New appointments for several local clerics

Several local priests are on the move following the latest round of clerical appointments in the Ardagh and Clonmacnoise diocese.

Popular Athlone cleric Fr Liam Murray will become parish priest in Ballymahon as part of the changes announced this afternoon (Monday), taking up a post left vacant since the death of Fr Padraic McGowan last February.

Meanwhile, Coosan-based Fr Declan Shannon takes over his position as Administrator in Athlone, while Athlone parish also welcomes Longford-based curate Fr Padraig Kelliher as part of the clerical team in the town.

There’s also change afoot in Mount Temple, where longstanding priest Fr Pat Kiernan moves to Edgeworthstown in Longford where he will become parish priest. In his place comes Fr PJ Fitzpatrick, the current PP in Gowna & Mullinalaghta in north Longford.

Other noteworthy appointments concern the relocation of  Newtowncashel parish priest Fr Gerry Brady to the same position in Clonmacnoise as Fr Francis O’Hanlon retires.

In nearby Ferbane, the parish will bid farewell to Fr Frankie Murray, the current parish priest who takes up an appointment Drumshanbo in Co Leitrim, as the current PP, Fr Peter Burke, makes the move in the opposite direction.

Elsewhere, two other clerics with strong Athlone links are relocating as part of the latest round of diocesan appointments. Previously based in Athlone for many years, Fr Patsy McDermott, the current curate in Ballinamuck, Co Longford moves to become Administrator in Killashee, while newly ordained Fr Seamus O’Rourke takes up clerical duties in Carrick-on-Shannon.