THE head of the Catholic Church in Ireland is to be asked to intervene in the controversy that has followed the decision to transfer a resident priest from the parish of Kilcummin.
Seething parishioners have decided to write to the Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland, Dr Eamon Martin, to highlight their concerns and to brief him on the ongoing standoff that followed the transfer of Fr Eamonn Mulvihill to Castlegregory.
He will not be replaced in Kilcummin which will instead be serviced by priests from the Killarney Pastoral Area under the direction of Killarney Parish Administrator Fr Kieran O’Brien.
Frustrated parishioners from Kilcummin marched on the Bishop’s House in Killarney last Wednesday night to hand deliver a petition, containing more than 1,200 signatures, asking for the decision to be reversed.
The group was made up of under 100 people – including children – and they were led by Cllr Marie Moloney, who lives in the parish, and residents Pat O’Sullivan and John Foley.
Bishop Ray Browne was not there at the time, due to a prior engagement, but the petition was accepted at the door by Diocesan Secretary, Fr Nicholas Flynn.
The bishop and Fr Flynn had already met with a delegation from Kilcummin to discuss their concerns but Bishop Browne stressed that the decision would not be reversed. He said he appreciates the upset and sadness of the people of Kilcummin but providing continuity of service in parishes in the diocese has been a challenge.
Earlier, Fr Kieran O’Brien and Fr Ger Godley had attended a public meeting in Kilcummin Recreational Hall where they listened to the concerns of locals and assured them that service would continue as normal in the parish.
To mark their protest, parishioners had threatened to withhold donations from the collection boxes at weekend Masses in Our Lady of Lourdes Church but offertory contributions have remained at between €600 and €800 since the controversy erupted in June.
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