New bishop of Ossory is from Castletown Geoghegan

The new Bishop of the Diocese of Ossory is to be the Westmeath-born Monsignor, Dermot Farrell, formerly president of St Patrick's College, Maynooth and currently parish priest of Dunboyne and Kilbride in Co Meath.

The appointment was announced today, Wednesday, in the Vatican at 11 am.

Bishop-elect Farrell was born on 22 November 1954 in Castletown-Geoghegan and was baptised Dermot Pius a few days later in the Cathedral of Christ the King, Mullingar.

After attending primary school at Castletown Geoghegan and Streamstown, he attended St Finian's College, completing his secondary education in 1972.

Following his Leaving Certificate, Bishop-elect Farrell went to St Patrick's College, Maynooth, obtaining in 1976 a Bachelor of Science degree, and three years later, a Bachelor of Divinity degree, followed by, in 1981, his Licence in Theology degree.

On June 7 1980, Bishop-elect Farrell was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Meath, and upon completion of his studies at Maynooth in 1981, his first appointment was as curate at the Cathedral in Mullingar where he remained until 1985 when he moved to Rome. There, he undertook his Doctorate Studies at Gregorian University, Rome, while also serving, from 1987, as Director of Formation at the Irish College in Rome.

Upon obtaining his doctorate in 1988, Bishop-elect Farrell was in 1989 appointed curate in Tullamore Parish and lecturer in Moral Theology at Maynooth. A year later, he was appointed Executive Assistant to the President in Maynooth, continuing to lecture in Moral Theology.

In 1983, he was appointed Vice-President of Saint Patrick’s College, Maynooth and he served in that role until 1996, when he became President of Saint Patrick’s College, Maynooth, a position he held until 2007 when he was appointed an Honorary Prelate of His Holiness, and made Parish Priest of Dunboyne and Kilbride.

Since 1989, Bishop-elect Farrell has been Vicar General to the Diocese of Meath.

The Diocese of Ossory, to which Bishop-elect Farrell has been appointed, consists of County Kilkenny and portions of counties Laois and Offaly.  The Catholic population of Ossory is 84,729.  There are 42 parishes in the diocese and 89 churches.  There are 58 priests active in the diocese and 15 others.  The patron saint of the Diocese of Ossory is Saint Kieran.  The retired bishops of Ossory are Bishop Laurence Forristal (September 2007) and Bishop Seamus Freeman SAC (due to ill health, July 2016).

 

Archbishop Eamon Martin, Archbishop of Armagh, Primate of All Ireland and President of the Irish Catholic Bishops' Conference, has published the following statement has warmly welcomed the announcement, saying that today marks “a significant new step” in Bishop-elect Farrell's vocational journey.

“He will be encouraged by the prayerful support of his family, friends and faithful, especially in the diocese of Ossory and in his home diocese of Meath,” he stated.

He continued: “Bishop-elect Farrell has already shown great commitment to his priestly calling in a variety of pastoral settings.

“He has developed gifts and skills which, with the help of God’s grace, will enrich his service to the people, priests and religious in his new diocese.

“His theological expertise as well as his wide experience of administration, pastoral ministry and seminary formation will also benefit our discussions at the episcopal conference as we consider how to best serve the present and future needs of the Church in Ireland.

“I look forward to working with him and wish him wisdom and every blessing.

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank Monsignor Michael Ryan for his dedication to the role of Diocesan Administrator of the Diocese of Ossory since the retirement of Bishop Seamus Freeman in 2016 due to ill health. 

“My thoughts and prayers are also with Bishop Seamus Freeman today, and with Bishop Laurence Forristal, who retired as Bishop of Ossory in 2007.  I assure them both of my prayers for continued strength and good health in retirement.”