Article updated Monday, May 15 at 5pm.
A petition has been launched to keep a well-known priest in his parish.
Parishioners in Kilmacrennan have been left shocked at plans to move popular priest Fr Paddy Dunne (main pic) to another parish in the south of the county.
Locals have now launched a campaign to keep the Letterkenny priest in the village.
One of those behind the campaign is Susan Shields.
Posting on Facebook, Ms Shields urged others to speak out about plans to move Fr Dunne.
She wrote “Today is a sad day for us all, we have learned that plans have been put in place to move our beloved priest, he has been the heart and soul of our parish.
“Always there and always supporting his parishioners, this man has done fantastic work for the people, he filled the chapel every week.
“This parish has had a very tough time in the past and Father Paddy Dunne shone a light when it was desperately needed, we as a community need to send a very clear message.
“This is our priest, our priest that we do not want to lose, our priest that we are very grateful to have.
Let’s not let anyone no matter who it is take him away from us.
“As one of the oldest members of this parish I call for us to stand together and get this message across and get this decision changed.”
Since Ms Shields spoke out, a petition has been launched online asking the Diocese of Raphoe to keep Fr Dunne in Kilmacrennan.
We contacted the Raphoe Diocesan Office for a comment. None was forthcoming, however, the office has since released a general statement which read: “Bishop McGuckian, SJ, thanks all those who have accepted these new appointments in the Diocese.”
The full list of Raphoe Diocese clergy appointments is as follows: Very Rev Cathal Ó Fearraí, PP, VF, Kilbarron (Ballyshannon) to retire; Very Rev Patrick ‘Paddy’ Dunne, PP, Kilmacrenan to be PP, Kilbarron effective from 24th June; Very Rev Michael McKeever, PP, VG, Gartan and Termon to be in addition PP, Kilmacrenan; Rev Martin Chambers, Chaplain Letterkenny University Hospital to be CC, Kilmacrenan and Termon, resident in Termon; Rev Francis Ferry, CC, Mountcharles, & Drimarone to be Chaplain, Letterkenny University Hospital and Very Rev Seamus Dagens to be AP, Mountcharles & Drimarone.
Appointments effective 10th June, unless stated otherwise.
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