It was during this time that he also worked as a pre-marriage course facilitator with Accord, serving as diocesan director with personnel in its Thurles and Tipperary centres and establishing an administrative office to co-ordinate its activities.

[1] He also worked part-time as a philosophy lecturer on the newly established Bachelor of Arts in Education, Business Studies & Religious Studies course for secondary school student teachers in St Patrick’s College, Thurles, and audited the two-year Ecology & Theology programme provided by the Columban Fathers in Dalgan Park, Navan, County Meath.

During his administration, Ss Joseph & Brigid Church, Bóthar na Naomh was renovated, a pastoral centre was constructed and the cathedral presbytery was refurbished.

[11] Hayes was consecrated by the Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland, Eamon Martin, on 20 September at the Cathedral of Ss Patrick and Felim, Cavan.

[12][13][14] In an interview with The Irish Catholic on 24 September 2020, he warned of nervousness among priests and parishioners in border parishes over the threat of a no-deal Brexit.