New parish priest for Tullow 

After almost ten years in Tullow, Fr Brian Maguire has announced his decision to take "a sabbatical break for six months" to allow time to "rest, renewal and upskilling".

In a recent Tullow parish newsletter, the popular parish priest announced his decision also outlining that Fr Gerard Ahearn PP Baltinglass has been announced PP in Tullow. 
 

Fr Maguire stated; "You may have heard that St Patrick’s Missionary Society, Kiltegan offered to provide a team of three priests to work in a parish of this diocese of Kildare & Leighlin. 

Baltinglass has been chosen as the parish and the present parish priest of Baltinglass, Fr Gerard Ahern, has been appointed as parish priest of Tullow. Fr Gerard, originally from Hacketstown, attended secondary school here in Tullow and has worked as a priest in Leighlinbridge, the regional college, the cathedral parish, Abbeyleix and Baltinglass".

"He will bring to his ministry here great pastoral and managerial experience, along with his own humanity and kindness. I know that he will be welcome here and have the support he will need. Fr Gerard’s appointment gives me the opportunity to take a sabbatical break for six months. It’s the norm in Kiltegan for priests to take a sabbatical every ten years to facilitate rest, renewal and upskilling. I feel greatly in need of all three. The appointments take affect in mid-February.

I feel sad and deeply grateful as I prepare to leave Tullow for the second time. I have spent almost ten years here in total and have experienced great kindness, hospitality, respect and understanding. It has been a singular privilege to have ministered here and I am very grateful. With every good blessing, Fr Brian Maguire".