1,200 sign petition in stand-off with Kerry bishop over removal of parish priest

A petition of 1,200 signatures is to be handed into the Bishop of Kerry in the coming days as a standoff escalates between him and parishioners of Kilcummin, Co Kerry, over the decision to remove the parish priest.

The diocesan changes were announced in June by Bishop Ray Browne, on foot of the retirement of three priests, each with more than 50 years of service, and came into effect last week. The decision will leave the large parish of Kilcummin near Killarney without a resident parish priest.