troy was born in newtownshandrum, county cork in 1930, the son of ellen (née flannery) and richard troy, he was educated and the local national school and later at st. colman’s college in fermoy. while he studied here troy became involved in gaelic games, particularly the college hurling team. he was a member of the college team that won their first dr. harty cup title in 1948. troy later studied for the priesthood in maynooth and was ordained for the diocese of cloyne in 1955 by archbishop mcquaid in dublin. following his ordination he served in england for a year before returning to ireland to serve as a priest in the parishes of carrigtwohill, ballycotton and kanturk. he also worked as a teacher in st. colman’s college for twenty-five years. troy later served as parish priest in midleton between 1991 and his retirement in 2005.