Bishop denies difficulty over shortage of priests

The Bishop of Killaloe, Dr Willie Walsh, has denied that the shortage of priests, combined with a rising age profile, means there might not be enough manpower to perform the sacraments and say Masses.

He said there were sufficient priests to carry out the tasks but more lay people are being asked to help the priests in their parish work.

Dr Walsh acknowledged yesterday that the presence of a 13-member Traveller family on his front lawn is causing difficulties to neighbours living near his Ennis residence.

Figures released by the diocese show 23 diocesan priests are aged over 75, while there are 45 priests aged between 55 and 75.

There are 126 priests in the diocese with 100 of those involved in full-time parish ministry.

Dr Walsh said: "At the moment, the age profile is getting higher all the time, while the numbers in the seminary are not sufficient to replace those priests - that is the reality that we have to face, but we are still a long way from the situation where there won't be enough Masses for people."

Dr Walsh said the team ministry of Imeall Boirne, where there are a number of priests working across a number of parishes on the fringes of the Burren, is working very well.

He said local parishioners were pleased with the initiative and a similar scheme could take place elsewhere in the diocese. "We don't have a timescale in place and I'm not putting it down as the only model for the way forward," he added.

Dr Walsh said priests from the west Clare area meet every Thursday for prayer and reflection. "The whole pattern of life in rural areas has changed over 40 years and with the whole thing of priests working on their own, it is very important that they don't become isolated, because it is very easy for that to happen."

Asked to comment on the Traveller family at his residence, Dr Walsh said: "I am still anxious that the family find alternative accommodation and I have been talking to Clare County Council on the issue, though nothing is finalised."

Almost two months ago, the Molloy family moved on to the lawn of Dr Walsh's Westbourne residence and defied his request to leave the property.

Dr Walsh said the situation is causing difficulties for neighbours living in the Bishop's Court estate. He has discussed the issue with local residents.

The Molloys had stayed at the bishop's residence for a number of months in the late 1990s and set up camp last May after returning from the UK.

The family moved to the UK after abandoning a council home they purchased through the Shared Ownership Scheme and the house remains unoccupied.

Speaking at the site yesterday, Rosie Molloy said her children caused difficulties for the neighbours, but this has now stopped over the past couple of days.