Born in Kilmallock, Co. Limerick, John O’Riordan moved to Sierra Leone in the 1950s as a newly-ordained priest where he was to spend 50 years in ministry.
He became Bishop of Kenema in 1984 and was awarded Sierra Leone’s honour of Commander of the Order of the Rokel in 2001 for outstanding pastoral and humanitarian services to the people of Kenema.
Bishop O’Riordan returned to Ireland in 2002 and moved to Kimmage Manor, where he died on November 22.