he studied for the priesthood in st. patrick's, carlow college and was ordained in june 1976 in st. macartan’s cathedral, monaghan by bishop patrick mulligan. fr. duffy served in a number of parishes in the diocese of clogher, such as enniskillen, castleblayney, monaghan & rackwallace, ederney, and clones. he also spent four years on mission in the diocese of kitui, kenya.