The Archdiocese of Cashel & Emly is to host a special celebration
on Monday March 7 to honour Archbishop Dermot Clifford 25 years of
service as Archbishop of the Archdiocese.
A native of Ballymacelligott in County Kerry Archbishop Clifford was
ordained in 1964 and for a time worked as a teacher in Saint Brendan's
College in Killarney.
He was later to become Diocesan Secretary for the
Diocese of Kerry, and a lecturer in University College Cork before been
appointed by Rome as coadjutor Archbishop of Cashel and Emly to the
late Archbishop Thomas Morris on December 17 1985 formally taking up the
appointment in March 1986.
Coupled with his appointment as Archbishop Dr Clifford also served as
parish priest of Tipperary Town until September 1988 when Archbishop
Morris retired as Archbishop of Cashel & Emly.
In recent times,
Archbishop Clifford has also been charged with responsibility for the
Diocese of Cloyne, as the church goes through an era of unprecedented
turmoil.
As Archbishop of Cashel & Emly, Dr Clifford also serves as
Patron of the GAA in recognition of the role that his predecessor
Archbishop Croke played in founding the GAA.
The special celebration organised by the Archdiocese in the Cathedral
of the Assumption in Thurles takes place on Monday March 7 at 7:00pm
and will see Archbishop Clifford as the main celebrant alongside the
Papal Nuncio his Excellency Archbishop Giuseppe Leanza ,the Primate of
All Ireland Cardinal Seán Brady, numerous other bishops and the priests
of the Archdiocese.
An open invitation has been extended to everyone to attend the mass
and a special reception, which will take place afterwards in Saint
Patrick's College in Thurles.