Editing Joseph Duffy (bishop) (section)

==Early life and priestly ministry==
Duffy was the eldest of three boys and one girl born to Edward Duffy and Brigid MacEntee of [[Newbliss|Annagose, Newbliss, County Monaghan]]. Born in [[Dublin]], he was educated at St. Louis' Infant School, [[Clones, County Monaghan]], and at [[St Macartan's College]] on the outskirts of [[Monaghan Town]], where he was a [[Boarding school|boarder]] for five years.

He studied for the priesthood at [[St Patrick's College, Maynooth]], and was ordained priest for the [[Diocese of Clogher (Roman Catholic)|Diocese of Clogher]] on 22 June 1958. After his ordination he continued his studies in [[Irish language|Irish]] and completed a thesis on the dialect of south [[County Tipperary]] for a master's degree in the [[National University of Ireland]] (the NUI) in 1960.

He returned to St. Macartan's College, where he taught Irish and French for twelve years. During these years he spent several sessions in French universities pursuing summer courses in French.

From 1972 to 1979 he was a curate in the parish of [[Enniskillen|Enniskillen, County Fermanagh]]. This was a team ministry with three other curates and the [[parish priest]], and included a chaplaincy to St. Fanchea's College for Girls, and a part-time chaplaincy at the Erne Hospital. During these years he was involved in PACE (Protestant and Catholic Encounter) and served on the committee of the [[Ulster Architectural Heritage Society]] (the UAHS.)