Archive - Kieran’s to continue as a seminary in Kilkenny (1973)

“As long as I live, St Kieran’s College will remain as a seminary.”

This was the definitive reaction of Most Rev Dr Birch to a recommendation this week that the college should cease to function as a seminary.

Jam, tarts and eggs stolen from honesty box in Kilkenny

The recommendation came in a report by the Catholic Communications Institute which suggested the overhauling of the Irish seminary system, involving the closure of some institutions and the restructuring of others.

“I don’t care who makes recommendations,” Dr Birch told the People. “St Kieran’s will remain open. It’s far too valuable to the diocese.”

In their report, the Catholic Communications Institute insist that change is vital because of the drop in vocations and the enormous amount of overlapping and duplication of effort.

The report believes that eight major seminaries in Ireland is far too many. Specifically, it urges that St Kieran’s and St Peter’s College in Wexford should be closed and the seminaries absorbed by the respective secondary schools.

Referring to the drop in vocations, Dr Birch said that similar problems existed in the last century and St Kieran’s closed as a clerical seminary around 1865. But when the number of vocations rose again, the seminary was reopened in 1872.

St Kieran’s opened as a seminary in 1782.

“And it will be celebrating its second centenary in the near future,” Dr Birch said, underlining his determination to keep the seminary open.

Mooncoin Win Cup
Mooncoin won their first ever McCalmont Cup trophy on Sunday and they did so in style, putting on a grand performance to push aside a gallant but off-form Highview Athletic.

Despite the bad weather a big crowd turned up at St James’s Park and they were not disappointed. Mooncoin picked the final to play their best football of the competition as they won 4-2 while Highview never reached the heights they managed against Callan in the semi-final.

Mooncoin, who were worthy champions, played some very neat and attractive football with Pat Duggan their star.

Not far behind him was their youngest player Paddy Butler, who had a very good 90 minutes at centrehalf.

The Mooncoin squad was Christy Knox, John Foskin, Jim Grant, Mick Farrell (captain), Paddy Butler, Dick Grant, Tom Grant, Pedro Kelly, John Kelly, Pat Duggan, Jim O’Brien, Ray Murray.