Ordination of new bishop to take place next month

The ordination of Fr Paul Connell as the new Bishop of Ardagh and Clonmacnois will take place in St Mel's Cathedral, Longford, next month.

Diocesan Administrator Fr Tom Healy confirmed that the service would take place on Sunday, June 18, at 3pm.

He said representatives from each of the 41 parishes in the diocese would be invited to attend, along with Fr Paul's family and friends, and members of diocesan committees.

Volunteers are currently working behind the scenes in preparation for the event and he said further details would emerge over the weeks ahead.

The diocese, which takes in parts of Westmeath, Offaly, Longford, Leitrim and Cavan, has been without a bishop since early last year, when the previous incumbent, Cavan native Francis Duffy, was installed as the Archbishop of Tuam.

Fr Connell is a Mullingar native whose appointment as bishop-elect was announced in early April.