Monsignor Dermot Farrell

Livestream will show Sunday's ordination of Castletown Geoghegan man as bishop

A livestream online from Saint Mary’s Cathedral, Kilkenny this Sunday, March 11, will enable anyone who wishes to do so to view in real time the episcopal ordination of Castletown Geoghegan native, Monsignor Dermot Farrell, who is to be the new Bishop of Ossory.

Starting at 3pm, the Ordination Mass will be livestreamed on www.stmaryscathedral.ie and broadcast on 88.7FM www.communityradiokilkennycity.ie.

His Holiness Pope Francis appointed Monsignor Dermot Farrell as Bishop of Ossory on 3 January 2018. The Diocese of Ossory includes most of Co Kilkenny and portions of Laois and Offaly. 

The Chief Ordaining Prelate will be Archbishop Diarmuid Martin, Archbishop of Dublin, who will be assisted by His Excellency Archbishop Jude Thaddeus Okolo, Papal Nuncio to Ireland, and Bishop Michael Smith, Bishop of Meath.

Father Dan Cavanagh PP Rosbercon, will read the Gospel.

The Apostolic Mandate from His Holiness Pope Francis will be read by Monsignor Michael Ryan, Administrator of the Diocese of Ossory.

Father Roderick Whearty PP of Saint Patrick’s Parish, will be the Master of Ceremonies for the Ordination Mass.

Cardinal Séan Brady, Archbishop Emeritus of Armagh will preside at the Mass.

Also concelebrating the Mass will be: Archbishop Eamon Martin, Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland; Archbishop Kieran O’ Reilly SMA, Archbishop of Cashel & Emly; Archbishop Michael Neary, Archbishop of Tuam; Archbishop Dermot Clifford, Archbishop Emeritus of Cashel & Emly; Bishop Philip Boyce, Bishop Emeritus of Raphoe; Bishop Raymond Browne, Bishop of Kerry; Bishop William Crean, Bishop of Cloyne; Bishop Alphonsus Cullinan, Bishop of Waterford and Lismore; Bishop Kevin Doran, Bishop of Elphin; Bishop Raymond Field, Auxiliary Bishop of Dublin; Bishop Séamus Freeman SAC, Bishop Emeritus of Ossory; Bishop John Kirby, Bishop of Clonfert; Bishop Brendan Leahy, Bishop of Limerick; Bishop Denis Nulty, Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin; Bishop Michael Smith, Bishop of Meath; Bishop Eamon Walsh, Auxiliary Bishop of Dublin; Bishop William Lee, Bishop Emeritus of Waterford and Lismore; Monsignor Piotr Tarnawski, Deputy Head of Mission, Apostolic Nunciature; Monsignor Joseph McGuinness, Diocesan Administrator Diocese of Clogher; Dom Richard Purcell, Abbott, Mount Melleray Abbey. 

Also concelebrating the Ordination Mass will be priests of the Diocese of Ossory and Meath, and religious clergy located within and without the diocese. 

Representatives of other Christian denominations are also expected to be in attendance. 

Dermot Farrell was born on 22 November 1954 in Castletown-Geoghegan Parish, County Westmeath in the Diocese of Meath.  He was baptised Dermot Pius a few days later in the Cathedral of Christ the King, Mullingar.

Monsignor Farrell received his primary education at the primary schools of Castletown-Geoghegan and Streamstown, before heading to Saint Finian’s College, Mullingar.

Between 1972 and 1981, he obtained his Bachelor of Science degree, his Bachelor of Divinity degree and his Licence in Theology degree at Maynooth.

His ordination to the priesthood took place on June 7 1980, and between 1981 and 1985n he served as curate at Mullingar parish before heading to the Gregorian University, Rome where he completed his doctorate studies, serving, for a spell during that period, as Director of Formation at the Irish College, Rome.

In 1989, Monsignor Farrell returned to this county, being appointed curate in Tullamore and ecturer in Moral Theology at Maynooth.

A year later, he was appointed Executive Assistant to the President in Maynooth, continuing to lecture in Moral Theology, and in 1993, he became Vice-President of Saint Patrick’s College, Maynooth.

The years 1996-2007 saw Monsignor Farrell serve as President of Saint Patrick’s College, Maynooth, and since 2007, he has been serving as Parish Priest of Dunboyne & Kilbride.

In 1997, Monsignor Farrell was named Honorary Prelate of His Holiness and in 2009 he was appointed Vicar General to the Diocese of Meath.