The parish priest of Spiddal in Co Galway, Mgr Brendan Kelly, is to be the next Catholic Bishop of Achonry in the west of Ireland. He will succeed Most Rev Thomas Flynn.
Born at Derrybrien, Loughrea, Co Galway, in 1946, Mgr Kelly is the son of the late Annie and national teacher Seán Kelly, the second of nine children.
Catholic Primate Archbishop Seán Brady yesterday described Mgr Kelly as "a man of prayer, filled with love for the Word of God and the pastoral care of people". He said his many years in teaching and education in Coláiste Einde, Galway, and Our Lady's College, Gort, had prepared him well for the challenges ahead.
Extending his "warmest congratulations", Bishop of Galway Dr Martin Drennan said the diocese was greatly honoured by this decision and described Mgr Kelly as a man of deep spirituality, blessed with a great love for the Catholic Church. Mgr Kelly attended Maynooth in 1964 and was ordained for the diocese of Galway in Galway Cathedral on June 20th, 1971.
In 2003 he was appointed parish priest of Spiddal and was appointed vicar general of Galway diocese two years later.
In March of last year he was conferred with the honour of chaplain to the pope.
Achonry is Ireland's smallest diocese, with 39 priests in 22 parishes in Mayo and Sligo and one in Roscommon.