Father John is a priest of the Archdiocese of Dublin who is now retired after over fifty years in the ministry, the last twenty of which he spent as Parish Priest (Rector) of Our Lady Queen of Peace, Bray, County Wicklow. He was educated in Saint Joseph's Infant School and Christian Brothers' National School in Carlow before going to Glenstal Priory (now Abbey) School in County Limerick. From University College Dublin he obtained a B.A. degree and a Higher Diploma in Education (Hons). His training as a priest took place in Holy Cross College, Dublin, and he was ordained in 1951. For the first twenty years of his ministry, he was very involved in working for youth.
