Mayor disappointed as Clare parish left without priest

THE MAYOR of Clare yesterday expressed disappointment at his parish being rendered “priestless” in a move by Bishop of Killaloe Dr Kieran O’Reilly.

The annual diocesan appointments published yesterday indicate the parish of Killanena-Flagmount is to lose its resident priest, Fr James O’Brien.

In a reorganisation of clergy in east Clare, Bishop O’Reilly is moving Fr O’Brien to Feakle, where he will reside and serve as assistant priest.

County mayor Cllr Pat Hayes (FF), who lives in Killanena parish, said: “It is disappointing to hear that we are going to lose our resident priest. Fr O’Brien and Fr [Brendan] Quinlivan have provided a great service to the area.”

He added: “Killanena-Flagmount is a very rural and diverse parish. A church is very much part of the community.”

Fr Quinlivan, priest in residence in Feakle, is to become parish priest for Scariff and Feakle with pastoral responsibility for Killanena-Flagmount.

His appointment as parish priest for two villages follows the retirement of Fr Pat Sexton as priest in residence at Scariff.

A diocese spokesman said the loss of a resident priest from Killanena-Flagmount “is due to the general shortage of priests”.

He added that Killanena-Flagmount is looked after by the east Clare cluster of priests.

“The cluster will try to ensure that there is no decrease in any services. It is not so much about where the priest lives but about where the priest serves,” he said.

The clerical appointments take effect from July 29th.

The spokesman acknowledged there is an emotional attachment to a priest living in the community. “With the clustering arrangement, there is a common responsibility amongst the priests that no community will be found short and that all services will be provided,” he said.