27.10.2022
Appointment of new Rector of Athy Union announced
The Revd Conor O’Reilly has been appointed the new Rector of Athy Union of Parishes in the Diocese of Glendalough. The appointment was announced at the weekend and he will be instituted by the Archbishop on Friday December 9. Conor is currently serving as Curate of the Wexford and Kilscoran Union of Parishes in the Diocese of Cashel, Ferns and Ossory.
Conor grew up in Portarlington in County Offaly and is married to Mollie. Together they have two dogs, Sophie and Ruthie. He is a graduate of NUI Maynooth and the Pontifical University Maynooth where he gained a Bachelor of Divinity Honours Degree. He also completed the Clinical Pastoral Education course in Cork University Hospital. He previously worked as a secondary school teacher in the UK. He was ordained Deacon in 1999 and a Priest in 2001 and was a Roman Catholic priest in the Diocese of Kildare and Leighlin.
Having spent a full academic year in the Church of Ireland Theological Institute, where he was awarded the Downes Oratory Prize for Extemporary Speaking, Conor has served as Curate of the Wexford and Kilscoran Union since 2018. This included seven months as Priest in Charge.
An active member of his current dioceses he is deputy editor of the Cashel, Ferns and Ossory Diocesan Magazine, compiler of the Diocesan Cycle of Prayer, administrator of the Diocesan Facebook page, member of Diocesan Council, the Diocesan Finance Committee and the Diocesan Communications and Magazine Committee. He is also a frequent contributor to the Church of Ireland Gazette.
Commenting on his appointment, Conor said he was excited to see what this new chapter in ministry would bring.
“I greatly look forward to the next phase of my ministry in the Athy Union of Parishes. Athy Union is already a lively and thriving parish with great parishioner participation and I look forward to consolidating and building upon this excellent foundation,” he stated.
“I would like to sincerely thank everyone involved with the Wexford and Kilscoran Union of Parishes for their great encouragement and support of my ministry amongst them for the past nearly 4 and a half years. While I am excited to become the new Rector of the Athy Union of Parishes, it also comes with a mixture of sadness as Mollie and myself prepare to leave Wexford.”
He succeeds Canon Olive Donohoe who has retired.