A pharmacist, publican, nurse, engineer, accountant, and former professional footballer are among the 19 men currently in formation with the Irish Dominican friars.
Bro. Philip Mulryne is a former professional footballer from Belfast who played for Manchester United, Norwich City and internationally with Northern Ireland before retiring in 2008.
He joined the novitiate last year with Matthew Farrell, Jesse Maingot and Michael (Ronan) O Dubhghaill and they made their first profession in St Mary's Dominican priory church in Cork on Sunday, presided over by Fr Gregory Carroll OP, prior provincial.
The Dominican friars also received two new novices, Greg Daly and Neil Fox, both from Dublin, during the celebration of the community Mass in St Mary's last Saturday. Both new novices now begin their year-long novitiate in Cork as they continue to discern their vocations as Dominican friars.
“It is a day of great joy for the Irish Dominicans as these men take this important step in their lives and rounds off a happy weekend for the Irish Dominican province,” said Fr Gerard Dunne OP, Vocations Director.