The news emerged as Bishop of Cork and Ross, Dr John Buckley, announced changes to the appointments of 26 priests in the diocese.

A combination of shuffles, sabbaticals and falling numbers means that for the first time, Douglas parish will not have a priest, although mass times will not be affected.

Douglas parish curate Fr Ray Riordan has been appointed chaplain to Cork University Hospital.

Bishop Buckley said he hopes to appoint a priest to the parish in autumn.

Five priests are retiring as parish priests but they will continue to minister as assistant priests (AP.

Canon Michael Crowley, PP in Ballinlough, Fr Patrick Walsh, PP in Rosscarberry, Canon John K O’Mahony, PP in Kinsale, and Fr John Cotter, PP at St Patrick’s, will all remain in their parishes as APs.

Canon John O’Donovan, PP in Bantry will move to Clonakilty as AP.

The clergy changes also include six priests who are being appointed as parish priests for the first time.

They are Frankfield curate Fr Robert Brophy, who is moving to Bantry as PP. He is from Inchigeela.

Ballyphehane curate Fr John McCarthy is moving to Rosscarberry as PP. He is from Clonakilty.

Glanmire-based curate Fr John O’Callaghan is moving to Drimoleague as PP. He is from Bandon.

Fr Bernard Cotter, PIC Military Hill is moving to Uibh Laoire as PP. He is from Dunmanway.

Fr John Walsh, curate in Togher is moving to Frankfield as PP. He is from Military Hill, Cork.

And Reverend Dr Aidan O’Driscoll is returning from sabbatical leave to be PP in Our Lady Crowned, Mayfield.

Two priests — Fr Gerard Galvin, curate in Clonakilty and Fr Myles McSweeney, curate in Kinsale — are taking sabbatical leave.

Reverend Dr Gearóid Dullea, the head chaplain at CUH will become a member of staff at St Patrick’s College in Maynooth. From Bandon, he completed his doctoral studies in Rome last year.

Almost all the changes are effective from June 20.