Gallery: Fond farewell for Fr Niall Coll as Bishop elect leaves Donegal for Ossory Diocese

Christmas Day saw the last Masses celebrated by Fr Niall Coll P.P. in Clar and Donegal Town, before he heads off south, where he has been appointed by Pope Francis as the new Bishop of Ossory.

But just before that, the parishioners of Tawnawilly (Donegal and Clar) joined Fr Coll to thank him for his dedication and diligence whilst serving as parish priest in Donegal Town.

Before that, he had also been the parish priest in Ballintra.

Mella Britton, speaking on behalf of the local Tawnawilly parish committee, wished Fr Coll and now Bishop elect of Ossory well in Kilkenny.

On Friday, October 28, in Saint Mary’s Cathedral, Kilkenny, in the Diocese of Ossory, Monsignor Julien Kaboré, Chargé d’Affaires of the Apostolic Nunciature in Ireland had announced that his Holiness Pope Francis had appointed Father Coll, as the new Bishop of the Diocese of Ossory. 

On the announcement, Archbishop Dermot Farrell, Archbishop of Dublin and Primate of Ireland said:

“Bishop-elect Coll brings with him a wealth of experience both in Diocese of Raphoe and in Saint Mary’s University College, Belfast, as he begins to serve the people of Ossory and those who minister among them.  From first-hand experience, I am confident that he will be warmly welcomed in Ossory.  My own time in Ossory was a time of great blessing, and I wish Father Coll even greater blessing and happiness as he prepares for his new ministry.

Bishop Alan McGuckian SJ, Bishop of Raphoe spoke of Fr Coll's rich Donegal heritage:

“ Father Niall has always put his many skills and talents at the service of the Church wherever he has been asked and needed.  He worked with young people at Second Level in Saint Eunan’s College, Letterkenny and Pobalscoil na Rosann.

"As a young priest he served as a curate in Dungloe and more recently he has been the Parish Priest of both Drumholm (Ballintra) and Tawnawilly (Donegal and Clar).  

"Since his return to Donegal he has served on our Diocesan Pastoral Council and worked closely with priests and people to promote our Pastoral Plan ‘Forward together; Ar aghaidh le chéile’.  He will be a great loss to the Diocese and to the Parish of Tawnawilly.

"His home parish of Saint Johnston will take pride in the choice of one of their own to serve as a bishop."

Parishioners pictured with Fr Niall Coll, Geraldine and Matt Shovlin, Declan and Louise Thomas and Killian Browne.

ALL PHOTOS: SIOBHAN MC GOWAN