Fr Anthony becomes Ireland’s newest priest

THE country’s newest priest imparted his first blessings to his family last night after an historic ordination.

Fr Anthony O’Mahony made history on Pentecost Sunday when he became the first priest to be ordained in St James’s Church in the parish of Ardfield and Rathbarry in West Cork, his native parish.

Bishop John Buckley performed the ordination during a mass concelebrated by parish administrator, Fr Patrick McCarthy.

He will be the only priest ordained in the Diocese of Cork and Ross this year.

Fr Anthony blessed his parents Denis and Julia, and his sister Rosemarie after celebrating his first mass in the church last night.

Hundreds of parishioners attended both celebrations.

Fr McCarthy praised the parish for the amount of preparation they put in for the events.

Fr Anthony, who is in his late 20s, is a UCC graduate who went on to study in St Patrick’s College, Carlow and in Maynooth.

He served as deacon in Carrigaline since Christmas and is awaiting an appointment.