Brendan Leahy

Who is Brendan Leahy?

Brendan Leahy is the 49th and current Bishop of Limerick. Bishop Leahy was appointed on 10 January 2013 by Pope Benedict XVI.

Born and raised in Dublin in Crumlin and Rathfarnham, his father was a school teacher. He was educated at University College Dublin from 1977-1980, Mater Dei Institute of Education 1980-1981, Clonliffe College 1980-1983, King's Inns. He left Ireland to study theology at the Pontifical Gregorian University, Rome from 1983-1986. He began studying for professional qualifications to be a barrister in 1981, graduating in 1983 and was ordained to the priesthood on 5 June 1986 for the Diocese of Dublin. From 1983-1991 he studied for an STD degree in thelogy from the Gregorian entitled The Marian Principle in the Church According to Hans Urs Von Balthasar.

An author of a number of publications and books, and a von Balthasar scholar. For eight months, he was curate at Clonskeagh, then was appointed Professor at Mater Dei Institute of Education, Dublin in 1992 serving until 2006. He was concurrently professor at the diocesan seminary of Holy Cross College, Clonliffe from 1992-1999. In the years 1999-2004 he served as curate in the parish of Lusk.