I thought it might be worthwhile having a look at the personalities, the activities and the ministeries of our current RC bishops in Ireland.
EAMON MARTIN ARMAGH
Amy Martin is like a glass of skimmed milk mixed with water. No personality, no leadership qualities and no presence.
He no longer really answers letters, hides behind safeguarding etc and is pious without showing a substantial spirituality.
He is just occupying an ecclesiastical office, waiting for a red hat, ignoring major issues among his clergy and will prove, in the future, to be eminently forgettable.
DERMOT FARRELL DUBLIN
Farrell is a 100 % Maynooth man and that is not at all impressive or virtuous.
He has received a pallium for his faithful service to the institution and all that this involves.
I agree with the Dublin priest on yesterday’s blog who said that Farrell will continue to preside over the ongoing deteriiration in Dublin.
He might steal the red hat from Amy which would be fun.
MICHAEL NEARY TUAM
Michael is nearly finished his last lap in Tuam and will disappear into the shadows.
He has been a “safe” pair of hands in Tuam.
Again, he will be eminently forgettable.
KIERAN O’REILLY CASHEL
Again, a non-personality. Former religious. Must have been known by someone in Rome to get Killala first and Cashel second.
He will never start a revolution 🤔
But he enjoys the Costa del Sol.
TOM DEENIHAN MEATH
Dark, dangerous and a disaster for Meath. Who did Meath piss off to get Deenihan?
KEVIN DORAN ELPHIN
My 1970 – 73 Clonliffe classmate. Probably believes and says his prayers. Never really grew up spiritually. Misguided loyalty to the institution.
FINTAN MONAHAN KILLALOE
Reminds me of the old ad for vodka: “So pure its wicked”. Carries frustration and anger. Would love to get Tuam after Neary.
DONAL MC KEOWN DERRY
Used to be a nice person pre mitre. Deep and strategic in not the best of ways. No boat rocker. Given to gimmickery.
NOEL TRENOR DOWN AND CONNOR
A big square in a big round hole. Probably means well. No social or interpersonal skills. Was born to be a desk jockey.
LARRY DUFFY CLOGHER
Typical old PP type interested in maintaining the plant. Has a kind side. Means well. Never received the gift of prophecy 😉
ALAN MC GUCKIAN RAPHOE
Deep. Means well. Spoke to me one time at an ACP conference when all others ignored me. Finds being a bishop painful?
JOHN FLEMMING KILLALA
Nearing retirement. Deep. Company man. Knows a lot of secrets.
RAYMOND BROWNE KERRY
Hopeless. Direction-less. Strong autistic personality. Petty. Weak.
FINTAN GAVIN CORK
Deep. Ambitious. Canon law suits him. Company man.
PHONSIE CULLINAN WATERFORD
Angry and aggressive. Deeply repressed. Most imprudent. Opus Dei.
Strange friendship with Abbot Purcell.
DENIS NULTY KILDARE
Deep. Secret holder. Frantic activist. Ambitious. Fearful.
GER NASH FERNS
Kind. Means well. People pleaser? Lacking substance?
Early days.
BRENDAN LEAHY LIMERICK
Cerebral. Tries to be pastoral. Ambitious? Partly unknown quantity.
MICHAEL ROUTER ARMAGH PLUS 1
Ambitious. Exaggerated sense of himself and his abilities. Possibly nasty and angry? Talked about to succeed N. Treanor.
MARTIN HAYES KILMORE
Nothing to judge him on. Low profile.
BRENDAN KELLY GALWAY
On the way out. Pleasant. Acted quickly recently in the Fr Michael King case. Responds to correspondence unlike others.
WILLIE CREAN CLOYNE
Big thick Kerryman and an immigrant in Cork.
MICHAEL DUIGNAN CLONFERT
Seems to be just finding his feet. Low profile.
PAUL DEMPSEY ACHONRY
Quiet to date. His current claim to fame is being praised by the ACP and Mahatma Flannery. Kiss of death?
FRANCIS DUFFY ARDAGH
Lights on. No one home. On life support?
DROMORE – EMPTY
OSSORY – EMPTY
Interested in hearing the views of readers – especially diocesan priests.
BISHOP PAT BUCKLEY 