Monsignor Brendan Kelly often wondered about what direction he would take in life but it was not until he completed his Leaving Certificate that he decided he "had to try" the priesthood. The Craughwell man has been a very popular parish priest in Spiddal for four years but will head to Roscommon in January to begin his tenure as Bishop of Athchonry.

After moving to Maynooth in 1964, Monsignor Kelly spent seven years training as a priest before taking up his first position as curate in Kinvara, Co. Galway.

Teaching had been the only other career that Monsignor Kelly had considered when he was in school and he got the opportunity to combine both of his passions when he was transferred to Coláiste Einde in Salthill in 1972. During his eight years at the college, he taught history and thoroughly enjoyed his post.

However, in 1980 he received a call to go to Our Lady's College in Gort where he held another teaching position before becoming principal in 1986. After spending 15 years at the college, Our Lady's amalgamated with a local school to become Gort Community College and Fr Kelly decided to take a sabbatical year.

Not content to spend his time relaxing, he decided to continue his long involvement with people with learning difficulties and travelled to France with L'arche, an international faith community.

"I had been involved with teaching people with learning disabilities and working with the Brothers of Charity and other organisations in a pastoral role. So during my sabbatical year, I decided that I wanted to get more 'hands-on'. Sometimes, it was very difficult, especially since I didn't know the language, but I really enjoyed it." While in France, he got to know the local community very well and regularly keeps in touch.

Following his return to Ireland, he was sent to Clare to work as parish priest for Lisdoonvarna and Kilshanny. Reminiscing on his years in the parish, Monsignor Kelly says that he loved the area, especially around the Burren, and that over his seven years, he built up a strong relationship with his congregation.

However in 2003, he was called on to return to An Spidéal where has remained ever since.

"Although it was tough to leave Clare and the people were very good to me in Lisdoonvarna, I have had a great term in Spiddal. We have had great times, especially this year as we have been celebrating the centenary year of the local church. The people of the parish have been working together and putting together the celebrations for the parish. It will come to a climax in the next couple of weeks when we have a night of reflection and choral music at the church at 8pm on 2 December," he says.

Fr Kelly admits that he got a "bit of a shock" recently when he received the news that he was to be ordained Bishop of Athchonry. He will receive the title in a special ceremony in January and will then begin his work in Roscommon. But although he says he is happy to go wherever God wants him and is looking forward to the challenge of a large parish, he will find it hard to leave Spiddal behind.

"Of course I said yes, as I feel it is a call coming from the Holy Faith and when I went into the priesthood I knew that I would have to go where God wanted me to go. I have been lucky I suppose, because I have really loved every appointment that I have ever gotten. I will miss Spiddal a lot as I think I was just getting to grips with the community here."

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