The National Conference of Priests of Ireland (NCPI), which represents all religious and secular (diocesan) Catholic priests in Ireland, has decided to dissolve.
At its agm and annual conference, which ended in Athlone yesterday, it was agreed to set up a committee to oversee its dissolution by the end of November.
Bishop Philip Boyce of Raphoe diocese, who had been the Catholic Bishops representative to the NCPI over recent years, yesterday said he was "saddened" to hear the news.
Fr Bill Bermingham, who is a member of the committee set up to oversee the dissolution of the NCPI, said last night that, while at a national level a lot of work had continued to be done by its executive, "there seemed to be a lack of connection between the NCPI and many priests throughout the country."