The Bishop of Cork, Cloyne and Ross, Dr Paul Colton, is delighted to announce that, having received a nomination from the Diocesan Committee of Patronage, he has appointed the Reverend Eugene Griffin to be the new rector of Kinsale Union of Parishes. The Reverend Eugene Griffin is currently incumbent of the Grouped Parishes of Dunboyne with Rathmolyon in the Diocese of Meath.

Prior to ordination, Eugene Griffin worked as an accountant in the Mater University Hospital, Dublin. He was made deacon in 2013 and was ordained to the priesthood in 2014. He served his first curacy from 2014 until 2018 in the Grouped Parishes of Castleknock and Mulhuddart, with Clonsilla in the Diocese of Dublin. Since 2018 he has been incumbent of the Grouped Parishes of Dunboyne with Rathmolyon. He is also Treasurer’s Vicar in the National Cathedral and Collegiate Church of Saint Patrick, Dublin. He serves as a member of the Church of Ireland Safeguarding Board.

Eugene is married to Joanna for nearly 30 years. Joanna currently serves as a parish reader and is studying to become a Diocesan Reader.

Looking forward to this change in ministry and speaking about it, Eugene said:

‘Here I am Lord, is it I Lord? I have heard you calling in the night’ are lines from one of my favourite hymns and they perfectly represent what I am feeling today. Ten years ago, I answered God’s call to ordained ministry, and I am answering His call now as Incumbent of the Kinsale Union of Parishes.

For me, faith in God and trusting in His eternal care is at the core of my ministry. Bringing people together, nurturing gifts, engaging with people and building up ecumenical relationships is fundamental to my vision. Ministry has been all encompassing over the last ten years and both Joanna and I have been blessed to work with people of great faith, gifts and generosity.

It is with a mixture of sadness and joy that Joanna and I announce our departure from the Dunboyne and Rathmolyon Group and embark on our new adventure in Cork.

We are both really looking forward to getting to know the people of Kinsale, Ballymartle and Templetrine and the United Dioceses of Cork, Cloyne and Ross in the months and years ahead.