Bishop Nash appointed Bishop of Ferns and Ossory

By Dan Walsh

His Holiness Pope Leo XIV has appointed Bishop Gerard Nash, (67), to minister simultaneously as Bishop of Ferns and as Bishop of Ossory. 

On 25 January 2026 Pope Leo XIV appointed Bishop Ger Nash, Bishop of Ferns, as the Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Ossory. 

An Apostolic Administrator is appointed to temporarily govern a diocese when warranted by special circumstances.  An Apostolic Administrator governs in the name of the Holy Father.  

The two dioceses concerned are now united in persona episcopi, and will be pastorally administered by one bishop, Bishop Nash.

In a statement, Bishop Nash said; I am deeply honoured to have been asked by Pope Leo to become Bishop of Ossory in addition to my existing pastoral role in the Diocese of Ferns. 

“From the earliest days of my appointment as Apostolic Administrator we began a consultation to explore the possibilities for what brings most hope for the future of the church, in both Dioceses.
“This appointment today is simply the continuation of a journey as the two Dioceses will work together to create a community where our relationship with God will deepen and provide fertile soil for the preaching of the Gospel.  This is an opportunity for us to do great things together. 
“The challenge of being one Bishop for two Dioceses is a mirror of the experience of many priests in modern Ireland as they take on responsibility for more than one parish.  The re-imagining of roles and the re- organisation of familiar tasks is true whether it is for a parish or a Diocese and the ultimate test for all change within the Church is whether it builds up the Kingdom of God. 

“In both Ferns and Ossory, there is a history of developing and training lay people over many years, but it has achieved new focus and energy with the recruitment and training of Lay Pastoral Workers in both Dioceses.  It was a great benefit for us here in Ossory that we have already begun the process of discernment and recruitment for those who will begin their studies in Maynooth in September.

“One of the possible collaborations between both Dioceses will be around vocations to priesthood and religious life.  Both Dioceses are working hard at this very important task and already some very good prospects for the Diocesan priesthood are emerging. 

In conclusion, Bishop Nash said; “I am deeply grateful to the people in the parishes of the Diocese of Ossory for their welcome over the past few months but in particular I want to thank the priests and the Diocesan  Staff for their collaboration and their welcome at a personal level.  I also thank the Apostolic Nuncio, Archbishop Montemayor who has been generous with his time and his wisdom in my discussions with him.”

The Diocese of Ossory has a Catholic population of 83,595.  The diocese comprises 42 parishes, 35 priests in active ministry, and covers the areas of most of County Kilkenny, six parishes in County Laois, and one parish in County Offaly. 

On June 11^th 2021, Pope Francis appointed Bishop Nash as Bishop of Ferns.