Reverend Suzanne Cousins to be appointed to Mayo parishes this evening

A newly appointed Reverend to parishes in Mayo will be installed at a special ceremony in Westport this evening (Friday). The ceremony will take place at Holy Trinity Church at 7.30pm.

The Bishop of Tuam, Limerick and Killaloe, the Rt Revd Michael Burrows, appointed Revd Suzanne Cousins as Incumbent for the Aughaval group of parishes – Westport, Castlebar, Turlough and Dugort on Achill Island, in the Diocese of Tuam, Limerick and Killaloe.

Suzanne, who comes from Newcastle, Co Down, was ordained to the priesthood in 2016 and was the Rector of the grouped prishes of Clonfeacle, Derrygortreavy and Eglish, in the Diocese of Armagh. Previously she served as Bishop’s Curate for the Moville Group (Moville, Donaghy, Culdaff, Malin) on the Inishowen Peninsula, Diocese of Derry and Raphoe.

She is married to Alan and they have three adult children, two sons-in-law and two small grandchildren. The family lived in Dublin for eight years (1997-2005) and for three in South Africa.

Suzanne’s background is education – in earlier years she worked as a primary school teacher in Ireland and Northern Ireland, and for several years as Special Educational Needs Classroom Assistant while studying Theology and preparing for training for ordained ministry.

Suzanne is Inter Faith Adviser to the Archbishop of Armagh and serves on the Church of Ireland’s Inter Faith Working Group and the Commission for Christian Unity and Dialogue. She enjoys time with her family, reading, walking, and art history and appreciation, and occasional cinema and theatre trips. She enjoys friendships and the breadth of ministry in the Church and wider community. She loves visiting, prayer and pilgrimage, and especially enjoys ministry to children and families.

Suzanne said: “While I will miss the wonderful people of my present parishes, I am delighted and thankful for the opportunity to serve God in this beautiful part of coastal Ireland and in the Diocese of Tuam, Limerick and Killaloe. Alan and I look forward with excitement and joy to getting to know and working with the people, parishes and places of Westport, Castlebar, Turlough and Dugort (Achill).”