Fr Richard Matthews.

Priests on the move in annual shake-up of clergy

Well-known Meath clergyman Fr Michael Sheerin is retiring as parish priest of Lobinstown, but will remain on in the parish as priest-in-residence, Bishop Michael Smith has announced in his annual clerical appointments.

Lobinstown parish will now come under the umbrella of Rathkenny parish, where Drumree native Fr Gerry Boyle is taking over from Fr John Hogan as parish priest. Fr Hogan is moving to Multyfarnham as PP.

Fr Sheerin was a teacher at St Patrick’s Classical School, Navan from 1967 until 1987, when he was appointed principal. He has ministered as parish priest of Lobinstown for 26 years.

Fr Gerry Boyle was ordained in 1988.  He was appointed curate in Tullamore that same year and parish priest of Multyfarnham in 2006.

Fr Michael Walsh, parish priest of Kilcormac, is returning to Meath where he becomes parish priest of Carnaross in succession to the late Monsignor John Hanly. He previously served in Dunshaughlin, Trim, and Kentstown.

Fr Sean Henry, parish priest of Trim, will commence one year sabbatical leave in the Diocese of Bathurst, Australia, and Fr Warren Collier, newly ordained in collon, becomes curate in Trim.

Kentstown native Fr Richard Matthews, parish priest of Killucan, becomes parish priest of Kilcormac, and is being succeeded by Fr Mark English, a native of Bohermeen who has been working in Kingscourt.

Fr Matthews was ordained in his home parish in 1983.  He served in Ardcath (1983) and Athboy (1984-1990) before joining the Meath Mission to Zambia with the Kiltegan Fathers (1990-1993).  Following his service as a curate in Dunboyne (1993-2000) and sabbatical studies in Rome (2000), he was appointed parish priest of Killucan in August 2001 and Vicar Forane in the Mullingar Deanery in 2009.

Fr Joseph Gallagher, parish priest of Tullamore, becomes Vicar Forane in Clara Deanery. Fr Padraig McMahon, Cathedral Administrator, becomes Vicar Forane in Mullingar Deanery. Fr Conor McGee, newly ordained, becomes Curate in Clara.