Bishop of Killala

{{Short description|Catholic episcopal title in Ireland}} {{Use dmy dates|date=August 2021}} {{Infobox diocese | titleoverride = | bishopric = | border = catholic | incumbent = [[Francis Duffy (bishop)|Francis Duffy]] | incumbent_note = 23 February 2026 | style = His Lordship / My Lord  | country = [[Ireland]]  | established = 1111 | cathedral = [[St Muredach's Cathedral, Ballina|St Muredach's Cathedral]], [[Ballina, County Mayo|Ballina]] | first_incumbent = [[Ua Máel Fogmair I]]  | website = {{URL|killaladiocese.org}} |jurisdiction=Bishop|name=Killala|denomination=[[Catholic Church|Roman Catholic]]|emeritus_bishops=[[John Fleming (bishop)|John Fleming]], Bishop of Killala}} [[File:KillalaCathedral.jpg|thumb|200px|[[St Patrick's Cathedral, Killala]], the episcopal seat of the pre-Reformation and Church of Ireland bishops.]] [[File:BallinaCathedral.jpg|thumb|200px|[[St Muredach's Cathedral, Ballina]], the episcopal seat of the Roman Catholic bishops.]]

The '''bishop of Killala''' ({{Langx|ga|Easpag Chill Ala}}) is an [[Episcopal polity|episcopal]] title which takes its name after the village of [[Killala]] in [[County Mayo]], [[Republic of Ireland|Ireland]]. In the [[Roman Catholic Church]] it remains a separate title, but in the [[Church of Ireland]] it has been united with other bishoprics.

==History== The foundation of the [[Episcopal see]] of Killala dates to the time of [[Saint Patrick]] who had a church built there ([[St Patrick's Cathedral, Killala|Killala Cathedral]]), over which he placed one of his disciples, [[Muiredach of Killala|Saint Muredach]], as its first bishop.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.killalacathedral.killala.anglican.org/ |title=Welcome to the Cathedral Church of St Patrick, Killala |website=anglican.org |access-date=10 December 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120404174822/http://www.killalacathedral.killala.anglican.org/ |archive-date=4 April 2012 }}</ref> Another of early bishop is believed to have been [[Cellach of Killala|Saint Cellach of Killala]].<ref>{{DNB|no-icon=1|prescript=|wstitle=Cellach}}</ref> The see was often called the bishopric of [[Uí Fiachrach Muaidhe]] or Tir Amalghaid ([[Tirawley]]) in the [[Irish annals]].<ref name=irishdioceseterritory>{{cite web | last = Walsh | first = Dennis |title=The Dioceses of Ireland: Territorial History |url=http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~irlkik/ihm/diocese.htm |publisher=RootsWeb |access-date=2009-05-18}}</ref> Although the bishopric was founded in the 5th century, it wasn't until [[1111 in Ireland|AD 1111]] that the Diocese of Killala was established by the [[Synod of Ráth Breasail]].<ref name=irishdioceseterritory/> Its boundaries comprises the north-eastern portion of [[County Mayo]] and the [[Barony (Ireland)|barony]] of [[Tireragh]] in [[County Sligo]].<ref name=irishdioceseterritory/> After Bishop Ó Coineóil was restored in 1439, there were a number of rival candidates who were appointed but never took effect.<ref>{{Harvnb|Fryde|Greenway|Porter|Roy|1986}}, ''Handbook of British Chronology'', p. 359.</ref><ref>{{Harvnb|Moody|Martin|Byrne|1984}}, ''A New History of Ireland'', volume IX, pp. 329–330.</ref>

After the [[Reformation in Ireland|Reformation]], there were parallel [[apostolic succession]]s: one of the [[Church of Ireland]] and the other of the [[Roman Catholic Church]].

In the Church of Ireland, Killala continued as a separate title until 1622 when it was combined with [[Bishop of Achonry|Achonry]] to form the united [[Bishop of Killala and Achonry|bishopric of Killala and Achonry]].<ref>{{Harvnb|Fryde|Greenway|Porter|Roy|1986}}, ''Handbook of British Chronology'', p. 378.</ref> Under the [[Church Temporalities (Ireland) Act 1833]] ([[3 & 4 Will. 4]]. c. 37), the combined [[Episcopal see|sees]] of Killala and Achonry became part of the [[Archbishop of Tuam|archbishopric of Tuam]] in 1834. On the death of [[Power Le Poer Trench|Archbishop Le Poer Trench]] in 1839, the [[Ecclesiastical Province]] of Tuam lost its [[Metropolitan bishop|metropolitan status]] and became the united [[Bishop of Tuam, Killala and Achonry|bishopric of Tuam, Killala and Achonry]] in the [[Province of Armagh (Church of Ireland)|Ecclesiastical Province of Armagh]].<ref>{{Harvnb|Fryde|Greenway|Porter|Roy|1986}}, ''Handbook of British Chronology'', p. 407.</ref><ref>{{Harvnb|Moody|Martin|Byrne|1984}}, ''A New History of Ireland'', volume IX, p. 438.</ref>

In the Roman Catholic Church, Killala remains a separate title.<ref name=dklla/> The bishop's seat ([[cathedra]]) is located at the [[St Muredach's Cathedral, Ballina|Cathedral Church of St Muredach]] in [[Ballina, County Mayo]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ballinaparish.org/ |title=Parish of Kilmoremoy |website=ballinaparish.org |access-date=10 December 2014}}</ref> The most recent [[Ordinary (Catholic Church)|ordinary]] is the Most Reverend [[John Fleming (bishop)|John Fleming]], Bishop of the [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Killala]], who was appointed by [[Pope John Paul II]] on 19 February 2002, received [[Bishop (Catholic Church)|episcopal ordination]] on 7 April 2002 and retired on 10 April 2024.<ref name=bflemingj>{{Catholic-hierarchy|bishop|bflemingj|Bishop John Fleming|10 December 2014}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2024-04-10 |title=Bishop Fleming to retire, as dioceses in Connaught set to be amalgamated in the future |url=https://www.midwestradio.ie/index.php/news/75541-minister-fleming-to-retire-as-dioceses-in-connaught-set-to-be-amalgamated-in-the-future |access-date=2024-04-10 |website=Midwest Radio |language=en-gb}}</ref> On 23 February 2026, Pope Leo appointed Duffy as bishop of Killala, uniting the dioceses of Killala and Tuam in persona Episcopi.<ref>https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/bollettino/pubblico/2026/02/23/260223a.html</ref>

==Pre-Reformation bishops== The following is a list of the [[diocesan bishop]]s of Killala: {| class="wikitable" style="width:95%;" ! colspan="4" style="background-color: #7F1734; color: white;" |Pre-Reformation Bishops of Killala |- ! style="background-color: #D4B1BB; width: 10%;" | From ! style="background-color: #D4B1BB; width: 10%;" | Until ! style="background-color: #D4B1BB; width: 30%;" | Ordinary ! style="background-color: #D4B1BB; width: 45%;" | Notes

|- valign=top bgcolor="white" | align=center | {{floruit|1208}} | align=center | unknown | ? '''[[Muiredach Ua Dubthaig]]''' | Mentioned in the [[Annals of Loch Cé]], 1208, where the context suggests that his see may have been Killala.

|- valign=top bgcolor="white" | align=center | 1235 | align=center | unknown | '''[[Donatus (Bishop of Killala)|Donatus]]''' | Became bishop in 1235 and recorded {{floruit|7 September 1244}}. Date of death unknown.

|- valign=top bgcolor="white" | colspan="2" align=center | {{Circa|1403}} | ''('''Muircheartach Cléirach mac Donnchadha Ó Dubhda''')'' | Elected circa 1403, but was never consecrated, and died later in the same year.

|- valign=top bgcolor="white" | colspan=2 align=center | 1431 | '''Thaddaeus 'Mac Creagh'''' | Appointed, by provision of the Pope; and was pardoned for accepting the appointment, and was admitted to all the privileges of an English subject, by [[Henry VI of England|King Henry VI]] in September 1431.

|- valign=top bgcolor="#F7F0F2" |align=center colspan="4" | Source(s):<ref>{{Harvnb|Brady|1876}}, ''The Episcopal Succession'', volume 2, pp. 170–173.</ref><ref>{{Harvnb|Cotton|1850}}, ''The Province of Connaught'', pp. 61–66.</ref><ref>{{Harvnb|Fryde|Greenway|Porter|Roy|1986}}, ''Handbook of British Chronology'', pp. 359–360.</ref><ref>{{Harvnb|Moody|Martin|Byrne|1984}}, ''A New History of Ireland'', volume IX, pp. 328–330.</ref> |}

==Bishops during the Reformation== {| class="wikitable" style="width:95%;" ! colspan="4" style="background-color: #7F1734; color: white;" |Bishops of Killala during the Reformation |- ! style="background-color: #D4B1BB; width: 10%;" | From ! style="background-color: #D4B1BB; width: 10%;" | Until ! style="background-color: #D4B1BB; width: 30%;" | Ordinary ! style="background-color: #D4B1BB; width: 45%;" | Notes

|- valign=top bgcolor="#F7F0F2" | align=center | 1545 | align=center | 1569 | '''[[Redmond O'Gallagher]]''' | Appointed by [[Pope Paul III]] on 6 November 1545 and presumably recognized by the crown in the reign of [[Mary I of England|Queen Mary I]]. Translated to the Roman Catholic see of [[Bishop of Derry|Derry]] by [[Pope Pius V]] on 22 June 1569. Described by the papal legate [[David Wolfe (Jesuit)|Fr David Wolfe SJ]] as 'as strong as [a] bulwark of the Bride of Christ' in an account of approximately 1573<ref>Cal S. P. Rome, 1558-71, No 865.</ref>

|- valign=top bgcolor="white" | colspan="4" style="text-align: center;" | Sources:<ref>{{Harvnb|Brady|1876}}, ''The Episcopal Succession'', volume 2, p. 173.</ref><ref>{{Harvnb|Cotton|1850}}, ''The Province of Connaught'', p. 66.</ref><ref>{{Harvnb|Fryde|Greenway|Porter|Roy|1986}}, ''Handbook of British Chronology'', pp. 360, 395, and 433.</ref><ref>{{Harvnb|Moody|Martin|Byrne|1984}}, ''A New History of Ireland'', volume IX, pp. 330, 387, and 436.</ref> |}

==Post-Reformation bishops==

===Church of Ireland succession=== {| class="wikitable" style="width:95%;" ! colspan="4" style="background-color: #7F1734; color: white;" |Church of Ireland Bishops of Killala |- ! style="background-color: #D4B1BB; width: 10%;" | From ! style="background-color: #D4B1BB; width: 10%;" | Until ! style="background-color: #D4B1BB; width: 30%;" | Ordinary ! style="background-color: #D4B1BB; width: 45%;" | Notes

|- valign=top bgcolor="#F7F0F2" |align=center colspan="4" | Source(s):<ref>{{Harvnb|Cotton|1850}}, ''The Province of Connaught'', pp. 66–67.</ref><ref>{{Harvnb|Fryde|Greenway|Porter|Roy|1986}}, ''Handbook of British Chronology'', p. 395.</ref><ref>{{Harvnb|Moody|Martin|Byrne|1984}}, ''A New History of Ireland'', volume IX, p. 436.</ref> |}

===Roman Catholic succession=== {| class="wikitable" style="width:95%;" ! colspan="4" style="background-color: #7F1734; color: white;" |Roman Catholic Bishops of Killala |- ! style="background-color: #D4B1BB; width: 10%;" | From ! style="background-color: #D4B1BB; width: 10%;" | Until ! style="background-color: #D4B1BB; width: 30%;" | Ordinary ! style="background-color: #D4B1BB; width: 45%;" | Notes

|- valign=top bgcolor="white" | align=center | 1570 | align=center | 1580 | '''[[Donat O'Gallagher]]''', O.F.M. | Also known as Donagh O'Gallagher. Appointed on 4 September 1570 and consecrated on 5 November 1570. Translated to [[Bishop of Down and Connor|Down and Connor]] on 23 March 1580<ref name=CathHierDonOGall>[http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bogald.html "Bishop Donat O’Gallagher, O.F.M."] ''[[Catholic-Hierarchy.org]]''. David M. Cheney. Retrieved 21 March 2016</ref>

|- valign=top bgcolor="#F7F0F2" | align=center | 1645 | align=center | 1661 | '''[[Francis Kirwan]]''' | Appointed by [[papal bull]] on 6 February 1645 ([[Old Style and New Style dates|N.S.]]) and consecrated at Paris on 7 May 1645 (N.S.). Returned to Ireland, but following the [[Siege of Galway|fall of Galway]] in 1651, he hid from [[Roundhead|Parliamentarian]] troops for many months, eventually imprisoned in Galway and then banished to France in August 1655. Died in exile at [[Rennes]] on 27 August 1661.<ref>[https://www.libraryireland.com/biography/BishopFrancisKirwan.php Bishop Francis Kirwan]. ''LibraryIreland''. Retrieved 14 September 2009.</ref>

|- valign=top bgcolor="#F7F0F2" | colspan=2 align=center | 1695 | ''('''[[Ambrose O'Madden]]''')'' | Nominated to be bishop of Killala, and [[apostolic administrator]] of [[Bishop of Kilmacduagh|Kilmacduagh]], on 30 August 1695 ([[Old Style and New Style dates|N.S.]]), but did not take effect. Later appointed [[Bishop of Kilmacduagh]] in 1703, but remained unconsecrated. Finally, appointed [[Bishop of Clonfert]] in 1713 and consecrated in 1714.

|- valign=top bgcolor="#F7F0F2" | align=center | 1779 | align=center | {{Circa|1812}} | '''[[Dominic Bellew]]''' | Appointed on 5 December 1779, papal brief issued on 18 December 1779, and consecrated in 1780. Died in office circa 1812.

|- valign=top bgcolor="white" | colspan=2 align=center | 1834 | '''[[John MacHale]]''' | Appointed [[coadjutor bishop]] (with right of succession) on 20 February 1825, papal brief issued on 8 March 1825, and consecrated on 5 June 1825. Succeeded diocesan bishop on 27 May 1834. Translated to [[Archbishop of Tuam|Tuam]] on 21 July 1834.

|- valign=top bgcolor="#F7F0F2" | align=center | 1835 | align=center | 1847 | '''[[Francis Joseph O'Finan]]''', O.P. | Appointed on 1 February 1835, papal brief issued on 13 February 1835, and consecrated 21 March 1835. Allowed to retain the title Bishop of Killala on 19 November 1838, but was deprived jurisdiction of the Diocese of Killala. Died on 27 November 1847.

|- valign=top bgcolor="white" | align=center | 1848 | align=center | 1873 | '''[[Tommaso Feeny]]''' | Also known as Thomas Feeny. Appointed Papal Administrator of Killala on 18 July 1839 and consecrated [[Titular Bishop]] of Ptolemais in Phoenicia on 13 October 1839. Appointed Diocesan Bishop of Killala on 12 December 1847 and papal brief issued on 11 January 1848. Died in office on 9 August 1873.

|- valign=top bgcolor="#F7F0F2" | align=center | 2002 | align=center | 2024 | '''[[John Fleming (bishop)|John Fleming]]''' | Appointed on 19 February 2002 and consecrated on 7 April 2002. Retired on 10 April 2024. |- valign="top" | align="center" |2026 | align="center" | |[[Francis Duffy (bishop)|'''Francis Duffy''']] | Appointed on 23 February 2026. |- valign=top bgcolor="white" |align=center colspan="4" | Source(s):<ref name=dklla>{{Catholic-hierarchy|diocese|dklla|Diocese of Killala|14 September 2009}}</ref><ref name=GCathKillala>[https://www.gcatholic.org/dioceses/diocese/kill0.htm "Diocese of Killala"] ''GCatholic.org''. Gabriel Chow. Retrieved 29 February 2016</ref><ref>{{Harvnb|Brady|1876}}, ''The Episcopal Succession'', volume 2, pp. 174–183.</ref><ref>{{Harvnb|Fryde|Greenway|Porter|Roy|1986}}, ''Handbook of British Chronology'', pp. 433–434.</ref><ref>{{Harvnb|Moody|Martin|Byrne|1984}}, ''A New History of Ireland'', volume IX, pp. 387–389.</ref><ref name=":0" /><ref>https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/bollettino/pubblico/2026/02/23/260223a.html</ref> |}

==Notes== {{reflist}}

==References== {{Refbegin}} * {{cite book |last=Brady |first=W. Maziere |authorlink=William Maziere Brady |title=The Episcopal Succession in England, Scotland and Ireland, A.D. 1400 to 1875 |url=https://archive.org/details/a548648302braduoft |year=1876 |publisher=Tipografia Della Pace |location=Rome |volume=2 }} * {{cite book |last=Cotton |first=Henry |authorlink=Henry Cotton (divine) |title=The Province of Connaught |url=https://archive.org/details/fastiecclesiaehi04cottuoft |series=Fasti Ecclesiae Hiberniae: The Succession of the Prelates and Members of the Cathedral Bodies of Ireland |volume=4 |year=1850 |publisher=Hodges and Smith |location=Dublin }} * {{cite book |editor1-last=Fryde |editor1-first=E. B. |editor2-last=Greenway |editor2-first=D. E. |editor3-last=Porter |editor3-first=S. |editor4-last=Roy |editor4-first=I. |title=Handbook of British Chronology |edition=3rd, reprinted 2003 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |location=Cambridge |year=1986 |isbn=0-521-56350-X }} * {{cite book |editor-last=Moody |editor-first=T. W. |editor2-last=Martin |editor2-first=F. X. |editor3-last=Byrne |editor3-first=F. J. |title=Maps, Genealogies, Lists: A Companion to Irish History, Part II |year=1984 |publisher=Oxford University Press |series=A New History of Ireland |volume=IX |location=Oxford |isbn=0-19-821745-5 }} {{Refend}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bishop of Killala}} [[Category:Lists of Irish bishops and archbishops|Killala]] [[Category:Religion in County Mayo]] [[Category:Religion in County Sligo]] [[Category:Anglican bishops of Killala]] [[Category:Roman Catholic bishops of Killala]] [[Category:Bishops of Tuam or Killala or of Achonry|Killala]] [[Category:Bishops of Killala| ]] [[Category:Lists of bishops and archbishops of former Anglican dioceses in Ireland|Killala]]