The Bishop of Limerick and Killaloe, the Rt Rev Michael Mayes, is to retire at the end of March after forty-three years in the ordained ministry.

Bishop Mayes was ordained in 1964 for a curacy in the parish of St Mark's Portadown (Armagh), and then served as curate assistant in the newly-created parish of St Columba's Portadown (Armagh) 1967-68. He then served in Japan from 1968 to 1974.

In 1974, Bishop Mayes returned to Ireland to act as area secretary for USPG, based in Belfast. In 1975 he was appointed as incumbent of St Michael's Union (Cork) followed by incumbencies in Moviddy Union and Rathcooney Union, both in Cork diocese. He served as Archdeacon of Cork, Cloyne and Ross 1986-93.

In April 1993, he was elected as Bishop of Kilmore, Elphin and Ardagh and in 2000, he was translated to the Diocese of Limerick, Ardfert, Aghadoe, Killaloe, Kilfenora, Clonfert, Kilmacduagh and Emly following the vote of the Electoral College.

At a central level Bishop Mayes took special responsibility for the area of international development work and has Chaired the Advisory Committee of the Church of Ireland Bishops' Appeal, the Church's world aid and development programme since 2000. In this capacity, he championed projects that focused on health, education, support for those infected by HIV or living with the consequences of the disease, rural development and emergency relief.

In a warm tribute, Archbishop John Neill expressed his appreciation of the ministry of Bishop Michael Mayes: "As a friend since student days, I have long been aware of the great intellectual ability, wise pastoral care and the warm personality of Michael Mayes.

"As he retires, he is going to be greatly missed by the whole Church of Ireland and in particular by those who have served most closely with him."

The Archbishop of Dublin has appointed the Archdeacon of Killaloe, the Venerable Wayne Carney to be commissary for the Diocese from 1 April 2008 until the election of a successor to Bishop Mayes.

The date of the Electoral College will be announced later.