Two new priests – a former Town Councillor and a Maths Teacher – ordained in the Diocese of Cork, Cloyne and Ross

On Sunday, 31st August 2025, the Rev. Eoghan Healy and the Rev. Andrew Coleman were ordained to the priesthood by the Bishop of Cork, Cloyne and Ross, the Right Rev. Dr Paul Colton.

The Bishop of Cork, Dr Paul Colton presided at the liturgy, and the Dean of Cloyne, the Very Rev. Susan Green preached at the Service. The Lay Vicars Choral of St Fin Barre’s Cathedral Choir sung under their Director of Music, Peter Stobart, and the Assistant Director of Music, Matthew Breen played the organ. The Rev. Martin Steele, Dean’s Vicar at St Fin Barre’s Cathedral, sang the Litany.

Eoghan and Andrew were presented for ordination by the Archdeacon, the Ven. Andrew Orr, as well as their respective sponsors. Parishioners, family and friends from all over the Diocese, as well as Diocesan Readers and clergy came to the cathedral to support them on this special day. 

Andrew Coleman, was born and raised in Bandon, and has been an active member of community life in the town and wider community throughout his life. He was married to Caroline in St Peter’s Church Bandon (1993) and has been very active in the church and parish life of Bandon Union of Parishes, including sitting on its Select Vestry. He was elected to serve as a Town Councillor in Bandon for more than 27 years and was appointed as Peace Commissioner in 1997 and chairperson in 2001. In later life Andrew returned to education to undertake a number of courses, and finally a master’s degree in 2003 from UCC. Since 2005, Andrew has been the area representative for Christian Aid Ireland in the southern region counties. He served for a time as a member of Diocesan Council and is a member of the General Synod of the Church of Ireland. Andrew was licensed as a Diocesan Reader in 2019, ordained deacon on Sunday 30th June 2024, and is now a priest to serve in the Ordained Local Ministry in Bandon Union of Parishes and with a General Licence in the Diocese.

Originally from Dublin, Eoghan moved to Cork at the age of 18. He has now spent more of his life living in Cork than in Dublin. Eoghan originally trained as a Marine Engineer, but returned to college in his mid twenties to study Mathematics and Philosophy. He now teaches Mathematics and Computer Science in The North Monastery Co-Ed Secondary School. During his time in the “Mon” he served on the board of management and was also involved in introducing the new Computer Science leaving certificate subject to the school. Eoghan enjoys learning and understanding the processes involved in learning. His preferred way of learning is by giving things a go and he tries to incorporate this approach to learning into his classroom. Eoghan was part of the first cohort of students from Cork, Cloyne and Ross Diocese to undertake the Certificate in Christian Studies, graduating online during the COVID-19 Pandemic. He has been part of Cloyne Union of Parishes for the past 9 years, having previously worshipped in St Fin Barre’s Cathedral, where he also continues to attend services when time allows. Eoghan was ordained deacon on the Feast of St James the Apostle, 25th July 2024, and is now a priest to serve in the Ordained Local Ministry in Cloyne Union of Parishes.

Photos: Eoin Murphy

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Page Turners: an exhibition of artist’s books at St Fin Barre’s Cathedral, Cork

Page Turners is an exhibition of artists’ books which launches in St Fin Barre’s Cathedral at 5:30pm on Thursday 4th September 2025. 

The shark from Fishy by Mette-Sofie Ambeck

Artists’ books are a distinctive art form in which the artist creates a book to express their ideas. This autumn exhibition in the cathedral ambulatory invites visitors to linger and spend time exploring selected artists’ books from across Ireland, the UK and France. Selected national and international book artists include Ambeck Design, Coracle Press, Helen Douglas, Paul Gaffney, Helena Grimes, ottoGraphic Books, Road Books, and Tom Sowden.

Page-turners is co-curated with MTU Crawford College of Art & Design and is an important moment at the cathedral as they pioneer a rolling arts programme.

As part of the exhibition there will also be a panel discussion at the cathedral at 12:30pm on 18th September 2025.

The exhibition runs until 31st October 2025.

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Annual Elizabeth Bowen Commemoration in St Colman’s Church, Farahy

The annual Elizabeth Bowen Commemoration will take place this year on Sunday, 14th September, at St Colman’s Church, Farahy, at 3.30pm. The service of evensong, as ever, will be led by The Very Rev’d Dr Robert MacCarthy and the Clerks Choral, directed by Dr Ian Sexton, will sing the service. The speaker this year, is The Very Rev’d Dermot Dunne, Dean of Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin.

St Coleman’s Church, Farahy, is closed for regular worship and only opens for the annual commemoration service in memory of Elizabeth Bowen, the celebrated Anglo-Irish author whose home, Bowenscourt, once stood in the adjoining estate. Every year, a distinguished speaker delivers an interesting lecture about her life or writing. Farahy is a mile or so west of Kildorrery on the Mallow Road.

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August Organ Recital Series is back at St Fin Barre’s Cathedral, Cork

St Fin Barre’s Cathedral will host five organists during the month of August. Each Friday at 1.10pm there will be a recital lasting for around 50 minutes in the cathedral, and audience members will be able to see the performer in detail on the screen in the nave. Joseph Ripka from Oklahoma, USA will begin the series on 1st August with music by Americans Stephen Paulus and Calvin Hampton, and by the French composers Litaize and Alain. 

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Bishop of Missouri preaches at popular late-evening compline in St Brendan’s Church, Crookhaven

Last Sunday, 13th July 2025, Bishop Deon Johnson was the preacher for the popular Compline Service at St Brendan’s Church, Crookhaven. Bishop Johnson is currently a guest of the Diocese of Cork, Cloyne and Ross, and is spending part of his sabbatical in Schull.

The Rev. Terry Mitchell and the Right Rev. Deon Johnson

The most southerly chapel in Ireland, St Brendan’s Church in Crookhaven, resumed its late-evening service of Compline every Sunday in July and August. The services will begin at 8.30pm and the small stone chapel, which was built in 1717, welcomes all denominations and anyone who is on holidays or visiting West Cork. Following is the list of guest preacher for each upcoming service in 2025:

July 20th: the Very Rev. Cliff Jeffers (Dean of Ross)

July 27th: the Rev. Damien O’Cathain (Rector of Castlepollard & Oldcastle Union)

August 3rd: Baroness Julia Neuberger (Member of the House of Lords and retired senior Rabbi of the West London Synagogue)

August 10th: the Rev. Canon Denis McCarthy (Bandon Union)

August 17th: the Very Revd. Chris Peters (Retired Dean of Ross)

August 24th: the Rev. Gary Philbrick (Vicar, St Paul’s, Weston-super-Mare)

August 31st: Denise Stobart (Doctoral Researcher at University College Cork)

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