The Irish bishops’ conference announced the appointment today, also noting that the Pope accepted the resignation of Bishop William Walsh, 75, who has been serving as head of that diocese, for reasons of age.
Bishop-elect O’Reilly, 57, has been living in Rome since 2001, when he was elected for his first term as superior general; he was re-elected for a second term in 2007.
Born in Cork, Ireland, Kieran O’Reilly joined the Society of African Missions in 1970. He was ordained a priest in 1978.
Father O’Reilly served in Liberia and Nigeria before he was named to serve within the society as a member of the Irish provincial council, then as vicar general and finally as superior general.
The Diocese of Killaloe has some 123,000 Catholics served by 132 priests and 125 religious.
