The retirement of priests and decreasing vocations are leading to a shortage of clergy across local diocese.
Bishop of Ardagh and Clonmacnoise Paul Connell has been describing how the situation has been manifesting locally.
The diocese of Ardagh and Clonmacnoise covers nearly all of Co. Longford, parts of Co. Roscommon, and the greater part of Co. Leitrim.
A total of eighteen retirements and only one ordination have been recorded in the diocese in the past ten years.
Currently, there are forty-five active priests working across the forty-one parishes within the diocese.