Fachtna O'Driscoll

Irish priest and hurler

Fachtna O'Driscoll, is an Irish priest with the Society of African Missions. From 2013 to 2019, he was superior general.^[1]

Early life and education

Fr. O'Driscoll, was born in Rathcormac, County Cork on 10 February 1954 to Jerome and Bridget (née O'Connor) O'Driscoll.^[2]

He went to primary school at Rathcormac National School and secondary school at St Colman's College, Fermoy, before attending St Patrick's College, Maynooth where he studied for a BA and later a Bachelor of Divinity.^[2]

A keen sportsman, he played hurling for Bride Rovers GAA,^[3] and represented Maynooth, winning medals in the Fitzgibbon Cup for hurling in 1973 and 1974^[4] and the Devine Cup for soccer.^{[citation needed]}

Career

Fachtna O'Driscoll became a permanent member of the Society of African Missions in 1978 and was ordained as a priest in 1979.^{[citation needed]} His first assignment was to Ekiti Diocese Nigeria where he lived until 1986 and learned Yoruba.^{[citation needed]} After completing a masters in counselling at Boston College Massachusetts, he was named rector of the SMA house in Maynooth and was elected to the Irish Provincial Council of SMA in 1995.^[2] In 2001 he became Irish Provincial Superior of the SMA, and was re-elected to this position in 2006. From 2013 to 2019 he was Superior General of the Society of African Missions worldwide.^[5]^[6]

His older brother Gus is also a member of the SMA serving in the Philippines.^[7]

References

^ "Election of Fr Fachtna O'Driscoll as Superior General, SMA | Irish Missionary Union". Archived from the original on 1 January 2017. Retrieved 30 December 2016.
^ ^a ^b ^c getonline (20 April 2013). "Corkman elected to lead SMA worldwide". Society of African Missions. Retrieved 5 July 2020.
^ "Bride Rovers". Briderovers.ie. Retrieved 16 June 2017.
^ "Bride Rovers". www.briderovers.ie. Retrieved 5 July 2020.
^ "Society of African Missions - Corkman elected to lead SMA worldwide | Society of African Missions". Sma.ie. 20 April 2013. Retrieved 16 June 2017.
^ "Le P. Fachtna O'Driscoll, nouveau supérieur général de la Société des Missions africaines" (in French). 6 May 2013 – via www.la-croix.com.
^ getonline (31 May 2011). "Philippines celebrates 25". Society of African Missions. Retrieved 5 July 2020.