Dublin: Former international footballer ordained

Br Philip Mulryne OP

A former Manchester United footballer from west Belfast has been ordained as a deacon and is on course now to become a priest next year.

Former midfielder Philip Mulryne 38, won 27 caps for Northern Ireland. He made his debut for Manchester United in 1997, and later played for Norwich City, Cardiff City and Leyton Orient.

After his retirement from football in 2008, he began to train for the priesthood at the Pontifical Irish College in Rome. Philip said he was attracted by the religious life because he wants to dedicate his life to God.

On 11 September 2016, he had made his profession to become a Dominican friar at St Saviour's Priory in Dublin. On Saturday, 29 October he was ordained a deacon by Archbishop Diarmuid Martin, at St Saviour's church in north Dublin. The service was attended by his family and friends.