Dermot Farrell
Encyclopedia
Monsignor
Dermot Pius Farrell was born in Castletown-Geoghegan
, County Westmeath
in 1955. He was educated at St Finian’s College, Mullingar
and St Patrick's College, Maynooth
. Now an independent affiliate of the newly constituted Maynooth College of the N.U.I., St. Patrick's houses both the Pontifical University
and the National Seminary.
Ordained in 1980, Dr. Farrell undertook postgraduate studies at Maynooth. He had a brief tenure as curate in Mullingar in 1981.
In 1985 he went to Rome to complete his doctorate at the Gregorian University
, while serving on the staff of the Pontifical Irish College
.
On his return to the Diocese of Meath in 1988, he was appointed curate in Tullamore
. In 1990 he was appointed to the Faculty of Theology at St. Patrick's College, Maynooth.
, his cousin. Allegations of serious misconduct against President Ledwith led to his resignation. Dr. Matthew O'Donnell of the Philosophy Department succeeded him as President. After Dr. O'Donnell's sudden death in 2006, Farrell was appointed President of the St. Patrick's College (Pontifical University and National Seminary). N.U.I. Maynooth was reorganised by an Act of Parliament in 1997. Dr. Smyth was appointed President of the newly constituted University College, Maynooth.
Dr. Farrell presided over the revision of the formation programme 'Pastores Dabo Vobis' at St. Patrick's. He also supervised the renovation of its heritage buildings. His time as President, however, coincided with a general decline in world wide vocations in the Roman Catholic Church
.
During Dr. Farrell's tenure, Dr. Charles Curran
, a controversial U.S. professor of theology, was invited to speak at the McDonagh Conference held at the college. The Conference was held to celebrate the Golden Jubliee of the eminent liberal theologian and Professor Emeritus, Fr. Enda McDonagh, a native of Bekan
. It transpired that Dr. Curran had been censured by Cardinal Ratzinger (later Pope Benedict XVI
) in 1986, due to his opposition to Roman Catholic Church ban on contraception.
, in the Diocese of Meath, effective September 1, 2007. He replaced the retiring Monsignor Edward Dunne. Monsignor Farrell was replaced as President at St. Patricks by the Vice-President and Professor of Moral Theology, Dr. Hugh Connolly, of the Diocese of Dromore. Dr Farrell was appointed Vicar-General to the diocese of Meath in October 2009, whilst retaining his position as Parish Priest of Dunboyne/Kilbride.
Monsignor
Monsignor, pl. monsignori, is the form of address for those members of the clergy of the Catholic Church holding certain ecclesiastical honorific titles. Monsignor is the apocopic form of the Italian monsignore, from the French mon seigneur, meaning "my lord"...
Dermot Pius Farrell was born in Castletown-Geoghegan
Castletown-Geoghegan
Castletown Geoghegan in County Westmeath, Ireland, lies south west of Lough Ennell near the county town of Mullingar. Castletown was the seat of the Geoghegan family of the medieval Barony of Moycashel, County Westmeath. The family were descendants of the Southern Ui Neill. They were major...
, County Westmeath
County Westmeath
-Economy:Westmeath has a strong agricultural economy. Initially, development occurred around the major market centres of Mullingar, Moate, and Kinnegad. Athlone developed due to its military significance, and its strategic location on the main Dublin–Galway route across the River Shannon. Mullingar...
in 1955. He was educated at St Finian’s College, Mullingar
Mullingar
Mullingar is the county town of County Westmeath in Ireland. The Counties of Meath and Westmeath Act of 1542, proclaimed Westmeath a county, separating it from Meath. Mullingar became the administrative centre for County Westmeath...
and St Patrick's College, Maynooth
St Patrick's College, Maynooth
St Patrick's College, Maynooth is the "National Seminary for Ireland" , and a Pontifical University, located in the village of Maynooth, 15 miles from Dublin, Ireland. The college and seminary are often referred to as Maynooth College. The college was officially established as the Royal College...
. Now an independent affiliate of the newly constituted Maynooth College of the N.U.I., St. Patrick's houses both the Pontifical University
Pontifical university
A pontifical university is a Catholic University established by and directly under the authority of the Holy See. It is licensed to grant academic degrees in sacred faculties, the most important of which are Sacred Theology, Canon Law, Sacred Scripture and...
and the National Seminary.
Ordained in 1980, Dr. Farrell undertook postgraduate studies at Maynooth. He had a brief tenure as curate in Mullingar in 1981.
In 1985 he went to Rome to complete his doctorate at the Gregorian University
Pontifical Gregorian University
The Pontifical Gregorian University is a pontifical university located in Rome, Italy.Heir of the Roman College founded by Saint Ignatius of Loyola over 460 years ago, the Gregorian University was the first university founded by the Jesuits...
, while serving on the staff of the Pontifical Irish College
Pontifical Irish College
The Pontifical Irish College is a Roman Catholic seminary for the training and education of priests, in Rome.-Foundation and early history:Towards the close of the sixteenth century, Pope Gregory XIII had sanctioned the foundation of an Irish college in Rome, and had assigned a large sum of money...
.
On his return to the Diocese of Meath in 1988, he was appointed curate in Tullamore
Tullamore
Tullamore is a town in County Offaly, in the midlands of Ireland. It is Offaly's county town and the centre of the district.Tullamore is an important commercial and industrial centre in the region. Major international employers in the town include 'Tyco Healthcare' and 'Boston Scientific'. In...
. In 1990 he was appointed to the Faculty of Theology at St. Patrick's College, Maynooth.
President of St. Patrick's College, Maynooth
Three years later, Dr. Farrell was appointed Vice-President and executive secretary to the then President of St. Patrick's, Dr. Michael LedwithMichael Ledwith
Miceal Ledwith was Catholic priest of the Diocese of Ferns in County Wexford from 1967 to 2005. After a promising academic start he was promoted rapidly and served for a time as President of St Peter's Diocescan College in Wexford...
, his cousin. Allegations of serious misconduct against President Ledwith led to his resignation. Dr. Matthew O'Donnell of the Philosophy Department succeeded him as President. After Dr. O'Donnell's sudden death in 2006, Farrell was appointed President of the St. Patrick's College (Pontifical University and National Seminary). N.U.I. Maynooth was reorganised by an Act of Parliament in 1997. Dr. Smyth was appointed President of the newly constituted University College, Maynooth.
Dr. Farrell presided over the revision of the formation programme 'Pastores Dabo Vobis' at St. Patrick's. He also supervised the renovation of its heritage buildings. His time as President, however, coincided with a general decline in world wide vocations in the Roman Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
.
During Dr. Farrell's tenure, Dr. Charles Curran
Charles Curran (theologian)
The Rev. Charles E. Curran is a moral theologian. He currently serves at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas, as the Elizabeth Scurlock University Professor of Human Values.-Biography:...
, a controversial U.S. professor of theology, was invited to speak at the McDonagh Conference held at the college. The Conference was held to celebrate the Golden Jubliee of the eminent liberal theologian and Professor Emeritus, Fr. Enda McDonagh, a native of Bekan
Bekan
Bekan or Becan is a village within a parish of the same name in County Mayo, Ireland. It is traditionally a farming community, located between the towns of Claremorris, Ballyhaunis and Knock.-Literature:...
. It transpired that Dr. Curran had been censured by Cardinal Ratzinger (later Pope Benedict XVI
Pope Benedict XVI
Benedict XVI is the 265th and current Pope, by virtue of his office of Bishop of Rome, the Sovereign of the Vatican City State and the leader of the Catholic Church as well as the other 22 sui iuris Eastern Catholic Churches in full communion with the Holy See...
) in 1986, due to his opposition to Roman Catholic Church ban on contraception.
Parish Priest
Dr. Farrell served as President of St. Patrick's College for a decade. He was appointed Parish Priest of DunboyneDunboyne
Dunboyne is a town in County Meath in Ireland. For the most part, it is a dormitory town for the city of Dublin.-Location:Dunboyne is centred on the crossroads formed by the R156 regional road and the old Maynooth Road ....
, in the Diocese of Meath, effective September 1, 2007. He replaced the retiring Monsignor Edward Dunne. Monsignor Farrell was replaced as President at St. Patricks by the Vice-President and Professor of Moral Theology, Dr. Hugh Connolly, of the Diocese of Dromore. Dr Farrell was appointed Vicar-General to the diocese of Meath in October 2009, whilst retaining his position as Parish Priest of Dunboyne/Kilbride.