Diocese of

Down and Connor

Northern Ireland Northern Ireland

Map

Continent: West Europe

Rite: Roman (Latin)

Type: Diocese Diocese

Name: Down and Connor (English) / Dunen(sis) et Connoren(sis) (Latin)

Ecclesiastical Province: Armagh

Depends on: Dicastery for Bishops

Websites:

Celebrations

Patron Saint: Saint Malachy O’Morgair (November 3), Saint Mac Nisse of Connor (September 4)

Liturgical Calendar (Universal) 📅

History

Contact Info

Address: Bishop’s House, Lisbreen, 73 Somerton Road, Belfast BT15 4DE, Ireland

Phone: (+44-28)9077.6185

Present Prelates

Bishop:vacant
Apostolic Administrator (2023.01.21 – ...):Bishop Donal McKeown (73)Bishop Donal McKeown (73)

Bishop of Derry (Northern Ireland)

Ordinaries

Bishops of Down and Connor (Roman Rite)

Bishop Donal McKeown (73)Bishop Donal McKeown (73)
(Apostolic Administrator 2023.01.21 – ...)

Archbishop Noël Treanor (72)Bishop Noël Treanor (72) (later Archbishop)
(2008.02.22 – 2022.11.26)

Apostolic Nuncio to European Union
Archbishop ad personam
Bishop emeritus of Down and Connor (Northern Ireland)

Sicut filii lucis ambulate

Born:1950.12.25 (Silverstream, Ireland)
Ordained Priest:1976.06.13
Consecrated Bishop:2008.06.29

Priest of Clogher (Ireland) (1976.06.13 – 2008.02.22)

General Secretary of Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Community (1993.03.31 – 2008.02.22)

Chaplain of His Holiness (1994.04.18 – 2008.02.22)

Bishop of Down and Connor (Northern Ireland) (2008.02.22 – 2022.11.26)

Vice-President of Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Community (2018.03.08 – 2022.11.26)

Apostolic Nuncio to European Union (2022.11.26 – ...)

Archbishop ad personam (2022.11.26 – ...)

Bishop Patrick Joseph Walsh (92)Bishop Patrick Joseph Walsh (92)
(1991.03.18 – 2008.02.22)

Bishop emeritus of Down and Connor (Northern Ireland)

Ex animo operari

Born:1931.04.09 (Cobh, Ireland)
Ordained Priest:1956.02.25
Consecrated Bishop:1983.05.15

Priest of Down and Connor (Northern Ireland) (1956.02.25 – 1983.04.06)

Titular Bishop of Roscrea (1983.04.06 – 1991.03.18)

Auxiliary Bishop of Down and Connor (Northern Ireland) (1983.04.06 – 1991.03.18)

Bishop of Down and Connor (Northern Ireland) (1991.03.18 – 2008.02.22)

Bishop Cahal Brendan Daly (later Cardinal)
(1982.08.24 – 1990.11.06)

Jesus Christus heri et hodie

Born:1917.10.01 (Loughguile, Ireland)
Ordained Priest:1941.06.22
Consecrated Bishop:1967.07.16
Created Cardinal:1991.06.28
Died:2009.12.31 (Belfast, Northern Ireland † 92)

Priest of Down and Connor (Northern Ireland) (1941.06.22 – 1967.05.26)

Bishop of Ardagh (Ireland) (1967.05.26 – 1982.08.24)

Vice-President of Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Community (1980 – 1983)

Bishop of Down and Connor (Northern Ireland) (1982.08.24 – 1990.11.06)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Armagh (Northern Ireland) (1990.11.06 – 1996.10.01)

President of Irish Episcopal Conference (1990.11.06 – 1996.10.01)

Cardinal-Priest of S. Patrizio (1991.06.28 – 2009.12.31)

Bishop William J. Philbin
(1962.06.05 – 1982.08.24)

Born:1907.01.26
Ordained Priest:1931.06.21
Consecrated Bishop:1954.03.14
Died:1991.08.23 († 84)

Bishop of Clonfert (Ireland) (1953.12.22 – 1962.06.05)

Bishop of Down and Connor (Northern Ireland) (1962.06.05 – 1982.08.24)

Bishop Daniel Mageean
(1929.05.29 – 1962.01.17)

Born:1882.05.06
Ordained Priest:1906.06.17
Consecrated Bishop:1929.08.25
Died:1962.01.17 († 79)

Bishop of Down and Connor (Northern Ireland) (1929.05.29 – 1962.01.17)

Bishop Joseph MacRory (later Cardinal)
(1915.08.09 – 1928.06.22)

Fortis in fide

Born:1861.03.19 (Ballygowley, Ireland)
Ordained Priest:1885.09.13
Consecrated Bishop:1915.11.14
Created Cardinal:1929.12.16
Died:1945.10.13 (Armagh, Ireland † 84)

Bishop of Down and Connor (Northern Ireland) (1915.08.09 – 1928.06.22)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Armagh (Northern Ireland) (1928.06.22 – 1945.10.13)

Cardinal-Priest of S. Giovanni a Porta Latina (1929.12.19 – 1945.10.13)

Bishop John Tohill
(1908.06.09 – 1914.07.04)

Born:1855.12.23 (Ireland)
Consecrated Bishop:1908.09.20
Died:1914.07.04 († 58)

Bishop of Down and Connor (Northern Ireland) (1908.06.09 – 1914.07.04)

Bishop Henry Henry
(1895.08.06 – 1908.03.08)

Born:1846.05.22 (Ireland)
Consecrated Bishop:1895.09.22
Died:1908.03.08 († 61)

Bishop of Down and Connor (Northern Ireland) (1895.08.06 – 1908.03.08)

Bishop Patrick MacAlister
(1886 – 1895.03)

Born: (Ireland)
Consecrated Bishop:1886.03.28
Died:1895.03

Bishop of Down and Connor (Northern Ireland) (1886 – 1895.03)

Bishop Patrick Dorrian
(1865.07.13 – 1885.11.03)

Born:1814.03.29 (Ireland)
Consecrated Bishop:1860.08.19
Died:1885.11.03 († 71)

Titular Bishop of Gabala (1860.06.23 – 1865.07.13)

Coadjutor Bishop of Down and Connor (Northern Ireland) (1860.06.23 – 1865.07.13)

Bishop of Down and Connor (Northern Ireland) (1865.07.13 – 1885.11.03)

Bishop Cornelius Denvir
(1835.09.22 – 1865.05)

Born:1791 (Ireland)
Consecrated Bishop:1835.11.22
Died:1866.07.10 († 74)

Bishop of Down and Connor (Northern Ireland) (1835.09.22 – 1865.05)

Bishop William Crolly (later Archbishop)
(1825.02.06 – 1835.05.08)

Born:1780.06.08 (Ireland)
Ordained Priest:1806
Consecrated Bishop:1825.05.01
Died:1849.04.06 († 68)

Bishop of Down and Connor (Northern Ireland) (1825.02.06 – 1835.05.08)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Armagh (Northern Ireland) (1835.05.08 – 1849.04.06)

Bishop Patrick MacMullan
(1794.10.08 – 1824.10.25)

Born:1752 (Ireland)
Ordained Priest:1775
Consecrated Bishop:1793.09.21
Died:1824.10.25 († 71)

Titular Bishop of Ramata (1793.07.29 – 1794.10.08)

Coadjutor Bishop of Down and Connor (Northern Ireland) (1793.07.29 – 1794.10.08)

Bishop of Down and Connor (Northern Ireland) (1794.10.08 – 1824.10.25)

Bishop Hugh MacMullan
(1779.08.11 – 1794.10.25)

Born: (Ireland)
Died:1794.10.25

Bishop of Down and Connor (Northern Ireland) (1779.08.11 – 1794.10.25)

Bishop Theophilus McCartan
(1760.09.10 – 1778.12.16)

Born:1700 (Ireland)
Consecrated Bishop:1761
Died:1778.12.16 († 77)

Bishop of Down and Connor (Northern Ireland) (1760.09.10 – 1778.12.16)

Bishop Edmund O’Doran
(1751.01.30 – 1760.06.18)

Died:1760.06.18

Bishop of Down and Connor (Northern Ireland) (1751.01.30 – 1760.06.18)

Bishop Francis Stuart, O.F.M.
(1740.09.19 – 1749.05)

Consecrated Bishop:1740.11.24
Died:1749.05

Bishop of Down and Connor (Northern Ireland) (1740.09.19 – 1749.05)

Bishop John Armstrong
(1727.04.07 – 1739.12)

Died:1739.12

Bishop of Down and Connor (Northern Ireland) (1727.04.07 – 1739.12)

Bishop James O’Shiel, O.F.M.
(1717.10.02 – 1724.08.13)

Born: (Ireland)
Died:1724.08.13

Bishop of Down and Connor (Northern Ireland) (1717.10.02 – 1724.08.13)

Bishop Arthur Magennis, O. Cist.
(1647.03.11 – 1653.03.24)

Consecrated Bishop:1648.05.01
Died:1653.03.24

Bishop of Down and Connor (Northern Ireland) (1647.03.11 – 1653.03.24)

Bishop Heber MacMahon
(1642 – 1643.06.27)

Born:1600 (Ireland)
Ordained Priest:1625
Consecrated Bishop:1643.06
Died:1650.07 († 49)

Bishop of Down and Connor (Northern Ireland) (1642 – 1643.06.27)

Bishop of Clogher (Ireland) (1643.06.27 – 1650.07)

Bishop Hugh Magennis, O.F.M.
(1630.06.28 – 1640.04.24)

Died:1640.04.24

Bishop of Down and Connor (Northern Ireland) (1630.06.28 – 1640.04.24)

Bishop Edmund Dungan
(1625.06.09 – 1629)

Consecrated Bishop:1626.07
Died:1629

Bishop of Down and Connor (Northern Ireland) (1625.06.09 – 1629)

Blessed Bishop Conor O’Devany (Conchubhar Ó Duibheanaigh), O.F.M. Obs.
(1582.04.27 – 1611.02.01)

Born:1530? (Ulster, Armagh, Ireland)
Consecrated Bishop:1583.02.02
Died:1611.02.01 🩸 (Dublin, Ireland † 80)
Beatified:1992.09.27

Bishop of Down and Connor (Northern Ireland) (1582.04.27 – 1611.02.01)

Bishop and religious of Order of Observant Friars Minor. Martyr.

Bishop Donat O’Gallagher, O.F.M.
(1580.03.23 – 1581)

Died:1581

Bishop of Killala (Ireland) (1570.09.04 – 1580.03.23)

Bishop of Down and Connor (Northern Ireland) (1580.03.23 – 1581)

Archbishop Miler Magrath, O.F.M.
(1565.10.12 – 1580.03.14)

Born:1523?
Died:1622 († 99)

Bishop of Down and Connor (Northern Ireland) (1565.10.12 – 1580.03.14)

Bishop of Clogher (Ireland) (1570 – 1571)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Cashel (Ireland) (1571 – 1622)

Bishop Eugene Magennis
(1539.06.16 – 1559?)

Died:1559?

Bishop of Down and Connor (Northern Ireland) (1539.06.16 – 1559?)

Bishop Robert Blyth, O.S.B.
(1520.04.16 – 1539)

Died:1547

Bishop of Down and Connor (Northern Ireland) (1520.04.16 – 1539)

Bishop Tiberio Ugolino
(1483.02.14 – 1519)

Consecrated Bishop:1489.03.12
Died:1519

Bishop of Down and Connor (Northern Ireland) (1483.02.14 – 1519)

Bishop Tadhg Ó Muirgheasa
(1469.07.10 – 1480)

Consecrated Bishop:1469.09.10
Died:1480

Bishop of Down and Connor (Northern Ireland) (1469.07.10 – 1480)

Bishop Thomas Knight, O.S.B.
(1453.08.24 – 1469)

Consecrated Bishop:1456.05.31
Died:1469

Bishop of Down and Connor (Northern Ireland) (1453.08.24 – 1469)

Bishop Richard Wolsey, O.P.
(1451.06.21 – 1453)

Died:1479?

Bishop of Down and Connor (Northern Ireland) (1451.06.21 – 1453)

Bishop Thomas Pollard, O. Cart.
(1447.06.21 – 1451)

Consecrated Bishop:1447.08.27
Died:1451

Bishop of Down and Connor (Northern Ireland) (1447.06.21 – 1451)

Fr. Ralph Alderle, O.E.S.A.
(1445.04.26 – 1445 not possessed)

Bishop of Down and Connor (Northern Ireland) (1445.04.26 – 1445 not possessed)

Bishop John Fossade
(1442 – 1450)

Died:1450

Bishop of Connor (Ireland) (1432.01.24 – 1442)

Bishop of Down and Connor (Northern Ireland) (1442 – 1450)

Bishops of Down (Roman Rite)

Bishop John Sely
(1413.07.28 – 1442)

Died:1445

Bishop of Down (Northern Ireland) (1413.07.28 – 1442)

Bishop John Dongan, O.S.B.
(1394.09.16 – 1413)

Born: (Isle of Man)
Died:1413

Bishop of Sodor (Scotland) (1374 – 1387)

Bishop of Man (Isle of Man) (1387 – 1391)

Bishop of Derry (Northern Ireland) (1391 – 1394.09.16)

Bishop of Down (Northern Ireland) (1394.09.16 – 1413)

Bishop John Ross, O.S.B.
(1386 – 1394)

Died:1394

Bishop of Down (Northern Ireland) (1386 – 1394)

Bishop Richard Calf, O.S.B.
(1369.12.19 – 1386.05.16)

Died:1386.05.16

Bishop of Down (Northern Ireland) (1369.12.19 – 1386.05.16)

Bishop William White, O.E.S.A.
(1367 – 1368)

Died:1368

Bishop of Down (Northern Ireland) (1367 – 1368)

Fr. Robert of Acton, O.E.S.A. (later Bishop)
(1365.11.18 – 1366.05.02 not possessed)

Bishop of Down (Northern Ireland) (1365.11.18 – 1366.05.02 not possessed)

Bishop of Kildare (Ireland) (1366.05.02 – 1404)

Bishop Richard Calf
(1353.12.04 – 1365.10.16)

Died:1365.10.16

Bishop of Down (Northern Ireland) (1353.12.04 – 1365.10.16)

Bishop Gregory
(1353.01.29 – 1354.05.31)

Bishop of Down (Northern Ireland) (1353.01.29 – 1354.05.31)

Bishop Ralph of Kilmessan
(1328.12.12 – 1353.08)

Died:1353.08

Bishop of Down (Northern Ireland) (1328.12.12 – 1353.08)

Fr. John of Ballyconingham (later Bishop)
(1328.08.04 – 1329 not possessed)

Died:1347.05.29

Bishop of Down (Northern Ireland) (1328.08.04 – 1329 not possessed)

Bishop of Cork (Ireland) (1329 – 1347.05.29)

Bishop Thomas Bright, O.S.B.
(1314 – 1327)

Died:1327

Bishop of Down (Northern Ireland) (1314 – 1327)

Bishop Thomas Ketel
(1305 – 1314.03.20)

Died:1314.03.20

Bishop of Down (Northern Ireland) (1305 – 1314.03.20)

Bishop Nicholas le Blund, O.S.B.
(1277 – 1305)

Died:1305

Bishop of Down (Northern Ireland) (1277 – 1305)

Bishop Thomas Lydel (homas Liddel)
(1265 – 1277)

Died:1277

Bishop of Down (Northern Ireland) (1265 – 1277)

Bishop Reginaldus
(1258 – 1265.04.13)

Died:1274.02.07

Bishop of Down (Northern Ireland) (1258 – 1265.04.13)

Bishop of Cloyne (Ireland) (1265.04.13 – 1274.02.07)

Bishop Randulphus
(1251 – 1257)

Died:1257

Bishop of Down (Northern Ireland) (1251 – 1257)

Bishop Thomas
(1213 – 1242)

Died:1242

Bishop of Down (Northern Ireland) (1213 – 1242)

Bishop Radulfus, O. Cist.
(1202 – 1212)

Died:1212

Bishop of Down (Northern Ireland) (1202 – 1212)

Bishop Echmílid mac Máel Martain
(1176 – 1202)

Died:1204

Bishop of Down (Northern Ireland) (1176 – 1202)

Bishop Amláin
(? – 1175)

Died:1175

Bishop of Down (Northern Ireland) (? – 1175)

Bishop Gilla Domangairt Mac Cormaic (Gilladomail McCormic)
(? – 1175?)

Bishop of Down (Northern Ireland) (? – 1175?)

Bishop Máel Ísu mac in Chléirig Chuirr (Malachias II)
(1152? – 1175)

Died:1175

Bishop of Down (Northern Ireland) (1152? – 1175)

Abbots nullius of Down (Roman Rite)

Saint Abbot Máel Máedóc Ua Morgair (Malachy O’Morgair) (later Archbishop)
(1124 – 1134)

Died:1148.11.02

Abbot nullius of Connor (Ireland) (1124 – 1134)

Abbot nullius of Down (Northern Ireland) (1124 – 1134)

Archbishop of Armagh (Northern Ireland) (1134 – 1137?)

Archbishop.

Abbot Óengus Ua Gormáin
(? – 1123)

Died:1123

Abbot nullius of Down (Northern Ireland) (? – 1123)

Abbot Máel Muire
(? – 1117)

Died:1117

Abbot nullius of Down (Northern Ireland) (? – 1117)

Former Prelates

Special Churches

Churches by City (148)

Dromore (↙), Armagh (←), Derry (↖)

Statistics (2021.12.31)

Area: 2,419 km²

Population: 405,420 Catholics (41.2% of 983,234 total)

Pastoral Centres: 86 parishes

Personnel: 191 priests (137 diocesan, 54 religious), 10 deacons, 196 religious (76 brothers, 120 sisters), 5 seminarians

Population

Pastoral Centres

Priests

Deacons

Religious

Seminarians

Last updated on 2023.11.30

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