SILVER CELEBRATION FOR FR KIERAN
TRALEE NATIVE AND KILLARNEY PARIS ADMINISTRATOR CELEBRATES 25 YEARS SINCE ORDINATION
A SPECIAL milestone in the life of a local priest was marked in St Mary’s Cathedral on Friday.
Father Kieran O’Brien celebrated the Silver Jubilee of his ordination surrounded by parishioners, fellow clergy and his family and friends at a special Mass held in the Cathedral on the evening, followed by refreshments and a social gathering at St Brendan’s College.
His ordination took place in the same Cathedral on June 13, 1993 which made the milestone all the more special to celebrate there.
Father O’Brien said he is happy to be back in the Parish where he first started out.
“It was a wonderful evening marking the occasion and to celebrate it in the place where it began for me was even better.
“I was ordained in the Cathedral, three of us were ordained together. There have been a lot of changes since then.
“I started out there and now I am back again which I’m delighted about.”
He served as a curate from 1993 to 1999 in Killarney. He is a native of Tralee and he served in St John’s Parish there before then returning to Killarney in 2012 to take the role of Administrator.
One of the main changes he has seen over the years is the number of priests in the Parish.
“When I was first in Killarney there were six full – time priests, there are now just half that number. Times have changed for sure.”
Father O’Brien plays a huge part in the community and is very popular with those in the locality.