| Styles of Willie Walsh |
|
|---|---|
| Reference style | The Most Reverend |
| Spoken style | Your Grace |
| Religious style | Bishop |
| Posthumous style | none |
Kieran O’Reilly SMA (born 8 August 1952) is the bishop of Killaloe since his appointment was announced by Pope Benedict XVI on 18 May 2010.[1][2]
O’Reilly was born in Cork in the Diocese of Cork and Ross in 1952. In 1970, he entered the noviciate of the Society of African Missions in Wilton, Cork.
He subsequently attended courses in philosophy and theology at St Patrick's College, Maynooth. In 1974 he was awarded a Bachelor's degree in Literature, then in theology in 1977 and in 1978 the Diploma in missionary studies. On 10 April 1977, with the perpetual vow, he became a permanent member of the Society of African Missions (SMA). He was ordained a priest on 17 June 1978.
After ordination he served for two years in pastoral ministry in the Archdiocese of Monrovia, Liberia. In 1980 he was sent to the Pontifical Biblical Institute, Rome, where he obtained in 1984, his Licentiate in Sacred Scripture. He was subsequently Professor of Biblical Studies at the seminary in Ibadan, Nigeria.
From 1990 to 1995 he was a member of the Provincial Council of the Irish Province of his Institute, based in Cork. In May 1995 he was elected Vicar General and in 2001, Superior General of the Society of African Missions, and was then reelected to a second term in 2007.
His appointment was announced by Pope Benedict XVI on 18 May 2010. The speed with which a successor to Bishop Walsh was named is notable as it normally takes a year to name a new diocesan ordinary. He is currently the youngest-serving Bishop in Ireland. He was ordained on 29 August 2010.
| Catholic Church titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Willie Walsh |
Bishop of Killaloe 18 May 2010 – incumbent |
Succeeded by incumbent |