More parts of Ireland will likely lose their bishops as the Church carries out the most "significant" shakeup in 900 years, a priest has predicted. 

Ireland is currently divided up into 26 dioceses and has been since the 12th century. 

Following the approval of the Vatican, Achonry and Killala in Connacht are to be amalgamated with their neighbours, losing their bishops as a result. 

Speaking to Newstalk Breakfast, Stradbally Parish Administrator Fr David Vard described the decision as historic. 

“It’s significant because it hasn’t been done in over 900 years - the restructuring of the Irish diocese,” he said. 

“I think it’s a great opportunity to face the reality that we’re in and to maybe join forces; to have dioceses which are quite small in the west to… share resources.

“So, I think it’s good news and I think it’s very positive for the future.” 

A priest reading a Bible.

As the number of regular Mass goers continues to decline, there has been speculation that other dioceses will also be amalgamated in the near future. 

It is, Fr Vard believes, a “correct assumption” to make. 

“We don’t know what the future will bring but I think if you look at Irish dioceses at the moment, some of them are still quite small in the north, in the east and, indeed, in the south,” he said. 

“So, I think maybe going forward there will be more amalgamations.” 

Priesthood

The average age of a Catholic priest in Ireland is now over 70 and Fr Vard said the dwindling number of young men taking their vows has an impact on how the church operates. 

“Obviously the decline in vocations, the decline in the priesthood is part of it but I don’t think that’s the full picture,” he said. 

“I’d like to think there will be a change; I’m only 32, so I’m not in my 70s. 

“I think there are obviously fewer of us who are younger - even in our 40s.

"I hope I’m not naive in saying that the Church goes in ebbs and flows.” 

Fr Vard said there is a “novelty” to his youth among his fellow priests but his vocation is accepted among his friends. 

“I think my friends and my peer group, they say, ‘You do you’ and I say to them, ‘You do you’ and that’s how we operate,” he said. 

“[It’s important that] everyone’s happy and getting on and being decent humans.” 

In the 2022 Census, 69% of Irish people recorded they were Catholic; the figure represents a decline of 9% in only five years, as 78% of people wrote on their Census form in 2016 that they were Catholic. 

Main image: A priest saying mass at a church.