Dunboyne PP appointed Bishop of Ossory

Ann Casey

Published: Wed 3 Jan 2018, 11:29 AM

Last updated: Wed 3 Jan 2018, 11:33 AM

Monsignor Dermot Farrell, Parish Priest of Dunboyne has been appointed by Pope Francis as the new Bishop of Ossory.

The Diocese of Ossory has parishes in the counties of Kilkenny, Laois and Offaly.

His appointment was warmly welcomed by the Bishop of Meath, Dr Michael Smith, who said that since his ordination in 1980, Monsignor Farrell had served the Diocese of Meath with exemplary dedication, pastoral zeal and an immense capacity for work. "Following his arrival in Dunboyne and Kilbride as Parish Priest in 2007, Monsignor Farrell initiated new pastoral programmes and renewed the parish churches and schools in one of the largest and most rapidly developing parishes in the Diocese of Meath. "He brought to the role of Vicar General his particular ability to discern calmly and clearly. He has been a great support to me personally and a well-respected brother to our priests," said Bishop Smith.

Monsignor Dermot Farrell was born in 1954 in the parish of Castletown-Geoghegan, Co Westmeath. After completing the Leaving Certificate at Saint Finian’s College, Mullingar, he commenced an eight year period of seminary formation at Saint Patrick’s College, Maynooth which included degrees in science and theology. He was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Meath by Bishop John McCormack in 1980 and was awarded a Licentiate in Theology at Maynooth in 1981 and he served for the next four years as a curate in Mullingar.

Monsignor Farrell completed a Doctorate in Dogmatic Theology at the Gregorian University, Rome over a three year period and at the same time served as Dean of Studies at the Pontifical Irish College.

He returned to the Diocese of Meath in 1988 and was assigned to the Parish of Tullamore, in addition to his work as a part-time lecturer at Maynooth. He was appointed Vice President of Saint Patrick’s College, Maynooth in 1993 and President of the College in 1996. Having held that position for almost 11 years, he was appointed Parish Priest of Dunboyne in September 2007 and Vicar General of the Diocese of Meath in 2009.