Five priests who have ministered in county Longford parishes set to retire

Five highly respected and well known priests that have ministered in county Longford parishes, accumulating an incredible 262 years in the priesthood between them, are set to retire.

Bishop of Ardagh and Clonmacnois Paul Connell explained to church goers in a pastoral letter in July 2024 that ‘the reality is that in the very near future your parish may not have a resident priest’ and the retirements, do doubt, will increase pressures on parishes throughout the diocese.

The five priests retiring are Fr Bernard Hogan (parish priest in Drumlish), Fr Ciaran McGovern (parish priest in Clonguish), Fr Seamus McKeon (parish priest in Colmcille), Fr John Quinn (parish priest in Gortletteragh) and Fr Sean Casey (parish priest in Killoe).

In his diocesan appointments for 2026, Bishop Connell announced that Fr James McKiernan, Administrator Cathedral Parish of Templemichael will also be the Administrator of the parish of Clonguish.

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Fr Tom Murray, parish priest in Ballinalee will also become the Administrator of the parish of Killoe, while Fr Nigel Charles, parish priest in Mohill will also be the Administrator of the parish of Gortletteragh.

Fr Seamus O'Rourke, CC, Carrick-on-Shannon, has been appointed administrator of the parish of Colmcille, while Fr Eamon McNerney, on loan from the archdiocese of Edmonton in Canada, is to become Administrator of the parish of Drumlish.

The appointments will take effect from September 6, 2026.

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Bishop Connell expressed his ‘sincere gratitude to the priests of the diocese who continue so generously to take on extra responsibilities to ensure pastoral service in all our parishes’.

He sincerely thanked the five retiring priests Fr John Quinn, Fr Sean Casey, Fr Ciaran McGovern, Fr Ber Hogan and Fr Seamus McKeon ‘for the sterling service they have given to the diocese’.

Bishop Connell concluded, “I wish them a long, blessed and fulfilling retirement.”

Fr John Quinn

Fr John was ordained for the diocese in St Patrick's College, Maynooth on June 20, 1965 by Archbishop John McQuaid.

Fr John's first appointment was as curate and chaplain to Ballymahon Parish from 1965-1967. He undertook post-graduate studies from 1967 - 1968. Fr John served as curate in Granard from 1968 - 1970 and then as curate in Drumshanbo from 1970 until 1971. He was appointed as curate to Rathcline in 1971 serving there until 1979. His next appointment was as curate in Cloghan from 1979 to 1980. Fr John returned as curate to Granard from 1980 to 1987 before being appointed in 1987 as parish priest of Gortletteragh, an appointment he has held continuously for the last thirty-nine years.

Fr Ciaran McGovern

Fr Ciaran was ordained for the diocese in St Mel's Cathedral by Bishop Cahal Daly on June 6, 1974.

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Fr Ciaran's first appointment was as chaplain and catechist to Longford Vocational School from 1974 until 1986. From 1975 to 1976 he undertook studies at the Catechetical Institute, Dundalk, Co Louth. Fr Ciaran was appointed as curate in Longford in 1986 and remained there until 1993. He then became priest-in-charge of Rathowen parish in 1993. In 2025 Fr Ciaran was appointed parish priest of Clonguish.

Fr Bernard Hogan

Fr Bernard was ordained for the diocese in St Mel's Cathedral by Bishop Cahal Daly on June 9, 1974.

Fr Bernard's first appointment was as curate in Longford from 1974 until 1978. He went on the Diocesan Mission to Chipata, Zambia from 1978 until 1984. He returned to the diocese and served as curate in Mohill from 1984 until 1988. Fr Ber returned to the diocesan mission in Chipata in 1988 and remained there until 1991. His next appointment was as diocesan catechist and curate in Clonturk, Bornacoola, from 1992 to 1993. He was diocesan catechist and curate of Colmcille from 1993 to 1996. He was priest-in-charge of Ballymachugh from 1996 until 2000. In 2000 Fr Ber was appointed parish priest of Mohil and in 2011 he became parish priest of Drumlish.

Fr Seamus McKeon

Fr Seamus was ordained for the diocese in St Mel's Cathedral by Bishop Cahal Daly on June 13, 1976.

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Fr Seamus's first appointment was as curate in Mullinalaghta from 1976 until 1985. He was appointed to the Irish Emigrant Chaplaincy in London from 1985 to 1988. On his return to the diocese Fr Seamus served as curate in Mullahoran from 1988 until 1993. From 1993 until 2000 he was curate of Banagher and undertook a Renewal Course from 2000 to 2001. Fr Seamus was appointed parish priest of Kiltubrid in 2001 and in 2007 he became parish priest of Colmcille.

Fr Sean Casey

Fr Sean was ordained for the diocese in St Mel's Cathedral by Bishop Cahal Daly on June 17, 1979.

Fr Sean's first appointment was as Diocesan Secretary from 1979 until 1983. In 1983 he joined the staff of St Mel's College, a position he held until 1989. He was then appointed as curate to St Mary's parish, Athlone in 1989. From 1997 until 1998 Fr Sean was the Administrator of Coosan in the parish of St. Mary's, Athlone. Fr Sean was appointed as parish priest of Killoe in 1998.