Two priests from Ireland will be coming this summer to serve the Atlanta archdiocese. They are Rev. Richard A. Kieran from Asheville, County Louth, and Rev. Thomas Kenny of Easkey, County Sligo, Ireland.

Father Kieran, son of Mrs. Joan S. Kieran and the late Lawrence T. Kieran, is the fourth in a family of eight. He attended Glenstal Abbey School in County Limerick. For the last seven years he has been studying in St. Patrick’s College, Maynooth (the National Seminary of Ireland). After obtaining a Bachelor of Science and a Bachelor of Divinity Degree, he was ordained in St. Patrick’s College on June 20 of this year by Most Reverend John Charles McQuaid, Archbishop of Dublin. He celebrated his first Mass in his home parish of Callon on June 21.

Father Kieran is twenty-five years old. His brother John is studying at All Hallows College with the intention of following his brother to Atlanta.

Father Kenny is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Patrick J. Kenny of Easkey, County Sligo. He was awarded a scholarship to St. Muredachs College, County Mayo, in 1953, graduating from there in 1958.

He then entered the Seminary of All Hallows College, Dublin, and attended lectures at University College, Dublin, where he received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in 1961. After completing his theological studies at All Hallows he was ordained by Most Reverend Donal Herlihy, Bishop of Ferns, on June 20, 1965. His first Mass was offered at St. James Church in Easkey on June 21.

Monsignor Patrick J. O’Connor, pastor of St. Thomas More and Archdiocesan Director of Vocations, goes to Ireland each year to seek seminarians and boys in high school who are willing to be ordained for service in the archdiocese as priests. The archdiocese then finances their schooling in Ireland. After ordination they come to Atlanta. Last year Ireland trained approximately four hundred priests, three hundred of which were sent to all parts of the world. Many of these priests come to the southern dioceses of the United States where the need is great.