Cardinal Sean Brady, Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland, will make his first official visit to the West of Ireland and the Diocese of Elphin since being created a Cardinal by Pope Benedict. He will be visiting Roscommon to launch the newly published book entitled: “Diocese of Elphin – an Illustrated History”. The launch will take place in the Abbey Hotel Roscommon on Thursday 20th December at 7.30 pm and Cardinal Brady will be the guest of honour at the event.

The elegant and compact book edited by Fr. Francis Beirne, Ballyforan, Dysart and Tisrara and published by Booklink, has two sections, one dealing with the history of the Diocese and the other providing a history of each of the thirty eight parishes within the Diocese. It will be on sale in every parish over the coming weeks and only costs the modest sum of €20.

Bishop Jones said: “Indeed it is my fervent prayer and sincerest wish that when future historians, researchers and people of faith look back at our time, in the life of the Church in Elphin diocese, they will discover and recognise in our time a Church that stands out as an enduring Christian witness in a very secular culture”.

Roscommon County Council will accord a civic reception to Cardinal Brady on Thursday, 20th December at 5.00 pm in the County Council Offices, Roscommon.