A native of Oldcastle in County Meath, Bishop Michael Smith was born in 1940. Following education at St Finian’s College, Mullingar and the Pontifical Irish College, Rome, he was ordained a priest 1963.

​

He attended all 168 days of the Second Vatican Council. He and eleven other young priests prepared the official record, having been appointed as a recording secretary to the Council.

 

Returning from Rome he served in the Cathedral Parish of Mullingar, as chaplain to St Loman’s Hospital and as secretary to Bishop John McCormack.

 

He was ordained an auxiliary bishop of Meath in 1984 and co-adjutor Bishop of Meath on 10th October 1988.

 

The appointment of Canon Tom Deenihan as his successor was announced on 18 June 2018.