New role for Longford curate as Diocese of Ardagh and Clonmacnois deals with ‘ongoing shortage of available clergy’

A Longford curate has been appointed to a new role by Bishop of Ardagh and Clonmacnois Paul Connell following the retirement of three parish priests in Leitrim and an ‘ongoing shortage of available clergy’. 

Fr Joseph Ukut, who is Longford parish curate, has been appointed CC of the parishes of Mohill and Fenagh. 

Three Leitrim based parish priests - Fr Gerry O'Brien, PP Bornacoola; Fr John Wall, PP Annaduff and Fr Tomás Flynn, PP Kiltubrid - are set to retire.

Bishop Connell, said, "In light of the ongoing shortage of available clergy for appointment, the diocese is adopting a strategic plan to cluster parishes in order to provide pastoral care going forward. Accordingly, the parishes of Annaduff and Kiltubrid are being clustered with Carrick-on-Shannon." 

Fr Frank Garvey, PP Carrick-on-Shannon, is appointed Administrator of the parishes of Annaduff and Kiltubrid Parishes. 

Fr Ciaran McGuinness, MAfr, is appointed CC Carrick-on-Shannon. 

Fr Sean Burke, CC Mohill and Fenagh, is appointed Administrator of the parish of Bornacoola. 

Fr Joseph Ukut, CC Longford, is appointed CC of the parishes of Mohill and Fenagh. 

These appointments will take effect from Sunday, October 1 next. 

Bishop Connell sincerely thanked Fr Gerry O' Brien, Fr John Wall and Fr Tomás Flynn for their many years of dedicated pastoral work, in a variety of parishes in the Diocese of Ardagh and Clonmacnois. 

He concluded, "I wish those who are taking up appointments every success and happiness in their new responsibilities."