A South Galway native and former Parish Priest of Lisdoonvarna has become Bishop of the Diocese of Achonry, Clare FM reports today. Derrybrien native Monsignor Brendan Kelly, who was born in Derrybrien in 1946, takes on the new role following his Episcopal Ordination in County Roscommon yesterday. Following his early education at Craughwell National School, he attended St Mary’s College, Galway and was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Galway in 1971.
He served for a year as Curate in the Parish of Kinvara and taught from 1980 to 1986 in Our Lady’s College, Gort, of which he was subsequently President from 1986 to 1995.In 1996 he was appointed Parish Priest of Lisdoonvarna and in 2002 he was created a Canon of the Cathedral Chapter and became Vicar Forane for the deanery of Kilfenora. He's been parish priest of Spiddal since 2003, and today will take on the role of Bishop of Achonry, replacing the outgoing Bishop Thomas Flynn.
