Connacht Tribune
Concerns over lack of new priests but delight for Dr Neary as Archdiocese ordains first deacons
The decline in the number of priests is a source of concern for the retiring Archbishop of Tuam – speaking ahead of his successor’s installation this weekend.
However, Dr Michael Neary also said that they were blessed to have been able to celebrate the first ordination of lay permanent deacons in the diocese recently.
But he stressed that the influx of priests from overseas had been vital in the operation of the Archdiocese.
It will be momentous occasion next weekend when the newly appointed Archbishop of Tuam Francis Duffy will be installed.
Senior members of the clergy will converge on Tuam this Sunday as Dr Duffy replaces the man who served 27 years in the post.
The new Archbishop from County Cavan will be installed at a ceremony in Tuam Cathedral next Sunday – and he said that he is looking forward to the appointment.
Archbishop Neary told the Connacht Tribune that he had relished his time meeting people, whether it be at confirmations or visiting holy shrines in various parts of the archdiocese, but is looking forward to the future.
He said that while he was energised by the challenges placed on him in his retirement, he would continue to encourage those interested to fulfil a role in the Church.
“While the number of priests has been declining steadily in recent years, we have found ourselves in a position to welcome priests from India,” he said.
“These Indian priests have brought a great sense of mission to our diocese and helped to open up our diocese to a new culture and new ways of spirituality and the expression of the spiritual.
“They have received a warm welcome from the clergy and in the parishes where they have been appointed, and we are indebted to them for the generous way in which they share their charisms,” Archbishop Neary added.
Cavan-native Bishop Francis Duffy studied for the priesthood at Saint Patrick’s College Maynooth and was ordained in the diocese of Kilmore in June 1982.
He taught at Saint Patrick’s College, Cavan, and was appointed principal of Fatima and St Felim’s Secondary School, Ballinamore in Leitrim in 1996.
After twelve years, he was appointed Diocesan Secretary and Financial Administrator and Chancellor and during that time he was resident priest in the parish of Laragh, County Cavan.
In July 2013, he was appointed Bishop of Ardagh and Clonmacnoise. He was chosen by Pope Francis to replace Archbishop Neary.
The Archdiocese of Tuam is renowned for the International Eucharistic and Marian Shrine at Knock, for the annual Croagh Patrick Reek Sunday pilgrimage as well as Ballintubber Abbey.
The appointment is one of the most significant roles in the Irish Church. Archbishop Michael Neary was the longest serving member of the Irish hierarchy before he tendered his resignation to the Pope during 2021 on turning 75.
Significant state investment is required to address ‘shocking’ inequalities that leave cancer patients in the West at greater risk of succumbing to the disease.
A meeting of Regional Health Forum West heard that survival rates for breast, lung and colorectal cancers than the national average, and with the most deprived quintile of the population, the West’s residents faced poorer outcomes from a cancer diagnosis.
For breast cancer patients, the five-year survival rate was 80% in the West versus 85% nationally; for lung cancer patients it was 16.7% in the west against a 19.5% national survival rate; and in the West’s colorectal cancer patients, there was a 62.6% survival rate where the national average was 63.1%.
These startling statistics were provided in answer to a question from Ballinasloe-based Cllr Evelyn Parsons (Ind) who said it was yet another reminder that cancer treatment infrastructure in the West was in dire need of improvement.
“The situation is pretty stark. In the Western Regional Health Forum area, we have the highest incidence of deprivation and the highest health inequalities because of that – we have the highest incidences of cancer nationally because of that,” said Cllr Parsons, who is also a general practitioner.
In details provided by CEO of Saolta Health Care Group, which operates Galway’s hospitals, it was stated that a number of factors were impacting on patient outcomes.
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Galway 3-18
Cork 1-10
NEW setting; new opposition; new challenge. It made no difference to the Galway minor hurlers as they chalked up a remarkable sixth consecutive double digits championship victory at Semple Stadium on Saturday.
The final scoreline in Thurles may have been a little harsh on Cork, but there was no doubting Galway’s overall superiority in setting up only a second-ever All-Ireland showdown against Clare at the same venue on Sunday week.
Having claimed an historic Leinster title the previous weekend, Galway took a while to get going against the Rebels and also endured their first period in a match in which they were heavily outscored, but still the boys in maroon roll on.
Beating a decent Cork outfit by 14 points sums up how formidable Galway are. No team has managed to lay a glove on them so far, and though Clare might ask them questions other challengers haven’t, they are going to have to find significant improvement on their semi-final win over 14-man Kilkenny to pull off a final upset.
Galway just aren’t winning their matches; they are overpowering the teams which have stood in their way. Their level of consistency is admirable for young players starting off on the inter-county journey, while the team’s temperament appears to be bombproof, no matter what is thrown at them.
Having romped through Leinster, Galway should have been a bit rattled by being only level (0-4 each) after 20 minutes and being a little fortunate not to have been behind; or when Cork stormed out of the blocks at the start of the second half by hitting 1-4 to just a solitary point in reply, but there was never any trace of panic in their ranks.
For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.
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GARDAÍ and the IFA have issued a joint appeal to all road users to take extra care as the silage season gets under way across the country.
Silage harvesting started in many parts of Galway last week – and over the coming month, the sight of tractors and trailers on rural roads will be getting far more frequent.
Inspector Conor Madden, who is in charge of Galway Roads Policing, told the Farming Tribune that a bit of extra care and common-sense from all road users would go a long way towards preventing serious collisions on roads this summer.
“One thing I would ask farmers and contractors to consider is to try and get more experienced drivers working for them.
“Tractors have got faster and bigger – and they are also towing heavy loads of silage – so care and experience are a great help in terms of accident prevention,” Inspector Madden told the Farming Tribune.
He said that tractor drivers should always be aware of traffic building up behind them and to pull in and let these vehicles pass, where it was safe to do so.
“By the same token, other road users should always exercise extra care; drive that bit slower; and ‘pull in’ that bit more, when meeting tractors and heavy machinery.
“We all want to see everyone enjoying a safe summer on our roads – that extra bit of care, and consideration for other roads users can make a huge difference,” said Conor Madden.
He also advised motorists and tractor drivers to be acutely aware of pedestrians and cyclists on the roads during the summer season when more people would be out walking and cycling on the roads.
The IFA has also joined in on the road safety appeal with Galway IFA Farm Family and Social Affairs Chair Teresa Roche asking all road users to exercise that extra bit of care and caution.
“We are renewing our annual appeal for motorists to be on the look out for tractors, trailers and other agricultural machinery exiting from fields and farmyards,” she said.
For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.
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Download the Connacht Tribune Digital Edition App to access to Galway’s best-selling newspaper.
Click HERE to download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, or HERE to get the Android Version from Google Play.
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The Connacht Tribune Live app is the home of everything that is happening in Galway City and county. It’s completely FREE and features all the latest news, sport and information on what’s on in your area. Click HERE to download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, or HERE to get the Android Version from Google Play.
Families queue up for school’s offer of free house
West has lower cancer survival rates than rest
Galway minors continue to lay waste to all opponents
Gardaí and IFA issue a joint appeal on summer road safety
Marathon Man plans to call a halt – but not before he hits 160 races
