South east gets new bishop

A former primary school teacher and member of the Bunratty Castle Entertainers who was ordained a priest in 1994 has been named the Catholic bishop of Waterford and Lismore.

Clare native Fr Alphonsus Cullinan, 55, has been appointed by Pope Francis to replace Bishop William Lee, who announced his retirement last year on health grounds. Fr Cullinan is currently parish priest in Rathkeale, Co Limerick.

He worked as a primary teacher for six years in Castleconnell, Co Limerick, and, since being ordained in 1994, was a curate in Limerick City and chaplain at the regional hospital. He has also been chaplain at Limerick Institute of Technology and studied for a doctorate in moral theology in Rome.