Fr. Kenny on a mission to get parish into shape

THERE will be more room on the pews at Tourmakeady Church if parish priest Fr. John Kenny has anything to do with it.

Fr. John is leading the Operation Transformation drive in the village and in week one, the 45 members of his flock who are undertaking the challenge lost a total of nine and a half stone.

Fr. John's mission to save bodies as well as souls featured on RTÉ's Operation Transformation series last night (Thursday) when the cameras captured the community hitting the roads of Tourmakeady after pulling on their hi-viz vests at the close of Mass.

The energetic clergy man – often seen with a surf board, paddle board or bike on his car's roof rack – has urged parishioners to ditch the car and get walking.

One parishioner quipped that confessions in Tourmakeady now involves two Hail Marys and a walk around the block.

Said Fr. Kenny: “We pray together and we weigh together, and hopefully we'll weigh less at the end of this programme. We'll be ready for the Easter eggs, but not too many.”