Border diocese concerned about impact of a ‘hard Brexit’

The new Bishop of Clogher has expressed his concern over the impact of a possible hard Brexit (with customs controls) on his cross-border diocese, stressing that his flock are anxious for a “soft” Brexit to be secured, writes Sarah Mac Donald.

On Saturday, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, Pope Francis named Mgr Lawrence Duffy, parish priest of Carrickmacross, as the new Bishop of Clogher, which encompasses all of County Monaghan, most of County Fermanagh and portions of County Tyrone in Northern Ireland, as well as parts of Donegal, Louth and Cavan. Clogher’s Catholic population numbers 88,000 across 37 parishes and 85 churches.

“We have lived with a border for nearly 100 years; we have lived with tension and thank God with peace in recent years,” Bishop-elect Duffy said. Admitting that the fallout from Brexit was a concern to him and his flock, he said that as a priest he visited many homes and met people “where they are at. You know the struggles they have, the worries they have.”

Speaking to The Tablet in St Joseph’s Church in Carrickmacross, he said: “The decision on Brexit and how it settles down is a huge issue for people … A hard Brexit is not what people would wish for – that’s for sure. We would certainly be happy if it was a soft Brexit.”

Mgr Duffy said the people of Clogher, “living on the border”, had always done their best to cope with their circumstances. “No doubt they will do the same this time – no matter what the result is.”

Mgr Duffy succeeds Bishop Liam MacDaid who retired in 2016 on health grounds. Since then Mgr Joseph McGuinness has been acting as diocesan administrator.

In September Clogher Diocese announced it would cut the number of Sunday Masses from 113 to 96. Mgr Duffy told The Tablet that it was “a challenging and an exciting time” to be bishop.