Priests who are ministering in the Diocese of Cork and Ross are celebrating jubilees of their ordination as priests

Some of the priest jubilarians in 2026 with Bishop Fintan: Fr. Bartolomiej Dziedzic, Mgr Aidan O'Driscoll, Fr. Kieron O'Driscoll, Canon Martin O'Driscoll, Fr. Gerard Dunne OP, Bishop Fintan Gavin, Fr Michael Forde, Fr. Emmanuel Ihomon, Fr Padraig Corkery, Fr Liam Crowley and Fr. Joyel Cletus.

Bishop Fintan Gavin hosted a celebratory lunch with priests who are marking significant milestones in their priesthood and were free to attend.

The jubilations include Fr Tom Clancy who was ordained 65 years ago, Canon Tadhg Ó Mathúna who was ordained 60 years ago and An tAthair Seosamh Ó Cochláin who was ordained 55 years ago. All three are are retired.

Golden jubilations include Canon Robert Brophy, Fr Liam Crowley and Fr. Noel O'Sullivan who were all ordained in 1976.

Fr Padraig Corkery, Mgr Aidan O'Driscoll and Fr. Fergus Tuohy SMA were ordained 45 years in 1981.

Fr. Kieron O'Driscoll, Canon Martin O'Driscoll and Fr. Patrick Walsh were ordained 40 years ago in 1986.

Fr Myles McSweeney, Fr. Gerard Dunne OP and Fr Michael Forde C.Ss.R. were ordained 30 years ago in 1996.

Fr. Michael Anthony Buckley, Fr. Bartolomiej Dziedzic, Fr. Joyel John Michael Cletus IC and Fr. Emmanuel Ihomon were all ordained in 2011 and are 15 years in the priesthood.

Fr. Pat Nugent and Fr. Vineesh K Ulahannan MI are both marking the tenth anniversary of their ordination in 2016.

A deacon stands at the meeting point between the altar and the world

This was Bishop Fintan’s message to the newest permanent deacon in our diocese who was ordained last Sunday.

Paul Ryan was ordained in his parish church in Timoleague by Bishop Fintan at a concelebrated Mass attended by Paul’s family and friends, other deacons and priests, along with parishioners from Timoleague and across the diocese.

“A deacon brings the needs of people to the altar, and he carries the charity of Christ from the altar back to the people,” Bishop Fintan said in his homily.”

Paul grew up in west Co Clare but has been living in Timoleague for over 20 years.

Addressing Paul during the Mass, Bishop Fintan acknowledged that a vocation grows and is nourished during a person’s own growth.

Pictured are Tomás Ryan, Deacon Paul Ryan and his wife Bríd, Bishop Fintan Gavin and Anne Ryan. (Photo BGM Media)

Bishop Fintan Gavin

Bishop Fintan Gavin, Catholic Bishop of the Diocese of Cork and Ross, has warmly welcomed the announcement that the Venerable Andrew Orr has been elected as the new Church of Ireland Bishop of Cork, Cloyne and Ross.

“I warmly congratulate Archdeacon Andrew Orr on his election as the new Bishop of Cork, Cloyne and Ross,” Bishop Fintan said.

“On my own behalf, and on behalf of the clergy, religious and people of the Catholic Diocese of Cork and Ross, I assure Bishop-elect Andrew of our prayerful support and good wishes as he prepares for his consecration and for this new ministry of service.

“I look forward to working with him in the years ahead and to continuing to build on the good relationships and strong bonds of friendship that have existed between the bishops and people of our two dioceses.

“May the Lord bless him and guide him in this new ministry.”

The result of the election was announced on Friday, 19 June 2026.

A livestream of the Ordination of Paul Ryan as Deacon will be available

The Ordination Mass will be accessible from

3:00pm on

Sunday 21 June 2026

Watch the Livestream

We ask the Lord to bless Paul as he prepares to be ordained at the Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Timoleague and to serve the people of the Diocese of Cork and Ross as a Permanent Deacon.

Bishop Fintan Gavin will ordain Paul, priests will concelebrate the Mass and other permanent deacons will also minister.

More about the Diaconate

At Kinsale Parish Church In 2024 when Paul was admitted to Candidacy for Ordination, Paul is seen with Bishop Fintan Gavin, along with Paul's wife Bríd, their daughter Anne and son Tomás. (Photo: Mariana Wirsam)

Young Adult Community 2025/26

The Cathedral Family of Parishes is now accepting applications for their Young Adult Community, from September 2026 to May 2027.

Now in its third year, this initiative offers young adults a unique opportunity to live in the heart of Cork City, deepen their Catholic faith in fellowship with others, and actively participate in parish and diocesan life.

A weekly community evening forms a central part of the programme, providing time for prayer, fellowship and ongoing faith formation. Each member will also undertake a regular pastoral placement, contributing to initiatives such as OCIA, the Mass animated by Young Adults, Alpha and other parish ministries.

More than simply a residential experience, this year is intended as a time for growing in personal prayer and learning how to share your faith with others.

You are warmly invited pray for Paul Ryan who will be ordained a Deacon on Sunday 21st June 2026 at 3.00pm in the Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Timoleague.

Paul, originally from Co. Clare, has lived for many years in Timoleague Parish with his wife Bríd. They have two adult children, Anne and Tomás.

Over the past number of years, Paul has been preparing for the Permanent Diaconate through formation, prayer and pastoral experience, including time spent in Kinsale Parish.
Paul will become the fourth person to serve as a permanent deacon in our diocese.

Please keep Paul in your prayers in these final days of preparation. We ask the Lord to bless Paul as he prepares to be ordained and to serve the people of the Diocese of Cork and Ross as a Permanent Deacon.

All are very welcome to attend the Ordination Mass in Timoleague Parish Church. Bishop Fintan Gavin will ordain Paul, priests will concelebrate the Mass and other permanent deacons will also minister.

Three choirs of Timoleague Parish are coming together to lead the liturgical music and song.

More about the Diaconate

At Kinsale Parish Church In 2024 when Paul was admitted to Candidacy for Ordination, Paul is seen with Bishop Fintan Gavin, along with Paul's wife Bríd, their daughter Anne and son Tomás. (Photo: Mariana Wirsam).

The Ordination Mass will be accessible from
3:00pm on Sunday 21 June 2026

Watch the Livestream

More than 5,000 people were estimated to have participated in the Eucharistic Procession

Thousands of people from across the Diocese of Cork and Ross gathered on Sunday to celebrate the 100th Cork Eucharistic Procession.

Despite the heavy rainfall, more than 5,000 people were estimated to have participated in the procession, with people of all ages coming together as a diocesan family in prayer and thanksgiving to honour Jesus in the Eucharist.

This year's procession marked 100 years since the first Cork Eucharistic Procession took place through the streets of the city in 1926, making it one of the longest-running traditions in the city.

The procession began at the Cathedral of St Mary and St Anne, making its way through the city before concluding with Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament at Grand Parade.

The visit of the relics forms part of preparations for the 100th Anniversary of the Cork Eucharistic Procession.

A Mass to welcome the relics to the Cathedral of St Mary and St Anne took place this morning.

People have been making their way to the North Cathedral throughout the day to venerate the relics of the first millennial saint.

Veneration of the relics continues today until 10pm in the Cathedral of St Mary and St Anne.

Tomorrow, the relics of St Carlo Acutis will be in Ss Peter and Paul's in the City Centre. There will be a special Mass at 7am for those running in the Cork City Marathon.

Luke Cantillon-Murphy venerates the relic of St Carlo Acutis

Maura Whelton pictured with her extended family in the Church of Our Lady, Star of the Sea, Barryroe Photo: Paul Finn.

The recently retired sacristan of the Church of Our Lady, Star of the Sea, in Barryroe, has received a papal award.

Maura Whelton was awarded the Benemerenti Medal by Pope Leo for her exceptional services to the Catholic Church and the local community. The presentation was made by Bishop Fintan Gavin, Bishop of Cork and Ross at the conclusion of Sunday Mass in Barryroe last week.

Maura’s work in the Barryroe church spanned some three decades and was in tandem with her association with local organisations including Community Alert, the Legion of Mary and St. Vincent de Paul.

Such dedication nowadays is a fading role as society continues to change. Maura's own assessment of the role as sacristan in her local church was “I did it for God, it's as simple as that really.”

When asked how she attained the role the response was: “I just glided in.” Perhaps, if Maura and her family were not living adjacent to the church, things could have been different. But for Maura and her late husband Willie, who married in 1970 and bought the local shop in Tirnanéan nine years later, it seemed the natural thing to do.

Bicentenary of St Patrick’s Cathedral Celebrated in Skibbereen

The people of Skibbereen and the wider West Cork community gathered this past weekend to celebrate the 200th anniversary of St Patrick’s Cathedral

The Mass to mark the bicentenary was celebrated by Bishop Fintan Gavin, Bishop of Cork and Ross, together with Fr Kevin O’Regan, Co-Parish Priest and Moderator and Fr Evin O’Brien, CC.

Reflecting on the significance of the occasion, Bishop Gavin said the anniversary was not simply about remembering the past, but also about renewing faith for the future.

“Two hundred years ago, the people of this place chose to build this beautiful church,” Bishop Gavin said. “They lived in difficult and uncertain times, and yet they built because they believed that God had a place at the heart of their lives and that faith was worth handing on to future generations.”

The cathedral has stood through times of joy and sorrow, prosperity and hardship, becoming a place deeply woven into the life of the community. Generations have gathered there for baptisms, weddings, funerals, confirmations and moments of prayer during some of the most important moments in people’s lives.

Bishop Fintan Gavin with Fr. Kevin O'Regan, Fr. Evin O'Brien, Bernie Kelly and the altar servers before the special Mass to celebrate the Bicentenary of St. Patrick's Cathedral in Skibbereen. Photo; Anne Minihane.