Following a vocation to the priesthood, Fr. Brinn attended Mungret College, Limerick from 1961 through 1964 and St. Patrick’s College, Thurles, Co. Tipperary from 1964 through 1968.
He was ordained for the Diocese of San Diego on June 8, 1968 in the Cathedral of the Assumption, Thurles by the Archbishop of Cashel, Dr. Thomas Morris.
Fr. Brinn was welcomed to the Diocese of San Diego on August 1, 1968 by the Most Reverend Francis J. Furey.
His first assignment was as Assistant Pastor at Sacred Heart Church in Coronado.
In the Diocese of San Bernardino he served at St. Francis de Sales, Riverside, St. Theresa, Palm Springs, Sacred Heart, Redlands, Our Lady of Lourdes, Montclair, St. Ann, Needles, St. Frances of Rome, Lake Elsinore, where he ministered as Vicar Forane for the Hemet Vicariate, and at St. Mel, Norco.
His last assignment was as Administrator of Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish, Palm Springs.
Fr. Brinn retired from active ministry in 2004 and served as a supply priest when needed in the Beaumont/Banning parishes.
He is survived by his sisters, Sylvia McCann, Antoinette McDonald and Margaret Fitzgerald all living in Ireland.
Vigil service was at St. Kateri Tekakwitha Church, Banning on December 8 and his funeral Mass was on December 9 at St. Kateri Tekakwitha Church, Beaumont. Burial was at Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Cemetery, Colton.