Former Tullamore curate begins new role as Archbishop of Dublin
Westmeath native Dermot Farrell is this morning (Tuesday) being installed as the new Archbishop of Dublin, succeeding Diarmuid Martin.
He has links to county Offaly, having served as a curate in Tullamore parish in the late 1980s.
Archbishop Farrell is taking up the role at a service which gets underway in St Mary's Pro Cathedral at 10.30am this morning and can be viewed on the Dublin diocese website: http://www.dublindiocese.ie/watch-listen-live/
Dermot Farrell was born in 1954, the eldest of seven children of the late Dermot and Carmel Farrell, in Garthy, Castletown Geoghegan, in the Diocese of the Meath.
After his primary education in Castletown Geoghegan and Streamstown, he attended St Finian’s College, Mullingar. In September 1972 he began his studies for the priesthood at St Patrick’s College, Maynooth, obtaining a Bachelor of Science Degree in 1976, as part of his philosophical studies.
He was ordained to the priesthood in St Michael’s Church, Castletown Geoghegan on June 7, 1980.
Over the years he has served as a curate in Mullingar, completed his doctorate in theology in Rome, served as a director of Formation in the Pontifical Irish College in Rome, and had a spell as a curate in Tullamore parish after returning to Ireland.
He began lecturing in Moral Theology at St Patrick's College, Maynooth, in 1989-90, and became president of the college in 1996, a position he held until his retirement in 2007.
From September 2007 until 2018 he served as parish priest of Dunboyne and Kilbride Parish, County Meath, and was appointed Vicar General of the Diocese of Meath in 2009.
His appointment as Bishop of Ossory by Pope Francis was announced on January 3, 2018, and he was ordained bishop in St Mary’s Cathedral, Kilkenny, on March 11, 2018.
The Holy Father Pope Francis appointed Archbishop-elect Dermot Farrell as Archbishop of Dublin on December 29, 2020.
Bishop Farrell’s episcopal motto, Adiutorium nostrum in nomine Domini (‘Our help is in the name of the Lord’) is taken from Psalm 124.
Ahead of the Mass of Thanksgiving this morning, Archbishop Farrell said: "Since my appointment by Pope Francis on December 29, I have been overwhelmed by the good wishes and support extended to me as I embark upon my new ministry as Archbishop of Dublin.
"I am acutely conscious that, to be effective, my broad pastoral role will require collaboration with many people and will involve difficult decisions.
"I will continue to keep you all in my prayers and I ask that you please pray that the Holy Spirit will help guide and strengthen me in my new role as Archbishop."