Sandra celebrates becoming first woman dean

In a historic ceremony last night, the first female Church of Ireland Dean of Limerick and Ardfert was installed at St Mary’s Cathedral in Limerick.

Sandra Pragnell, from the UK, said it was a special occasion in the historic 12th-century cathedral for both the Church of Ireland and wider community in Limerick and Kerry.

The ceremony was conducted by the Bishop of Limerick, Rev Trevor Williams, and the congregation included the Catholic administrator of the Diocese of Limerick, Fr Tony Mullins; the lay leader of the Methodist Church Gillian Kingston; retired Church of Ireland Archbishop of Armagh, Rev Alan Harper; and the retired Archbishop of Dublin, Rev Walton Empey, who ordained Dean Pragnell to the priesthood in the Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin.