Cork and Kerry churches to be left without Masses amid fresh wave of priests retiring

Bishop wrote at the weekend of the impending exodus of priest to Mass-goers across Kerry and parts of North and West Cork, which forms the Diocese of Kerry

'With many priests set to reach retirement age 75 in the next three years, the challenge is imminent,' the bishop wrote in a pastoral letter read out at Masses. File picture: Tim Boyle/Getty Images

A wave of retirements in the coming years will exacerbate a crisis in Kerry that has already left 15 parishes without priests.

With many priests set to reach retirement age in Kerry, more churches will be without weekend Masses, Bishop of Kerry Ray Browne has warned.