Matthew Cullen (bishop)

{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2020}} {{Use Hiberno-English|date=December 2020}} {{Infobox Christian leader | type = Bishop | honorific-prefix = Rev Dr. | name = Matthew Cullen | honorific-suffix = DD | native_name = | native_name_lang = | title = Bishop in Kildare and Leighlin | image = | image_size = | alt = | caption = | church = | archdiocese = Dublin | province = Kildare | metropolis = | diocese = Kildare and Leighlin | see = | elected = | appointed = | term = | term_start = 1927 | quashed = | term_end = 1936 | predecessor = Dr. [[Patrick Foley]] | opposed = | successor = Thomas Keogh | other_post =  | ordination = 1889 | ordinated_by = | consecration = | consecrated_by = | cardinal = | rank =  | birth_name = | birth_date = {{Birth date|df=yes|1864|03|17}} | birth_place = Hacketstown, County Wicklow | death_date = {{Death date and age|df=yes|1936|01|02|1864|03|17}} | death_place = | buried = | nationality = Irish | religion = Roman Catholic | residence = | parents = Matthew Cullen and Elizabeth Kehoe | spouse = | children = | occupation = | profession = | previous_post = Rector [[St. Mary's Knockbeg College|Knockbeg College]]<br /> Curate<br /> Parish Priest | education = | alma_mater = [[St. Patrick's, Carlow College|Carlow College]]<br />[[Maynooth College]] | motto = }} '''Matthew Cullen''' (1864-1936) was an Irish Catholic priest and [[Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin]].<ref>{{Who's Who | title=Cullen, Matthew | id = U208151 | type = was | volume = 1920–2016 | edition = April 2014 online | access-date = 16 February 2021 }}</ref>

==Life== Matthew Cullen was born in [[Kilcarney]], [[County Wicklow]] in the parish of Hacketstown on St. Patrick's Day, 1864 to Matthew and Elizabeth Kehoe Cullen. He commenced his clerical studies in [[St. Patrick's, Carlow College]], and continued them in [[Maynooth College|Maynooth]].<ref>[https://www.flickr.com/photos/delanyarchive/7220374668/ Matthew Cullen, Bishop of Kildare & Leighlin, 1927-1936] Delany Archive Flickr Account.</ref> He was ordained in 1889 and served initially as a curate in Geashill, Killeigh and the Tinyland, he served as chaplain to the Curragh Army camp.

== Career and activities == Cullen served as rector to [[St. Mary's Knockbeg College]] from 1895 until 1909, when he moved to Newbridge, prior to being appointed parish priest of Tinyland and then Bagenalstown before being elected a bishop.{{citation needed|date=December 2020}}

He was a keen supporter of Gaelic Games and regularly attended GAA matches in Kildare and Carlow.{{citation needed|date=December 2020}}

In 1927 he was appointed Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin, succeeding Dr. Patrick Foley and served until his death.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20171030071646/http://www.askaboutireland.ie/reading-room/sports-recreation/sport/sporting-carlow/gaelic-games-%5Bcumann-luth/rev.-dr.-matthew-cullen-1/ Bishop Matthew Cullen] Ask About Ireland Website.</ref> On 30 November 1933 Bishop Cullen consecrated the Cathedral of the Assumption in Carlow.<ref>McEvoy, John. "The Churches of Kildare and Leighlin", 2000</ref>

Cullen encouraged and facilitated the establishment of St Patrick's Missionary Society at Kiltegan.<ref>[http://www.killeigh.com/history___map_.html History Parish of Killeigh] www.killeigh.com.</ref>

=== Death === He died on 2 January 1936. Following his death [[Carlow GAA]] Stadium, which had just been completed, was named [[Dr. Cullen Park]] in his honour.{{citation needed|date=December 2020}}

==References== {{reflist}}

{{S-start}} {{S-rel|ca}} {{Succession box | before = [[Patrick Foley]] | title = [[Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin]] | years = 1927–1936 | after = [[Thomas Keogh]] }} {{S-end}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cullen, Matthew}} [[Category:1864 births]] [[Category:1936 deaths]] [[Category:20th-century Roman Catholic bishops in Ireland]] [[Category:Christian clergy from County Wicklow]] [[Category:Alumni of Carlow College]] [[Category:Alumni of St Patrick's College, Maynooth]]