.
Very Rev Liam Taylor, PP, Ballycallan and Tullaroan, Administrator, Freshford, and Pastoral Area Coordinator of the parishes of Ballycallan, Freshford and Tullaroan, appointed Parish Priest of Glenmore, to reside in Glenmore. Appointed Administrator of the parish of Rosbercon from July until December 2025.
Very Rev Mark Condon, PP, Danesfort, appointed Parish Priest and Pastoral Area Coordinator of the parishes of Ballycallan, Freshford and Tullaroan, to reside in Freshford.
Very Rev William Hennessy, PP, Conahy, appointed Parish Priest of Danesfort, to reside in Danesfort.
Very Rev Eamonn O’ Gorman, PP, Ballyragget and Lisdowney, and Coordinator of the Pastoral Area of Ballyragget, Conahy and Lisdowney, appointed Parish Priest and Coordinator of the Pastoral Area of Galmoy, Johnstown and Urlingford, to reside in Urlingford.
Very Rev Oliver Maher, PP, and Pastoral Area Coordinator of the parishes of Galmoy, Johnstown, and Urlingford, appointed Parish Priest and Coordinator of the Pastoral Area of Ballyragget, Conahy and Lisdowney, to reside in Ballyragget.
Very Rev Patrick Canon Duggan, PE, Tullaherin, will assist with Masses in Tullaherin parish. All other matters pertaining to Tullaherin parish are the responsibility of the Parish Priest, Very Rev Patrick Canon Dalton.
Please keep in your prayers those priests who are involved in these appointments and the people and parishes where they will serve. With every blessing
ENDS
- Bishop Niall Coll was ordained Bishop of Ossory on 22 January 2022. Diocese of Ossory has a Catholic population of 85,616 with 89 churches. The Diocese comprises thirteen Pastoral Areas established from forty two parishes and is situated in the southeast of Ireland in the Counties of Kilkenny, Laois and Offaly.