The Rector
On the 21st of July 2019 Bishop Kenneth Kearon announced the appointment of the Canon Kevin O’Brien as Rector of the parishes of Drumcliffe Group with Kilnasoolagh. Prior to his ordination Kevin worked for several years in television and advertising in the UK and overseas, before becoming Senior Lecturer in International Marketing at Bournemouth University. He was ordained in 2001 and served as an assistant curate and then as a school chaplain before becoming Chaplain to the Bishop in Europe in 2006. He was latterly Vicar of St John the Evangelist, Burgess Hill in the Diocese of Chichester in the Church of England, a position he held from 2010. He is married to Sue, and they have two adult sons, Patrick, who studies at Trinity College and Fergus, learning to be a luthier at Limerick School of Music. Kevin was introduced to the parish in late October.
Background
The O’Brien family have 2 Scottish Deerhounds, Mungo and Mhaire, plus Seamus, the Saluki lurcher, who enjoy the large garden behind the rectory at St. Columba’s.
Canon Kevin says his key skills are in public and civic theology, cross-cultural and interfaith dialogue, preaching and teaching, pastoral care, social action engagement and social enterprise management. In these coronavirus times he is learning about recording and editing online videos. He particularly enjoys teaching the faith to those who are new to it.
Kevin O’Brien was previously founder and chair of Burgess Hill Community Food Bank. He with others launched the first credit union drop-in for the Diocese, and at the church café they ran a food bank, an IT drop-in centre, a stroke club, a dementia café, a toddler and baby group and cookery classes for those in assisted living. They hosted monthly concerts, so social action is complemented by social events, which also include art and photo exhibitions. In August 2018, he completed an MA in Public Theology at the University of Chichester researching the personality traits and psychology of religious attitudes towards same-sex marriage. He places great emphasis on preaching and teaching, leading regular study groups especially for Lent and Advent. His own spirituality is a blend of Celtic and Franciscan influences. He is currently studying to be a Logotherapist and Existential analyst. He is Diocesan Safeguarding Coordinator, a member of Diocesan Council and General Synod, and is a trustee of Changing Attitude Ireland and a member of the Progressive Church Network. He is the content creator of the Clare Anglicans YouTube channel and has interests in video production for musicians and poets.
His earlier life experience was in business management and marketing and advertising having posts in advertising companies in England and abroad. His hobbies or past times include cross-country skiing (nordic), bee-keeping, walking, sailing, cinema, spending time with his wife & family and dogs. He is inspired by a proximity to water, mountains, forests and snow. He and family have holidayed in Co. Clare for the past 17 years, in the Ballynacally area.
