The new Bishop of Galway has been named as Dr Martin Drennan, currently Auxiliary Bishop of Dublin. Dr Drennan (61), originally from Kilkenny, is a fluent Irish speaker and was ordained as a priest in 1968.
He was appointed by Pope Benedict XVI to succeed Dr James McLoughlin.
Dr McLoughlin, who succeeded former bishop Dr Eamon Casey 12 years ago, tendered his resignation last year when he reached the mandatory retirement age of 75.
Dr Drennan has been auxiliary bishop in Dublin since 1997 and is a member of the Irish Bishops' Conference's Department of Catholic Education and Formation, and chairman of the Commission on Catechetics.
Dr McLoughlin welcomed the appointment yesterday and said that a fair number of priests in Galway knew Dr Drennan already as professor of scripture at St Patrick's College, Maynooth, Co Kildare.
"I think he's an ideal choice for Galway city and the diocese," Dr McLoughlin said.
Archbishop of Dublin Dr Diarmuid Martin sent his best wishes to both new and outgoing bishop. He said Dr Drennan had won the respect of priests and people since his appointment as Auxiliary Bishop of Dublin in 1997, and his spiritual and human qualities and integrity would be "missed".