Tuam Diocesan changes announced by Archbishop Francis Duffy
The annual changes for the Archdiocese of Tuam were announced in recent days by Archbishop Francis Duffy and most of them will come into effect on September 11.
Long-serving priests, Fr James Ronayne, PP, Clifden, formerly of Kilmacnella, Irishtown, and Headford native, Fr Frank Conlisk, SPS Adm, Milltown and Kilconly, are set to retire while Fr Michael Molloy, PP, Moore, has retired already.
The new appointments will see Fr Mike Murphy, PP, Roundfort, Robeen and Carras, a native of Galway and with strong Mayo connections, move to Kilkerrin-Clonberne after seventeen years in the Mayo parish. Fr Mike expressed his gratitude to the people of Mayo in a message included in the current issue of the local parish newsletter at the weekend.
“After 32 happy years serving in County Mayo - and with Sam Maguire finally making his way back across the border - it may just be the right time for me to return him to County Galway!
“Since 2009, we have shared so much together - the joys and sorrows of parish life, celebrations and milestones, and the extraordinary challenges of the Covid years. Throughout it all, I have been deeply touched by your faith, generosity, kindness and commitment to one another and to your parish.”Thank you for the privilege of allowing me to walk with you over these years. I will always treasure the friendships made and the memories we have shared,” said Fr Mike.
Fr Britus Kadavunkal Francis, who has served as Parish Priest of Aughagower and Cushlough for seven years, has been assigned to Roundfort, Robeen and Carras.
Fr Tommy Commins, formerly of Cloonmore, Claremorris, and a past pupil of St Colman’s College, has spent the last seventeen years in Kilkerrin-Clonberne, home to the All Ireland Ladies Club Football champions for the last five years. He will take up his new assignment in Moore (Co Roscommon) in September.
Fr Jerald David (Aghamore) will become Parish Priest of Milltown- Kilconly while Fr Thomas Gallagher (Achill) will take up duties in Corrandulla-Annaghdown where he will replace Fr Sean Cunningham, PP, who has been appointed PP in Clifden.
A priest will be assigned to Aughagower and Cushlough in October and another to Aghamore-Tooreen-Woodfield in November.