Fachtna O'Driscoll, is an Irish priest with the Society of African Missions. From 2013 to 2019, he was superior general.[1]
Fr. O'Driscoll, was born in Rathcormac, County Cork on 10 February 1954 to Jerome and Bridget (née O'Connor) O'Driscoll.[2]
He went to primary school at Rathcormac National School and secondary school at St Colman's College, Fermoy, before attending St Patrick's College, Maynooth where he studied for a BA and later a Bachelor of Divinity.[2]
A keen sportsman, he played hurling for Bride Rovers GAA,[3] and represented Maynooth, winning medals in the Fitzgibbon Cup for hurling in 1973 and 1974[4] and the Devine Cup for soccer.
Fachtna O'Driscoll became a permanent member of the Society of African Missions in 1978 and was ordained as a priest in 1979. His first assignment was to Ekiti Diocese Nigeria where he lived until 1986 and learned Yoruba. After completing a masters in counselling at Boston College Massachusetts, he was named rector of the SMA house in Maynooth and was elected to the Irish Provincial Council of SMA in 1995.[2] In 2001 he became Irish Provincial Superior of the SMA, and was re-elected to this position in 2006. From 2013 to 2019 he was Superior General of the Society of African Missions worldwide.[5] [6]
His older brother Gus is also a member of the SMA serving in the Philippines.[7]