Diocese of

Elphin

Ireland Ireland

Continent: West Europe

Rite: Roman (Latin)

Type: Diocese Diocese

Name: Elphin / Elphinen(sis) (Latin)

Ecclesiastical Province: Tuam

Neighbouring Dioceses: Tuam (↙), Achonry (←), Killala (←), Kilmore (↗), Ardagh (→), Meath (↘), Clonfert (↓)

Depends on: Dicastery for Bishops

Websites:

Celebrations

Patron Saint: Saint Asicus of Elphin (April 27), Immaculate Conception (December 8)

Cathedral Dedication Anniversary: July 1

Liturgical Calendar (National) 📅

History

Contact Info

Address: Bishop’s House, St. Mary’s Sligo, Ireland

Phone: (071)91.62.670

Present Prelates

Bishop (2014.05.14 – ...):Bishop Kevin Peter Doran (73)Bishop Kevin Peter Doran (73)

Bishop of Achonry (Ireland)

Monsignors (8)

Ordinaries

Bishops of Elphin (Roman Rite)

Bishop Kevin Peter Doran (73)Bishop Kevin Peter Doran (73)
(2014.05.14 – ...)

Bishop of Achonry (Ireland)
Bishop of Elphin (Ireland)

Unum corpus in Christo

Born:1953.06.26 (Dublin, Ireland)
Ordained Priest:1977.07.06
Consecrated Bishop:2014.07.13

Priest of Dublin (Ireland) (1977.07.06 – 2014.05.14)

Bishop of Elphin (Ireland) (2014.05.14 – ...)

Apostolic Administrator of Achonry (Ireland) (2024.04.10 – 2025.02.16)

Bishop of Achonry (Ireland) (2025.02.16 – ...)

Bishop Christopher Jones
(1994.05.24 – 2014.05.14)

Fiat mihi

Born:1936.03.03 (Roscommon, Ireland)
Ordained Priest:1962.06.17
Consecrated Bishop:1994.08.15
Died:2018.05.18 (Sligo, Ireland † 82)

Priest of Elphin (Ireland) (1962.06.17 – 1994.05.24)

Bishop of Elphin (Ireland) (1994.05.24 – 2014.05.14)

Bishop Dominic Joseph Conway
(1971.03.12 – 1994.05.24)

Born:1918.01.01 (Longford, Cambodia)
Ordained Priest:1941.11.09
Consecrated Bishop:1970.11.08
Died:1996.08.22 († 78)

Priest of Elphin (Ireland) (1941.11.09 – 1970.10.16)

Titular Bishop of Roscrea (1970.10.16 – 1971.03.12)

Auxiliary Bishop of Elphin (Ireland) (1970.10.16 – 1971.03.12)

Bishop of Elphin (Ireland) (1971.03.12 – 1994.05.24)

Bishop Vincent Hanly
(1950.07.19 – 1970.11.09)

Born:1899.04.22 (Elphin, Ireland)
Ordained Priest:1923.06.17
Consecrated Bishop:1950.09.24
Died:1970.11.09 († 71)

Priest of Elphin (Ireland) (1923.06.17 – 1950.07.19)

Bishop of Elphin (Ireland) (1950.07.19 – 1970.11.09)

Bishop Edward Doorly
(1926.07.17 – 1950.04.05)

Born:1868.11.23 (Roscommon, Ireland)
Ordained Priest:1895.06.23
Consecrated Bishop:1923.06.24
Died:1950.04.05 († 81)

Titular Bishop of Sarepta (1923.04.05 – 1926.07.17)

Coadjutor Bishop of Elphin (Ireland) (1923.04.05 – 1926.07.17)

Bishop of Elphin (Ireland) (1926.07.17 – 1950.04.05)

Bishop Bernard Coyne
(1913.01.18 – 1926.07.17)

Born:1854 (Sandfield, Ireland)
Ordained Priest:1879
Consecrated Bishop:1913.03.30
Died:1926.07.17 († 71)

Bishop of Elphin (Ireland) (1913.01.18 – 1926.07.17)

Bishop John Joseph Clancy
(1895.02.08 – 1912.10.19)

Born:1856.12.23 (Sooey, Ireland)
Ordained Priest:1882.06.25
Consecrated Bishop:1895.03.24
Died:1912.10.19 († 55)

Priest of Elphin (Ireland) (1882.06.25 – 1895.01.12)

Titular Bishop of Achantus (1895.01.12 – 1895.02.08)

Coadjutor Bishop of Elphin (Ireland) (1895.01.12 – 1895.02.08)

Bishop of Elphin (Ireland) (1895.02.08 – 1912.10.19)

Bishop Laurence Gillooly, C.M.
(1858.12.01 – 1895.01.15)

Born:1819.05.12 (Roscommon, Ireland)
Ordained Priest:1847.12.06
Consecrated Bishop:1856.09.07
Died:1895.01.15 († 75)

Titular Bishop of Belline (1856.02.29 – 1858.12.01)

Coadjutor Bishop of Elphin (Ireland) (1856.02.29 – 1858.12.01)

Bishop of Elphin (Ireland) (1858.12.01 – 1895.01.15)

Bishop George Joseph Plunket Browne
(1844.03.26 – 1858.12.01)

Born:1795? (Kilmore, Ireland)
Ordained Priest:1818?
Consecrated Bishop:1831.10.23
Died:1858.12.01 († 62)

Bishop of Galway (Ireland) (1831.08.06 – 1844.03.26)

Bishop of Elphin (Ireland) (1844.03.26 – 1858.12.01)

Bishop Patrick Burke
(1827.05.08 – 1843.09.16)

Born:1779 (Lisnageeragh, Ireland)
Ordained Priest:1803
Consecrated Bishop:1819.06.27
Died:1843.09.16 († 63)

Titular Bishop of Augustopolis (1819.01.12 – 1827.05.08)

Coadjutor Bishop of Elphin (Ireland) (1819.01.12 – 1827.05.08)

Bishop of Elphin (Ireland) (1827.05.08 – 1843.09.16)

Bishop George Thomas Plunkett
(1814.10.04 – 1827.04.27)

Born:1765 (Bothar, Ireland)
Ordained Priest:1788.05.17
Consecrated Bishop:1815.02.24
Died:1827.04.27 (Versailles, France † 61)

Priest of Gent (Belgium) (1788.05.17 – 1814.10.04)

Bishop of Elphin (Ireland) (1814.10.04 – 1827.04.27)

Bishop Edward French
(1787.02.13 – 1810.04.29)

Born: (Roscommon, Ireland)
Died:1810.04.29

Bishop of Elphin (Ireland) (1787.02.13 – 1810.04.29)

Bishop James O’Fallon
(1756.08.04 – 1786.12.02)

Born:1709 (Taughboy, Ireland)
Died:1786.12.02 (Cloonagh, Ireland † 76)

Bishop of Elphin (Ireland) (1756.08.04 – 1786.12.02)

Bishop John Brett, O.P.
(1748.08.28 – 1756.06.12)

Born:1698? (Ballymore, Sligo, Ireland)
Consecrated Bishop:1743.09.08
Died:1756.06.12 († 57)

Bishop of Killala (Ireland) (1743.07.27 – 1748.08.28)

Bishop of Elphin (Ireland) (1748.08.28 – 1756.06.12)

Bishop Patrick French, O.F.M.
(1731.11 – 1748.08.27)

Consecrated Bishop:1732?
Died:1748.08.27

Bishop of Elphin (Ireland) (1731.11 – 1748.08.27)

Bishop Gabriel O’Kelly
(1718.03.20 – 1729.05.07?)

Born:1661 (Galway, Ireland)
Ordained Priest:1680
Consecrated Bishop:1718.06.19
Died:1729.05.07? († 67)

Priest of Elphin (Ireland) (1680 – 1718.03.20)

Bishop of Elphin (Ireland) (1718.03.20 – 1729.05.07?)

Bishop Ambrose MacDermott, O.P.
(1707.03.15 – 1717.09)

Born:1651?
Consecrated Bishop:1707.08?
Died:1717.09 († 65)

Bishop of Elphin (Ireland) (1707.03.15 – 1717.09)

Bishop Dominic Burke, O.P.
(1671.07.13 – 1701.01.01)

Born:1629? (Craughwell, Galway, Ireland)
Ordained Priest:1670
Consecrated Bishop:1671.11.22
Died:1701.01.01 († 71)

Bishop of Elphin (Ireland) (1671.07.13 – 1701.01.01)

Fr. Moriarty O’Brien
(1657.09.03 – ?)

Bishop of Ardfert and Aghadoe (Ireland) (1657.04.17 – 1657.09.03)

Bishop of Elphin (Ireland) (1657.09.03 – ?)

Bishop Boetius Egan, O.F.M.
(1625.06.09 – 1650.04.19)

Born:1585? (Tuam, Ireland)
Consecrated Bishop:1626.07.19
Died:1650.04.19 († 64)

Bishop of Elphin (Ireland) (1625.06.09 – 1650.04.19)

Bishop Andrew O’Crean, O.P.
(1562.01.28 – 1594)

Died:1594

Bishop of Elphin (Ireland) (1562.01.28 – 1594)

Bishop John O’Heyne
(Apostolic Administrator sede plena 1545 – 1556)

Bishop Bernard O’Higgins, O.E.S.A.
(1542.05.05 – 1561)

Consecrated Bishop:1542.09.07
Died:1564.02.25 (Vila Viçosa, Portugal)

Bishop of Elphin (Ireland) (1542.05.05 – 1561)

Bishop Bernard O’Donnell, O.F.M.
(1541.06.03 – 1542.05.05)

Consecrated Bishop:1541.04.24?
Died:1542.05.05

Bishop of Ferns (Ireland) (1541.03.30 – 1541.06.03)

Bishop of Elphin (Ireland) (1541.06.03 – 1542.05.05)

Bishop Gabriel de S. Serio, O.S.B.
(1539.08.27 – 1541.06.03)

Died:1542.05.05

Bishop of Elphin (Ireland) (1539.08.27 – 1541.06.03)

Bishop of Ferns (Ireland) (1541.06.03 – 1542.05.05)

Bishop John Maxey, O. Praem.
(1525.04.07 – 1536.08.15)

Died:1536.08.15

Bishop of Elphin (Ireland) (1525.04.07 – 1536.08.15)

Bishop Christopher Fisher
(1508.12.12 – ?)

Bishop of Elphin (Ireland) (1508.12.12 – ?)

Bishop Cornelius Ó Flannagain
(1501? – ?)

Bishop of Elphin (Ireland) (1501? – ?)

Bishop George Brana
(1499.04.15 – ?)

Consecrated Bishop:1483.05.04
Died:1529

Bishop of Dromore (Northern Ireland) (1483.04.18 – 1499.04.15)

Bishop of Elphin (Ireland) (1499.04.15 – ?)

Bishop Riocard mac Briain Ó gCuanach, O.P.
(1492.06.22 – ?)

Died:1501?

Bishop of Elphin (Ireland) (1492.06.22 – ?)

Bishop Hugo Arward
(1487.01.24 – ?)

Died:1492

Bishop of Elphin (Ireland) (1487.01.24 – ?)

Bishop Nicol Ó Flannagáin, O.P.
(1469.07.10 – 1494.09)

Bishop of Elphin (Ireland) (1458.06.07 – 1469.07.10 not possessed)

Bishop of Elphin (Ireland) (1469.07.10 – 1494.09)

Fr. Nicol Ó Flannagáin, O.P. (later Bishop)
(1458.06.07 – 1469.07.10 not possessed)

(see above)

Bishop Conchobair Ó Maolalaidh, O.F.M.
(1449.10.20 – 1468)

Died:1468

Bishop of Clonfert (Ireland) (1447.05.22 – 1448.08.30)

Bishop of Emly (Ireland) (1448.08.30 – 1449.10.20)

Bishop of Elphin (Ireland) (1449.10.20 – 1468)

Bishop William Ó hEidheáin
(1429.12.02 – 1449.10.20)

Bishop of Elphin (Ireland) (1429.12.02 – 1449.10.20)

Bishop of Emly (Ireland) (1449.10.20 – 1475)

Bishop Laurentius Ó Beólláin
(1429.01.26 – 1429.10.20)

Died:1429.10.20

Bishop of Elphin (Ireland) (1429.01.26 – 1429.10.20)

Bishop Johannes
(? – 1429)

Died:1429

Bishop of Elphin (Ireland) (? – 1429)

Bishop Edmund Barrett
(1421 – 1421)

Died:1421

Bishop of Elphin (Ireland) (1421 – 1421)

Bishop Robert Fosten
(1418.02.18 – ?)

Died:1430?

Bishop of Elphin (Ireland) (1418.02.18 – ?)

Bishop Seaán Ó Gráda
(1407 – 1417)

Died:1417

Bishop of Elphin (Ireland) (1407 – 1417)

Bishop Gerard Caneton, O.E.S.A.
(1405 – 1405 not possessed)

Bishop of Cloyne (Ireland) (1394.03.16 – 1405)

Bishop of Elphin (Ireland) (1405 – 1405 not possessed)

Fr. Seoán Ó Mocháin
(1383.01 – 1394.09.16 not possessed)

Bishop of Elphin (Ireland) (1383.01 – 1394.09.16 not possessed)

Bishop of Derry (Northern Ireland) (1394.09.16 – 1394 not possessed)

Bishop Thomas Barrett
(1372.06.16 – 1404)

Died:1404

Bishop of Elphin (Ireland) (1372.06.16 – 1404)

Bishop Gregorius Ó Mocháin (Gregory O’Moghan / O’Mahon) (later Archbishop)
(1357.02.27 – 1372.05.07)

Died:1383

Bishop of Elphin (Ireland) (1357.02.27 – 1372.05.07)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Tuam (Ireland) (1372.05.07 – 1383)

Bishop Carolus
(1355? – 1357)

Bishop of Elphin (Ireland) (1355? – 1357)

Bishop Seoán Ó Fínnachta
(1326 – 1354)

Consecrated Bishop:1326
Died:1354

Bishop of Elphin (Ireland) (1326 – 1354)

Bishop Lúrint Ó Lachtnáin
(1313.01.21 – 1326)

Died:1326

Bishop of Elphin (Ireland) (1313.01.21 – 1326)

Bishop Máel Sechlainn Mac Áeda (Malachias / Malachi MacHugh) (later Archbishop)
(1310.06.22 – 1312.12.19)

Died:1348.08.10

Bishop of Elphin (Ireland) (1310.06.22 – 1312.12.19)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Tuam (Ireland) (1312.12.19 – 1348.08.10)

Bishop Cathal Ó Conchobair, O. Praem.
(1307 – 1310)

Consecrated Bishop:1307.10
Died:1343

Bishop of Elphin (Ireland) (1307 – 1310)

Bishop Donnchad Ó Flannacain, O. Cist.
(1303 – 1307.06.02)

Died:1307.06.02

Bishop of Elphin (Ireland) (1303 – 1307.06.02)

Bishop Gilla Ísu mac in Liathána Ó Conchobair, O. Praem.
(1285.08.10 – 1296)

Died:1296

Bishop of Elphin (Ireland) (1285.08.10 – 1296)

Bishop Muiris mac Néill Ó Conchobair, O.P.
(1266 – 1284.12.05)

Died:1284.12.05

Bishop of Elphin (Ireland) (1266 – 1284.12.05)

Bishop Tomas mac Fergail Mac Diarmata, O. Cist.
(1262 – 1265)

Died:1265

Bishop of Elphin (Ireland) (1262 – 1265)

Bishop Máel Sechlainn Ó Conchobair
(1260 – 1262.01.09)

Consecrated Bishop:1260.11
Died:1262.01.09

Bishop of Elphin (Ireland) (1260 – 1262.01.09)

Bishop Tomaltach mac Toirrdelbaig Ó Conchobhair (Thomas O’Conor) (later Archbishop)
(1246 – 1259.03.23)

Consecrated Bishop:1247.01.21
Died:1279.06.16

Bishop of Elphin (Ireland) (1246 – 1259.03.23)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Tuam (Ireland) (1259.03.23 – 1279.06.16)

Bishop Eóin Ó Mugróin
(1245.07.02 – 1246)

Consecrated Bishop:1245
Died:1246

Bishop of Elphin (Ireland) (1245.07.02 – 1246)

Bishop Donnchad mac Fíngein Ó Conchobhair (Dionysius Donatus)
(1231 – 1244.04.24)

Consecrated Bishop:1231
Died:1244.04.24

Bishop of Elphin (Ireland) (1231 – 1244.04.24)

Bishop Alanus
(1230 – 1230)

Bishop of Elphin (Ireland) (1230 – 1230)

Bishop Dionysius Ó Mórda
(1217 – 1229)

Died:1231.12.15

Bishop of Elphin (Ireland) (1217 – 1229)

Bishop Ardgar Ua Conchobair
(1206 – 1215)

Died:1215

Bishop of Elphin (Ireland) (1206 – 1215)

Bishop Floirint Ua Riacáin Uí Máelruanaid, O. Cist.
(1180 – 1195)

Died:1195

Bishop of Elphin (Ireland) (1180 – 1195)

Bishop Tommaltach mac Áeda Ua Conchobair (Thomas O’Conor) (later Archbishop)
(? – 1180)

Died:1201

Bishop of Elphin (Ireland) (? – 1180)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Armagh (Northern Ireland) (1180 – 1184)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Armagh (Northern Ireland) (1187 – 1201)

Bishop Máel Ísu Ua Connachtáin
(1152? – 1174)

Died:1174

Bishop of Elphin (Ireland) (1152? – 1174)

Bishops of Roscommon (Roman Rite)

Bishop Flannacán Ua Dubthaig
(? – 1152?)

Died:1168

Bishop of Roscommon (Ireland) (? – 1152?)

Bishop Domnall mac Flannacáin Ua Dubthaig
(1111? – 1136.03.17)

Died:1136.03.17

Bishop of Roscommon (Ireland) (1111? – 1136.03.17)

Abbot nullius of Clonmacnois (Ireland) (1111? – 1136.03.17)

Abbots nullius of Elphin (Roman Rite)

Saint Bishop Asicus of Elphin
(450? – 490?)

Died:490? (Racoon, Ireland)
Canonised:1902.06.19 (equipollently)
Feast:04.14

Bishop-Abbot nullius of Elphin (Ireland) (450? – 490?)

Bishop. Disciple of Saint Patrick.

Former Prelates

Special Churches

Churches by City (91)

Tuam (↙), Achonry (←), Killala (←), Kilmore (↗), Ardagh (→), Meath (↘), Clonfert (↓)

Statistics (2022.12.31)

Area: 301 km²

Population: 81,750 Catholics (88.9% of 92,000 total)

Pastoral Centres: 35 parishes, 5 missions

Personnel: 77 priests (54 diocesan, 23 religious), 8 deacons, 150 religious (23 brothers, 127 sisters), 2 seminarians

Population

Pastoral Centres

Priests

Deacons

Religious

Seminarians

Last updated on 2026.07.02

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