Bohernabreena loss is Ballyfermot gain
By Mary Dennehy
FATHER Piaras MacLochlainn is this weekend moving on from Tallaght to take up a position in Ballyfermot after seven years in the parishes of St Anne’s, Holy Rosary and St Martin De Porres.
A well known priest around the area, Father Piaras received only two weeks notice of his move, and will say his final Mass in St Martin’s Church on Saturday morning, October 5.
Father Piaras MacLochlainn
Father Piaras, who was based in St Kevin’s Parish in Kilnamanagh in the late eighties, is moving to St Matthews in Ballyfermot on Saturday – and will say his first Mass in his new parish on Saturday evening.
St Matthews has been without a parish priest for a number of weeks, after Father Joe McDonald was appointed to Celbridge in late August.
Father Piaras is no stranger to Ballyfermot having served in the Church of Our Lady of the Assumption a number of years back.
Speaking with The Echo, Father Piaras said that he will miss the parishes of St Anne’s, Holy Rosary and St Martin’s – especially the people. “I’ve had a good time here, I’ve really enjoyed it,” Father Piaras said.
“There are a lot of good people in the parish, very good people who are doing a lot in a good way.
“I’ll also miss the nature, it’s a lovely location on the edge of the city.”
A message on the Bohernabreena Parish Facebook page expressed the loss that Father Piaras would be to the parish.
Fr Piaras MacLochlainn cutting a cake at the St Anne’s 150th parish celebrations with Fr Michael Hurley
Wishing the priest “every happiness” in his new position, the post read: “Ballyfermot’s gain is very much our loss as Father Piaras will be missed by all who worked with him in both Holy Rosary and St Anne’s churches, and our neighbouring parish of St Martin de Porres, and by the staff and children in our local schools to which he is Chaplain.”
Fr Piaras celebrated Mass in the Holy Rosary church on Wednesday morning and was joined by the Holy Rosary School choir, pupils and parishioners.
On Thursday and Friday morning (October 3 and 4) Father Piaras will celebrate Mass in St Anne’s church, with his final Mass in the parish cluster being in St Martin’s in Aylesbury on Saturday (October 5) at 11am.
