Kilkenny 'not a training ground for bishops' - frustration in diocese after major announcement by Vatican

News that the Diocese of Ossory is to lose its bishop for the third time in just 10 years has been met with disappointment and frustration in the local community.

Bishop Niall Coll has been appointed by Pope Leo XIV to be Bishop of Raphoe.

With the appointment, Bishop Coll returns to his home county of Donegal, where he was born and raised, ordained and served as a parish priest.

The news was announced simultaneously at mass in St Eunan’s Cathedral in Letterkenny, and in the Vatican, last Thursday.

However, amid the personal well wishes, news that the Diocese of Ossory is now without a bishop raised the ire of some. One local councillor, Cllr Mary Hilda Cavanagh, wished Bishop Coll well, but declared it is ‘time to send a message to the Vatican that the Diocese of Ossory is not a training ground for bishops’.

Cllr Cavanagh said: “Send us a bishop and leave us our bishop!”

There is also concern among some members of the clergy and laity that this latest move, coupled with the departure of diocesan administrators, hampers any kind of long-term planning.

Bishop Coll was consecrated as the Bishop of Ossory on December 29, 2022. He took up the role from Bishop Dermot Farrell who was appointed on January 3, 2018, and moved to the Dublin diocese on December 29, 2020. Following the retirement of Bishop Séamus Freeman in July 2016, the seat remained vacant for two years. By comparison, the three previous Bishops of Ossory served a combined 52 years in the diocese.

During his three years in Kilkenny, Bishop Coll made many friends in Ossory but also fell afoul of some communities who did not agree with parish assignments.

Last summer, people in the Lisdowney, Ballyragget and Ballyouskill parishes campaigned strongly to keep Fr Eamonn O’Gorman as parish priest, contrary to the bishop’s decision to transfer Fr O’Gorman to the parish of Galmoy, Johnstown, Urlingford.

Their campaign included the parish group gathering signatures for a petition, and then putting their serious misgivings at the situation in writing to Archbishop of Dublin, Dermot Farrell, and the Papal Nuncio to Ireland, Archbishop Luis Mariano Montemayor.

Fr O’Gorman himself indicated a desire to remain in the parish, citing his age and health. Correspondence shows that Bishop Coll offered to meet Fr O’Gorman along with members of the parish group.

Following various correspondence between Bishop Coll and the group on the matter, the parish group said they were ‘deeply disappointed’ by what they described as a ‘dismissive’ response. They escalated their concerns by contacting the Archbishop and Papal Nuncio.
Both the Archbishop and Papal Nuncio urged the community to engage with Bishop Coll and said the issue was outside their remit or jurisdiction.

Last week, news of Bishop Coll’s move north was greeted with tributes from many of his new friends in Ossory.
Amongst them, Bishop Adrian Wilkinson reflected fondly on their ‘warm friendship’.

“Bishop Niall combines the gifts of a pastor, academic and educator with his commitment to ecumenism. While those of us in Kilkenny will be sorry to see him leave, we wish him God’s blessing as he moves to take up episcopal responsibilities in his native diocese and serve the people of Donegal,” Bishop Wilkinson added.

Bishop Coll has expressed his happiness to be returning to his home county.
“My deepest feeling at the moment is the gratitude that I’m coming home and that I’m with my own people,” he said.

“That said, the people of Ossory were really welcoming and kind to me, and I’m very sorry to be leaving them, but that’s the instruction that I got, and I thank them from the bottom of my heart for their kindness, for their faith, and for their support.
“A mixture of sadness that I have to uproot so soon from Ossory, from Kilkenny, and then gratitude and happiness that I will be back home among my own people.”

Speaking from Donegal, he added: “It has been, in a sense, interesting that everyone here is speaking with northern accents. Normally in Kilkenny, I have to, at times, slow my speech down so that they can understand my northern accent, but they were very patient with me, and I thank them for that.”

A skilled theologian, Bishop Coll has served at third level in both St Patrick’s College, Carlow, and St Mary’s University College, Belfast, while he also taught in Pobalscoil na Rosann. As a young priest he served as a curate in Dungloe and he was the parish priest of Tawnawilly having previously served as the parish priest of Drumholm before moving to Kilkenny.
Bishop Coll is expected to take up his new posting in the new year. It is not known when a new Bishop of Ossory will be appointed.