By Sarah Mac Donald - 06 October, 2013
Bishop-elect Francis Duffy with Bishops Leo and Colm O’Reilly and Archbishop Charles Brown.
The Primate of All Ireland, Cardinal Seán Brady will lead the ceremonies in St Mary’s Pro-Cathedral in Athlone as Fr Francis Duffy is ordained Bishop of Ardagh and Clonmacnois this afternoon.
The papal nuncio, Archbishop Charles Brown and the retiring Bishop of Ardagh and Clonmacnois, Bishop Colm O’Reilly, will act as co-consecrators at the ordination Mass which begins at 3pm.
Pope Francis appointed Fr Duffy as Bishop of Ardagh and Clonmacnois on 17 July 2013.
The diocese has a Catholic population of 71,806, 41 parishes, and 80 churches spread across nearly all of Co Longford, the greater part of Co Leitrim and parts of Cavan, Offaly, Roscommon, Sligo and Westmeath. St Mel is the patron of the diocese.
Bishop-elect Duffy was born on 21 April 1958 in the parish of Templeport, Co Cavan to Mary Catherine Dolan and the late Frank Duffy. He is the oldest of four children.
He attended primary school at Munlough National School, Bawnboy and completed his post-primary education at St Patrick’s College, Cavan.
He studied for the priesthood at St Patrick’s College, Maynooth and was ordained a priest for the diocese of Kilmore on 20 June 1982 in St Mogue’s Church, Bawnboy, Co Cavan by Bishop Francis MacKiernan.
For eleven years Fr Duffy was on the teaching staff of St Patrick’s College, Cavan, where he taught History, Religion and Irish.
He was appointed principal of Fatima and Felim’s Secondary School, Ballinamore, Co Leitrim in 1996. After twelve years as principal he was appointed Diocesan Secretary and Chancellor.
He also held the additional responsibilities of Financial Administrator, Communications Officer and Archivist.
Since 2009, Fr Duffy has been resident priest in the parish of Laragh, Co Cavan where he has remained until the present day.
