Much-loved Fermanagh priest Father Brian D’Arcy has confirmed his plans to return to ministry in his home county next month.

The Bellanaleck-born priest had previously been stationed at Tobar Mhuire retreat centre, Crossgar but has confirmed he is “delighted to be returning to the Graan”.

Fr. Brian will not be rector of St. Gabriel’s Retreat, The Graan but will be available to assist the current Graan rector, Fr. Charles Cross.

Fr. Brian hopes to be back living at the Graan full-time from early next week and celebrating mass in early November.

He is hopeful, he will remain at the Graan for the rest of his time.

He added: “I don’t expect to be moving again at my age.”

Fr. Brian is looking forward to being situated in Fermanagh again as well as serving the wider communities in the surrounding areas of Tyrone, Monaghan, Leitrim and Cavan where he and the Graan have strong ties.

The priest views his pastoral work as a two-way street with everyone contributing to the betterment of the community.

He said: “All I plan to do is to do the best I can for the people in the area and to work with the people to make sure they can all do something.”

He emphasised: “Whether that is people from the Graan, people from Rossorry, people from St Michael’s or people from St. Macartin’s. I don’t see anyone as any different.”

Aside from his pastoral work Fr. Brian is looking forward to continuing his broadcasting duties with the BBC as part of his Sunday radio programme on Radio Ulster alongside work with BBC Radio Two and his role as a columnist with the Sunday World.

He added: “I will be able to keep on doing all I am doing, but in a different place. I am currently working to get an ISDN line set up in my room so I can do the BBC direct from my room.”

While speaking to this newspaper he was reflective of the Coronavirus pandemic and how it changed life and showed there were no guarantees for the future.

Concluding that he was looking forward to a “quieter life with people”, Fr. Brian said: “I will continue to do it for as long as I can, and when God says there is place for me upstairs. Hopefully, I will get to go.”