After a year working with an engineering firm, BKS, in Balgriffin, Dublin, Dara joined the novitiate of the Marist Fathers, in Milltown, Dublin in 1967. He spent nine years of study there which included obtaining an Honours Degree in Psychology and Computer Science at UCD in 1974. He spent the last year of his study of theology in Rome, where he attended the Angelicum University.

While living at the seminary in Milltown, Dara became involved in local community development, becoming leader of the Marist Youth Club, co-founding the Milltown-Clonskeagh Action Group, and running creative drama workshops, musical productions and summer youth programmes. This activity included the purchase of a double decker bus from CIE which was used for youth club and parish day-trips, mobile drama productions, fund-raising, and even live-in holidays.

He was ordained a priest in the Society of Mary (Marist Fathers) in 1977. After ordination, he worked as a teacher and school chaplain in St Maryís College, Dundalk, until 1983. While in Dundalk, he became a leader in the charismatic prayer movement in the town and worked especially with young people in the area of prayer groups, liturgy, and choirs. During this time, he also directed a musical production by young people in the town hall.

Subsequently, he was based at the Marist Retreat House, St Doolaghís Park, Balgriffin, Dublin where, for eighteen months, he worked on a team giving school and adult retreats.

In 1983, as a result of his experience working in schools, Dara became outspoken against the Irish education system. He became well-known for his picketing of the Department of Education and the Dáil at examination times. He has had published many articles and letters on the subject of education. Most recently, in February 2004, he submitted a paper to Minister Noel Dempsey in response to a public invitation from the Minister.

Since 1985 Dara has lived as a Celtic monk on Inis Mór, the largest of the Aran Islands. His life on the island began as a hermit in a small traditional cottage, which he named An Charraig, in the middle of the island. Within the first year, a number of people had come to live with him and join in the project. This became a pattern and is still the case today. Dara did not wish to create an institutionalised community, and so people were encouraged to stay with him for a time and then to move on or create their own project. A significant number of people have settled on Inis Mór and integrated into the local community in this way.

In 1987 he and others set up a company called Aisling Árann, and through this company they purchased Killeany Lodge. This was an old building on 1 acre of land. The building was purchased to accommodate the growing number of visitors to An Charraig. This building has been renovated and is now known as Killeany Lodge Pilgrim Hostel. With hostel-style accommodation it has 26 beds and is used by retreat groups, pilgrims and pilgrim groups, and cultural tourists. It is open to people of all faiths.


In 1989, The AISLING Magazine was founded by Dara Molloy and Tess Harper. This began as a quarterly magazine reflecting the new thinking around spirituality, church, economics, lifestyle, and the environment. It was announced as being rooted in the Celtic, promoting right relationship at all levels, and working for transformation. Since 1989, 31 paper issues have been published, all of which were printed at An Charraig on an offset printing press. In the beginning of 2005, the magazine became on-line only and ceased being published on paper.


Through his education campaign, Dara got to know the philosopher Ivan Illich. In 1989, he brought Ivan Illich to Dublin, where he lectured in Trinity College. Ivan Illich became a friend, visiting Ireland again on a number of occasions. At this time, Dara also became involved with a European wide grassroots organisation Kairos Europa, founded by German theologian Ulrich Duchrow.

From 1985 to 1996 Dara, while living as a Celtic monk on Inis Mór, remained a Marist priest and gave assistance to the local parish clergy when required. However, in 1996 he announced his departure from the Marist Fathers and Roman Catholicism. He also announced that he was remaining a priest and would continue to conduct services in the Celtic tradition. This created quite an amount of national publicity at the time.

Having left the Roman Catholic priesthood, Dara married Tess Harper and they now have four children. Together they have created a Celtic spiritual centre, or aistir, called An Charraig. This is a new complex of buildings which they constructed themselves with the help of many friends and volunteers. At this centre they conduct spiritual ceremonies, publish The AISLING Magazine and other publications, host pilgrim, study and tour groups, coordinate an all-island organic growing project, run a volunteer/internship programme, and welcome guests. Their project reflects many of the key elements of a traditional Celtic monastery.

On Inis Mór, Dara helped to found Comharchumann Forbartha Árann in 1990 and has been an active committee member ever since. This comharchumann is a community co-operative supported by an annual grant from Údarás na Gaeltachta. It has a broad brief to coordinate activities on the island, act on the island community's behalf with regional and national agencies, and work for the maintenance and development of the quality of life for those living there. The work of the comharchumann has brought about major ongoing improvements on the island, where there is now full employment and a vibrant community.

Dara earns his living performing spiritual ceremonies, especially weddings, acting as guide to pilgrim groups visiting the island, and from his writings. His publications include Legends In The Landscape, a spiritual guide book to Inis Mór.