Gerard Nash (bishop)

This article is about the Bishop of Ferns. For the footballer, see Gerard Nash (footballer). For other people, see Gerard Nash (disambiguation).

Gerard Nash (born 27 February 1959) is an Irish Catholic bishop. He was appointed Bishop of Ferns on 11 June 2021 and consecrated on 5 September 2021.

The Most Reverend Gerard Nash
Bishop of Ferns
Church	Roman Catholic
See	Ferns
Appointed	11 June 2021
Installed	5 September 2021
Predecessor	Denis Brennan
Previous post(s)	General Manager of Clarecare Secretary of the Diocese of Killaloe Episcopal Vicar for Pastoral Development in the Diocese of Killaloe
Orders
Ordination	15 June 1991 by Michael Harty
Consecration	5 September 2021 by Dermot Farrell
Personal details
Born	(1959-02-27) 27 February 1959 (age 66) Tulla, County Clare, Ireland
Nationality	Irish
Alma mater	NIHE Limerick St Patrick's College, Maynooth
Motto	I síth agus muintearas Íosa (In the peace and compansionship of Jesus)

Ordination history of Gerard Nash
History Diaconal ordination Ordained by Michael Smith Date 1 April 1990 Place St. Patrick's College, Maynooth, Ireland Priestly ordination Ordained by Michael Harty Date 15 June 1991 Place Church of the Immaculate Conception, Drumcharley, Tulla, Ireland Episcopal consecration Principal consecrator Dermot Farrell Co-consecrators Denis Brennan Fintan Monahan Date 5 September 2021 Place St Aidan's Cathedral, Enniscorthy, Ireland
Source(s):[1][2][3]

Styles of Gerard Nash
Reference style	The Most Reverend
Spoken style	Your Grace
Religious style	Bishop

Early life

Nash was born in Glandree, in the parish of Tulla, County Clare, on 27 February 1959, one of four children to the late Tommy and Mary Nash. He has three sisters, one of whom predeceased him. Nash attended St Joseph's Secondary School in Tulla, where he completed his Leaving Certificate. He then studied business and economics at the National Institute of Higher Education in Limerick, and worked afterwards in the manufacturing industry. He subsequently attended seminary for the Diocese of Killaloe at St Patrick's College, Maynooth, and was ordained to the Catholic priesthood on 15 June 1991.^[4]

Presbyteral ministry

Nash's first pastoral assignment was as chaplain of the vocational school in Roscrea, and as priest responsible for the local youth centre. After five years, he was appointed general manager of Clarecare, a non-profit enterprise which provides a range of social services to people in County Clare, a position he held until 2003. Nash was also appointed curate in Corofin in 1996, before being appointed resident priest in 2003, as part of the first grouping of parishes in the Diocese of Killaloe. He remained as resident priest in the newly created Imeall Bóirne pastoral area when he moved to Crusheen in 2007.^[1][3]

Nash was appointed Diocesan Secretary in 2010, while continuing his ministry in Imeall Bóirne. He was appointed episcopal vicar for pastoral development for the diocese in 2016.^[5][6]

Episcopal ministry

Nash was appointed Bishop-elect of Ferns by Pope Francis on 11 June 2021, succeeding Denis Brennan.^[1][7] He was consecrated by the Archbishop of Dublin, Dermot Farrell, on 5 September in St. Aidan's Cathedral, Enniscorthy.^[3][2][8]