A total of 19 men were ordained in the Catholic Church in Ireland last year, an increase of four on 2004, figures released yesterday showed.
In addition, a total of 14 nuns and brothers were finally professed last year, an increase of six on 2004, the figures released yesterday by the Bishops' Council for Research and Development disclosed.
The total of priests, nuns and brothers in Ireland last year was 16,322, down by 2.6 per cent on the 2004 figure.
The number of diocesan priests was 2,439 last year, and 78 per cent of those are in parish ministry. Their age profile is rising, with 43 per cent aged between 50 and 69.
There were an additional 3,036 priests and brothers (700 in religious congregations) in 2005, while there were 9,248 nuns in religious congregations, 86 per cent of them in Ireland.
Last year there were 90 applicants to enter the priesthood and/or religious life, 56 of whom were accepted as entrants, the highest number of entrants in 10 years.