A new Bishop’s Curate has been appointed in Clogher Diocese.

The Bishop of Clogher, the Right Rev. Dr. Ian Ellis, has appointed Rev. Timothy Irvine as the Bishop’s Curate of the Donagh Group of Parishes in Co. Monaghan, which include the parishes of Donagh (Glaslough) and Tyholland with Errigal Truagh.

Bishop Ellis, welcoming Rev. Irvine to Clogher Diocese, said: “I am very pleased to appoint Rev. Timothy Irvine to be Bishop’s Curate in the parishes of Donagh, Tyholland with Errigal Truagh.

"Rev. Timothy joins us from the dioceses of Meath and Kildare and brings much experience of rural ministry along with wider experience from his earlier career.

"I am sure that his very warm personality and many talents will be quickly recognised and appreciated by his new parishioners and the wider community. We wish him God’s blessing on this new chapter in his ministry among us.”

Rev. Irvine, who has been rector of the Mountmellick Group of Parishes in Co. Laois in the Dioceses of Meath and Kildare, said he is looking forward to getting to know the parishioners of the Donagh Group of Parishes.

A native of Newtownards, Co. Down, he studied English and Drama at Queen’s University Belfast before teaching English at Cambridge House Boys’ Grammar School.

He trained for ordination at the Church of Ireland Theological College in Dublin and spent his curacy in the Christchurch Cathedral group of parishes in inner-city Dublin where he was also chaplain to St. James’ Hospital.

He then moved to south Co. Dublin to become chaplain at Rathdown School, a day and boarding school for girls in Glenageary.

Later, Rev. Irvine took up a temporary post as Head of Religion in Alexandra College in Milltown, Dublin.

While at Rathdown and Alexandra College, he was Priest in Charge of St. John’s, Sandymount.

Having always felt drawn to the monastic life, Rev. Irvine spent a year living alongside the Church of England Benedictine Community of Mucknell Abbey in Worcestershire, sharing in the daily prayer and work of the community there.

He returned to Ireland in 2012 as curate and then rector of the Kilkenny Union of Parishes, where he was chaplain to St. Luke’s and Aut Even Hospitals.

After four years in Kilkenny, he was appointed to the incumbency of the Mountmellick Group of Parishes in Co. Laois.

Rev. Irvine is a lover of music, enjoying a wide range of genres. He also enjoys reading, especially the novels of Anita Brookner, Barbara Pym and PG Wodehouse.