Tag Archives: Fr Ger Nash

ARISING from the announcement of diocesan changes by the Bishop of Killaloe, the diocese has confirmed that the Church is not about closing the doors of churches but that a conversation needs to be had about keeping them open. After the bishop’s appointments this week, Rev Ger Nash, diocesan secretary said, “We are not closing churches. Down the line, who knows. Big questions have to be asked and will be asked about how we keep our churches open. Every community wants to keep their churches open but it’s a challenge”. The announcement has detailed the clustering of Quin and Tulla parishes with Ennis for the time being. The changes arise from the appointment of Fr Ignatius McCormack as principal in St Flannan’s College and the retirement of Fr Martin O’Brien in Tulla. Rev Nash outlined that the population has “become hugely skewed” within the diocese. While the diocese caters to all parishes, the clustering is deemed necessary due to depopulation …

NEWLY appointed Killaloe Diocesan Administrator, Fr Des Hillery, has dismissed suggestions that he may have an interest in succeeding Bishop Kieran O’Reilly, who is now Archbishop of Cashel and Emly. A native of Miltown Malbay, Fr Hillery has been parish priest of Nenagh for two and a half years, prior to which he served as a Columban missionary in Lima, Peru for seven years. “We’re not going there. I’m coming back to Nenagh. We’re not going down that road,” Fr Hillery quipped when asked if he is interested in the vacancy. “My focus is certainly here in Nenagh. It’s a very fine parish; the people are extremely good to me. I certainly enjoy where I am and I intend staying here,” he added. The most controversial aspect of Bishop O’Reilly’s tenure was the issue over the proposed exclusion of women from the diaconate. Last September, following a number of public meetings, the then Bishop of Killaloe said he was delaying …