Bishop Adrian Wilkinson offers his congratulations to Bishop Niall Coll on his appointment as the next Bishop of Raphoe
On behalf of the clergy and people of the Diocese of Cashel, Ferns and Ossory, I congratulate Bishop Niall Coll on the news that he has been appointed by Pope Leo XIV as the next Bishop of Raphoe. I had the privilege of attending Bishop Niall’s consecration as Bishop of Ossory at St Mary’s Cathedral, Kilkenny in January 2023, just months after my own consecration and move to Kilkenny. As near neighbours, we immediately struck up a warm friendship. In January 2024 we travelled together to Rome and Canterbury as the two Irish delegates attending the International Anglican Roman Catholic Commission for Unity and
Mission (IARCCUM). The fruit of this experience is reflected in an article we wrote together for the Catholic ecumenical journal ‘One in Christ’. Earlier this year, at my invitation, Bishop Niall preached at the morning Eucharist in St Canice’s Cathedral in Kilkenny as part of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity.
Bishop Niall combines the gifts of a pastor, academic and educator with his commitment to ecumenism. While those of us in Kilkenny will be sorry to see him leave, we wish him God’s blessing as he moves to take up