PICTURES: Laois songs and celebration for Stradbally's new Parish Priest

Stradbally hosted a special celebration for its newly installed Parish Priest, Fr David Vard who is one of the youngest and best known Catholic Priests in Ireland. To read more about the event, SEE BELOW picture - to see more PICTURES taken at the event by Tony Mulhall for the Leinster Express / Laois Live tap NEXT or ARROW.

Fr David Vard, 33, who has appeared on Tommy Tiernan’s show on RTÉ, and The 2 Johnnies podcast, and did a parish fundraising parachute jump last year, has been made parish priest of the Stradbally, Vicarstown and Timahoe parish.

He celebrated the new role with his parishioners, joined by his mother Liz and sister Charlotte last weekend.

Mass was celebrated by Bishop Denis Nulty in Stradbally, followed by refreshments in St Colman’s school hall.

There was plenty of music, by the well known Timahoe Male Choir where Fr Vard is a singer, Stradbally Community Choir and the church choir.

Newbridge native Fr Vard spoke to the Leinster Express / Laois Live.

“The day went very well, I really wanted it to be a community celebration, I didn’t want it to be about me, but about the parish. A huge thanks to everyone who came together, who decorated the hall and made sandwiches.

“I hope that the parish will continue to grow. We have three lovely churches that are very welcoming, not just for special occasions but every day.

“That’s the challenge, to get back the declining numbers of people going to Sunday Mass, I would love to see an increase,” he said.

It is not a huge change in duties as Fr Vard has been parish administrator for two years.

“It was a surprise that I was made a parish priest so young. I’d say I’m one of the youngest,” he said.

Ordained aged 25, he first served in Portlaoise Parish.

“It’s nice that I only moved 8km up the road. Bishop Nulty said that in future parishes will work closer together. I’m still in the Portlaoise pastoral area, I’m still a school chaplain. Hopefully, I will stay here a long time, I’m almost a Laois man. But I’m still a proud Liliwhite,” he added.

Fr Vard hopes he inspires other young men to consider priesthood.

“If people see inspiration in me, that would be fantastic,” Fr Vard said.