Martin Coffey was born in Dundalk, Ireland in 1954. He joined the Congregation of the Passion in 1972 and was professed in 1977. He was ordained priest in June 1980. Since then he has lived and worked in Ireland, Rome, Kenya, South Africa and China. He has worked mostly in formation and the training of new Passionists. He has also taught philosophy in different seminaries and other centres of higher education.