Galway priest celebrates retirement as parish thanks for 'years of dedicated service, compassion and care'
There was a big celebration with many locals turning out to wish him well
A Galway priest got the finest of farewells from his local parishioners as he said goodbye to his parish and hello to retirement.
Father James Ronayne, Parish Priest of Clifden, alongside Father Frank Conlisk in Milltown-Kilconly retired from their respective parishes on September 11.
A farewell reception was held for Fr Ronayne on Sunday September 6 with a special commemorative mass followed by reception at the Station House Hotel.
Archbishop Francis Duffy was in attendance as the wider community thanked Fr James for his years of “dedicated service, compassion and care”.
Archbishop of Tuam and Killala Fr Duffy, has confirmed that several Galway parishes will be affected by these retirements as a result.
Galway native Father Mike Murphy will be moving to Kilkerrin-Clonberne after serving many parishes around Mayo.
Fr Jerald David will become Parish Priest of Milltown while Fr Thomas Gallagher will move to the parish of Corrandulla-Annaghdown and Fr Tommy Commins will move from Kilkerrin-Clonberne to the parish of Moore.
Elsewhere, a Galway priest who became famous for his sermon rant over a music star’s appearance on RTE’s Late Late Show is bidding farewell to his parish for a new one.
Father Declan McInerney, parish priest of Eyrecourt, Clonfert and Meelick is switching over to his new parish of New Inn and Bullaun.
Locals of his old parish are bidding “farewell” to Father McInerney by holding a special mass for him on October 18 at 6pm thanking him for his “faith, service and friendship to our parish community”.
He hit the headlines back in 2024, heavily criticising RTE and Eurovision contestant Bambie Thug after they successfully won Eurosong and were put forward to represent Ireland in the song contest in 2024 with their song ‘Doomsday Blue’.
Bambie reacted to his sermon at the time saying that if they were “p***ing off the people who are stuck in an old mindset and not consciously involved then I am doing the right thing and feel good”.
Speaking to the congregation at the mass in February 2024, Father McInerney said: “Now brace yourselves my friends for this one, I switched on and to discover it was the selection process for Eurosong, a song that will leave Ireland, that will represent Ireland and the Irish people - and what we are all about, my friends.
“And all I can say is we are finished. We are finished as a country. And before anyone jumps on their high horse and go, ‘he's giving out now about certain orientations’. I couldn't give two continental hoots what anybody is but I don't need it slammed in my face on the Late Late Show.”
You can read the full sermon here.