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 (2024.02.02 – ...):Bishop Alexander Aloysius McGuckian, S.J. (71)Bishop Alexander Aloysius McGuckian (Alan), S.J. (71)

Ordinaries

Bishops of Down and Connor (Roman Rite)

Bishop Alexander Aloysius McGuckian, S.J. (71)Bishop Alexander Aloysius McGuckian (Alan), S.J. (71)
(2024.02.02 – ...)

Bishop of Down and Connor (Northern Ireland)

Et velle et perficere

Born:1953.02.26 (Ballymena, Ireland)
Ordained Priest:1984.06.22
Consecrated Bishop:2017.08.06

Bishop of Raphoe (Ireland) (2017.06.09 – 2024.02.02)

Bishop of Down and Connor (Northern Ireland) (2024.02.02 – ...)

Bishop Donal McKeown (74)Bishop Donal McKeown (74)
(Apostolic Administrator 2023.01.21 – 2024.02.02)

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

Sicut filii lucis ambulate

Born:1950.12.25 (Silverstream, Ireland)
Ordained Priest:1976.06.13
Consecrated Bishop:2008.06.29
Died:2024.08.11 (Brussels, Belgium † 73)

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 – 2024.08.11)

Archbishop ad personam (2022.11.26 – 2024.08.11)

Bishop Patrick Joseph Walsh
(1991.03.18 – 2008.02.22)

Ex animo operari

Born:1931.04.09 (Cobh, Ireland)
Ordained Priest:1956.02.25
Consecrated Bishop:1983.05.15
Died:2023.12.28 (Belfast, Antrim, Northern Ireland † 92)

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, Antrim, 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 Catholic Bishops’ 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
Feast:02.01

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
Feast: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 (2022.12.31)

Area: 2,419 km²

Population: 408,660 Catholics (41.2% of 991,000 total)

Pastoral Centres: 86 parishes

Personnel: 176 priests (131 diocesan, 45 religious), 15 deacons, 166 religious (68 brothers, 98 sisters), 6 seminarians

Population

Pastoral Centres

Priests

Deacons

Religious

Seminarians

Last updated on 2024.09.03

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