BISHOP of Raphoe Alan McGuckian celebrated his 70th birthday on Sunday following the Confirmation of pupils at Kilmacrennan school.
The bishop was lured outside the school for photographs to allow the birthday cake to be produced and then it was taken to the Clanree Hotel where everyone enjoyed it after dinner.
Speaking to the Donegal News this week Bishop McGuckian said that despite having passed what would be considered above normal retirement age, he cannot send in his retirement request to the church until he is 75.
“Thankfully I have no notion of retiring and I am quite content and in good health thank God. In my head I still think I’m in my forties. I do the park run as often as I can and would try to run two evenings in midweek.
“Just after the Confirmation a large group of us, people who help out in the parish and school went for dinner and the birthday cake was produced after dinner and shared out,” he said.
Later this month he hopes to have a birthday celebration with his three brothers in Belfast. Sadly his two sisters are deceased. Bishop Alan is the baby of the family.
“I had a lovely birthday. The birthdays I have had with a nought in them have been really great and get better with each one.
“So many people have given me birthday greetings even walking down the street. It has been lovely,“ he concluded.
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