Bishop Brendan Kelly has been appointed as the new Bishop of Galway, Kilmacduagh and Kilfenora.
It comes over one year after Bishop Martin Drennan stepped down in the summer of last year.
The Primate of All Ireland paid tribute to Bishop Kelly, highlighting how he launched the new altar edition of An Leabhar Aifrinn Rómhánach – the Roman Missal as Gaeilge.
Archbishop Martin said its preparation and production was the fruit of years of intensive work and the collaboration of many individuals.
I welcome the appointment of Bishop Brendán Ó Ceallaigh as Bishop of the Diocese of Galway. Bishop Kelly is a very friendly person and I am sure the people of Galway will have a very warm welcome back for him.
— Éamon Ó Cuív (@eamonocuiv) December 11, 2017
Kelly studied at Craughwell National School and St. Mary’s College before entering St Patrick’s College, Maynooth in 1964.
There he obtained a degree in Bachelor of Arts and in Bachelor of Divinity, later receiving his Higher Diploma in Education from University College Galway in 1973.
On 20 June 1971, he was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Michael Browne, for the Diocese of Galway.
Kelly was Curate in Kinvara, and then taught at Coláiste Einde (1972–80) and Our Lady’s College, Gort (1980–86), the latter of which he was subsequently President until 1995.
Receiving a Sabbatical leave, he served as Chaplain to the L’Arche community at Cuise-la-Motte in France until 1996, whence he returned to Ireland as parish priest of Lisdoonvarna.
On 20 November 2007, Kelly was appointed Bishop of Achonry by Pope Benedict XVI.
