{{short description|Irish Catholic bishop}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2022}} {{Use Hiberno-English|date=October 2022}} {{Infobox Christian leader | name = Niall Coll | title = [[Bishop of Raphoe]] | diocese = [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Raphoe|Raphoe]] | predecessor = [[Alan McGuckian]] | ordination = 3 July 1988 | consecration = 25 January 2026 | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1963|08|25|df=y}} | birth_place = [[Letterkenny]], [[County Donegal]], Ireland | honorific_prefix = [[The Most Reverend]] [[Doctor (title)|Dr.]] | type = | appointed = 13 November 2025 | alma_mater = [[Pontifical Gregorian University]]<br />[[Trinity College Dublin]]<br />[[St Patrick's College, Maynooth]] | previous_post = Professor of Religious Studies and Religious Education at [[St Mary's University College, Belfast|St Mary's University College]]<br />Chaplain and Teacher at Pobalscoil na Rosann<br />Lecturer at [[St Patrick's, Carlow College]]<br />Teacher at [[St Eunan's College]] | church = [[Roman Catholic]] | enthroned = 25 January 2026 | consecrated_by = [[Eamon Martin]] | ordained_by = [[Séamus Hegarty]] | coat_of_arms = [[File:Coat of arms of Niall Coll.svg|140px]] }} {{Ordination | ordained priest by = [[Séamus Hegarty]] | date of priestly ordination = 3 July 1988 | place of priestly ordination = [[Cathedral of St Eunan and St Columba]], [[Letterkenny]], Ireland | consecrated by = [[Dermot Farrell]] | co-consecrators = [[Alan McGuckian]]<br />[[Denis Nulty]] | date of consecration = 22 January 2023 | place of consecration = [[St Mary's Cathedral, Kilkenny|St Mary's Cathedral]], [[Kilkenny]], Ireland | sources = <ref name="HSPO">{{Cite web |date=28 October 2022 |title=Nomina del Vescovo di Ossory (Irlanda) |url=https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2022/10/28/0804/01667.html#irlanda |access-date=2022-10-29 |website=[[Holy See Press Office]] |language=it-IT}}</ref><ref name="Sheridan">{{Cite web |last=Sheridan |first=Lisa |date=2023-01-17 |title="Trusting in the power of the Holy Spirit, discern and change we must" – Bishop-elect of Ossory Niall Coll |url=https://catholicnews.ie/trusting-in-the-power-of-the-holy-spirit-discern-and-change-we-must-bishop-elect-of-ossory-niall-coll/ |access-date=2023-01-17 |website=Catholic News |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name="McNultyKK"/> }} {{infobox bishopstyles|name=Niall Coll|dipstyle=[[The Most Reverend]]|offstyle=Your Lordship|relstyle=[[Bishop]]|deathstyle=<!--not applicable-->}}
[[The Most Reverend|The Most Rev.]] [[Doctor (title)|Dr.]] '''Niall Coll''', [[KC*HS]] (born 25 August 1963), is an [[Irish people|Irish]] [[Catholic Church|Catholic]] [[prelate]] and theologian who served as [[Bishop of Ossory]] from 22 January 2023 to 25 January 2026. On 13 November 2025, he was appointed as [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Raphoe|Bishop of Raphoe]] by [[Pope Leo XIV]] and installed on 25 January 2026.
== Early life and education == Coll was born in [[Letterkenny]], [[County Donegal]], on 25 August 1963, one of four children to Willie and Kathleen Coll. He grew up in nearby [[St Johnston, County Donegal|St Johnston]] and attended secondary school at [[St Eunan's College]].<ref name="McNultyKK">{{Cite web |last=McNulty |first=Chris |date=19 January 2023 |title=The day everything changed for the soon to be ordained Bishop of Ossory |url=https://www.kilkennypeople.ie/news/local-news/1015010/fr-niall-coll-the-day-everything-changed-and-going-from-st-johnston-to-bishophood.html |access-date=2023-01-21 |website=[[Donegal Democrat]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=McLaughlin |first=Rachel |date=17 August 2020 |title=Rev Dr Niall Coll returning to Donegal after 19 years |url=https://www.donegaldaily.com/2020/08/17/rev-dr-niall-coll-returning-to-donegal-after-19-years/ |access-date=2022-10-29 |website=[[Donegal Daily]] |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=McNulty |first=Chris |date=28 October 2022 |title=Fr Niall Coll appointed as new Bishop of Ossory |url=https://www.donegallive.ie/news/local-news/950450/fr-niall-coll-appointed-as-new-bishop-of-ossory.html |access-date=2022-10-29 |website=Donegal Live |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite tweet|number=1609967861291966464|user=ChrisMcNultyDgl|title=Pictured in the mid 60s is signalman Willie Coll, father of the Bishop-elect of Ossory, Fr Niall Coll|author=Chris McNulty|date=2 January 2023|access-date=17 January 2023}}</ref>
Coll began studying for the priesthood at [[St Patrick's College, Maynooth]], in 1981, completing a [[Bachelor of Arts]] in history and geography from the [[Maynooth University|National University of Ireland, Maynooth]], in 1984, and a [[Bachelor of Divinity]] from the Pontifical University in 1987.<ref>{{Cite web |date=28 October 2022 |title=Pope Francis appoints Father Niall Coll as Bishop of Ossory |url=https://www.catholicbishops.ie/2022/10/28/pope-francis-appoints-father-niall-coll-as-bishop-of-ossory/ |access-date=2022-10-29 |website=[[Irish Catholic Bishops' Conference]]}}</ref>
He was [[Holy orders in the Catholic Church|ordained a priest]] for the [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Raphoe|Diocese of Raphoe]] on 3 July 1988.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Jones |first=Kevin J. |date=28 October 2022 |title=Irish bishop-to-be encourages 'new generation' of Christian witness |url=https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/252681/irish-bishop-to-be-encourages-new-generation-of-christian-witness |access-date=2022-10-29 |website=[[Catholic News Agency]] |language=en}}</ref><ref name="McNultyKK" />
== Presbyteral ministry == Following ordination, Coll completed a [[Licentiate (degree)|licentiate]] in [[dogmatic theology]] from the [[Pontifical Gregorian University]] in [[Rome]] in 1989, before returning to [[Ireland]] for his first diocesan assignment, as a teacher at [[St Eunan's College]] until 1991. He subsequently obtained a [[higher diploma]] in [[Pedagogy|education]] from [[Trinity College, Dublin]], in 1992, before returning to Rome to complete [[Doctor of Philosophy|doctoral studies]] in [[Christology]] at the Pontifical Gregorian University.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kelly |first=Michael |date=2022-10-28 |title=Fr Niall Coll appointed Bishop of Ossory |url=https://www.irishcatholic.com/fr-niall-coll-appointed-bishop-of-ossory/ |access-date=2022-10-29 |website=The Irish Catholic |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Ganly |first=Conor |date=28 October 2022 |title=Laois has a new bishop who hails from Donegal |url=https://www.leinsterexpress.ie/news/your-community/950367/laois-has-a-new-bishop-who-hails-from-donegal.html |access-date=2022-10-29 |website=[[Leinster Express]] |language=en}}</ref>
Coll returned to Ireland once again in 1995, upon his appointment as a lecturer at [[St Patrick's, Carlow College]]. He returned to the [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Raphoe|Diocese of Raphoe]] in 1998, serving as curate in [[Dungloe]] and simultaneously as [[chaplain]] and teacher at ''Pobalscoil na Rosann''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Burke |first=Sinéad |date=2022-10-28 |title=A new Catholic Bishop of Ossory is being appointed |url=https://kclr96fm.com/a-new-catholic-bishop-of-ossory-is-being-appointed/ |access-date=2022-10-29 |website=[[KCLR 96FM]] |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-10-28 |title=Donegal priest appointed as Bishop of Ossory |url=https://highlandradio.com/2022/10/28/donegal-priest-appointed-as-bishop-of-ossory/ |access-date=2022-10-29 |website=[[Highland Radio]] |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=McHugh |first=Michael |date=29 December 2022 |title=Gallery: Fond farewell for Fr Niall Coll as Bishop elect leaves Donegal for Ossory Diocese |url=https://www.donegallive.ie/story-telling/pictures---videos/998721/gallery-fond-farewell-for-fr-niall-coll-as-bishop-elect-leaves-donegal-for-ossory-diocese.html |url-access=subscription |access-date=17 January 2023 |website=Donegal Live |language=en}}</ref>
In 2001, Coll was appointed professor in [[religious studies]] and [[religious education]] at [[St Mary's University College, Belfast|St Mary’s University College]] in [[Belfast]]. He returned to the Diocese of Raphoe once again in 2020, when he was appointed as parish priest of [[Drumholm]] (centred on [[Ballintra]]), before being appointed parish priest of [[Townawilly|Tawnawilly]] (centred on [[Donegal (town)|Donegal Town]]) the following year. Coll also served on the diocesan pastoral council and coordinated the promotion of the diocesan pastoral plan upon its publication in April 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |last=McGonagle |first=Suzanne |date=2022-10-29 |title=Former professor at St Mary's University College Belfast appointed new bishop of Ossory |url=https://www.irishnews.com/news/northernirelandnews/2022/10/29/news/former_professor_at_st_mary_s_university_college_belfast_appointed_new_bishop_of_ossory-2879135/ |access-date=2022-10-29 |website=[[The Irish News]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-08-17 |title=Diocesan Changes 2020 |url=https://www.raphoediocese.ie/news/diocesan-changes-2020/ |access-date=2022-10-29 |website=[[Roman Catholic Diocese of Raphoe|Diocese of Raphoe]] |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-07-21 |title=Diocesan Clergy Changes 2021 |url=https://www.raphoediocese.ie/news/diocesan-clergy-changes-2021/ |access-date=2022-10-29 |website=Diocese of Raphoe |language=en-US}}</ref>
In an interview with ''[[The Irish Catholic]]'' in 2018, he emphasised the importance of intelligence and reason in faith development.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Fitzpatrick |first=Colm |date=2018-06-28 |title=Making the choice of Faith |url=https://www.irishcatholic.com/making-the-choice-of-faith/ |access-date=2022-10-29 |website=[[The Irish Catholic]] |language=en-US}}</ref>
In conjunction with his priestly appointments, Coll has conducted retreats for clergy, contributed to publications including ''[[Doctrine and Life]]'', ''[[The Furrow]], [[Irish Theological Quarterly]]'' and ''[[The Tablet]]'', and edited the Catholic school ethos journal ''Le Chéile.''<ref>{{Cite web |last=McDonald |first=Sarah |date=28 October 2022 |title=New bishop advocates change in line with 'synodality' |url=https://www.thetablet.co.uk/news/16047/new-bishop-advocates-change-in-line-with-synodality- |access-date=2022-10-29 |website=[[The Tablet]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Gately |first=Susan |date=2015-11-28 |title=New book evaluates Ireland's response to Vatican II |url=https://www.catholicireland.net/fifty-years-vatican-ii-time-evaluate-irelands-response-council/ |access-date=2022-10-29 |website=CatholicIreland.net |language=en-US}}</ref> He has also edited a collection of essays evaluating Ireland's response to the [[Second Vatican Council]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=O'Loan |first=Baroness Nuala |date=21 December 2015 |title=Courage, patience and discernment needed to meet challenge of Vatican II |url=https://www.irishnews.com/lifestyle/faithmatters/2015/12/21/news/courage-patience-and-discernment-needed-to-meet-challenge-of-vatican-ii-371819/ |access-date=17 January 2023 |website=[[The Irish News]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Wright |first=Jonathan |date=2016-02-04 |title=Why Vatican II didn't shake the Irish Church |url=https://catholicherald.co.uk/why-vatican-ii-didnt-shake-the-irish-church/ |access-date=2023-01-17 |website=Catholic Herald |language=en-GB}}</ref>
On a national level, Coll has also served as a member of the Inter-Church Committee of the [[Irish Council of Churches]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=31 October 2022 |title=Inter–Church Committee Member Dr Niall Coll Appointed as Bishop of Ossory |url=https://www.irishchurches.org/news-blog/5480/interchurch-committee-member-dr-niall |access-date=2023-01-21 |website=Irish Council of Churches}}</ref>
== Episcopal ministry == Coll was appointed [[Bishop of Ossory|Bishop-elect of Ossory]] by [[Pope Francis]] on 28 October 2022.<ref name="HSPO"/><ref>{{Cite web |last=Kane |first=Conor |date=28 October 2022 |title=Donegal priest appointed new Bishop of Ossory |url=https://www.rte.ie/news/leinster/2022/1028/1331949-fr-niall-coll/ |access-date=29 October 2022 |website=[[RTÉ]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Dunne |first=Christopher |date=28 October 2022 |title=BREAKING: Kilkenny has a new bishop who hails from Donegal |url=https://www.kilkennypeople.ie/news/local-news/950447/breaking-kilkenny-has-a-new-bishop-who-hails-from-donegal.html |access-date=2022-10-29 |website=[[Kilkenny People]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Lawlor |first=Tina |date=2022-10-28 |title=Welcome of Fr Niall Coll, appointed Bishop of Ossory – Ossory |url=https://ossory.ie/fr-niall-coll-appointed/ |access-date=2022-10-29 |website=[[Roman Catholic Diocese of Ossory|Diocese of Ossory]] |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-10-28 |title=Fr Niall Coll, PP, Bishop-elect of Ossory Diocese |url=https://www.raphoediocese.ie/news/fr-niall-coll-pp-bishop-elect-of-ossory-diocese/ |access-date=2022-10-29 |website=Diocese of Raphoe |language=en-US}}</ref>
He was consecrated by his predecessor, [[The Most Reverend|The Most Rev.]] [[Dermot Farrell]], [[Archbishop of Dublin (Catholic Church)|Archbishop of Dublin]], on 22 January 2023 in [[St Mary's Cathedral, Kilkenny|St Mary's Cathedral]], [[Kilkenny]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=O'Boyle |first=Conor |date=2022-11-03 |title=Ordination of Mgr Coll as Bishop of Ossory |url=https://www.stmaryscathedral.ie/ordination-of-mgr-coll-as-bishop-of-ossory/ |access-date=2022-11-18 |website=St Mary's Cathedral |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-11-04 |title=BISHOP ELECT NIALL COLL |url=https://thomastownparish.ie/bishop-elect-niall-coll-2/ |access-date=2022-11-18 |website=Thomastown Parish |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name="Sheridan">{{Cite web |last=Sheridan |first=Lisa |date=2023-01-17 |title="Trusting in the power of the Holy Spirit, discern and change we must" – Bishop-elect of Ossory Niall Coll |url=https://catholicnews.ie/trusting-in-the-power-of-the-holy-spirit-discern-and-change-we-must-bishop-elect-of-ossory-niall-coll/ |access-date=2023-01-17 |website=Catholic News |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Matthews |first=Sam |date=22 January 2023 |title=New Bishop of Ossory Niall Coll ordained at St Mary's Cathedral in Kilkenny today |url=https://www.kilkennypeople.ie/news/home/1016252/new-bishop-of-ossory-niall-coll-ordained-at-st-mary-s-cathedral-in-kilkenny-today.html |access-date=2023-01-22 |website=[[Kilkenny People]] |language=en}}</ref> Bishop Coll was appointed as Bishop-elect of Raphoe on 13 November 2025 by [[Pope Leo XIV]]. He was consecrated by [[Eamon Martin]] at the [[Cathedral of St Eunan and St Columba]] in [[Letterkenny]] on 25 January 2026.
==Bibliography==
* {{Cite book |last=Coll |first=Niall |title=Some Anglican interpretations of Christ's pre-existence: a study of L. S. Thornton, E. L. Mascall, J. A. T. Robinson and J. Macquarrie |year=1995 |location=Rome |oclc=312567965}} * {{Cite book |last=Coll |first=Niall |title=A Church with a Future: Challenges to Irish Catholicism Today |publisher=Four Courts Press |year=2001 |isbn=9781856074889 |location=Dublin}} * {{Cite book |last=Coll |first=Niall |title=Christ in Eternity and Time: Modern Anglican Perspective |publisher=Columba Books |year=2005 |isbn=9781851825998 |location=Dublin}} * {{Cite book |title=Ireland and Vatican II: Essays Theological, Pastoral and Educational |publisher=Columba Press |year=2015 |isbn=9781782182764 |editor-last=Coll |editor-first=Niall|location=Dublin}}
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * [https://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bcolln.html Father Niall Coll] on [[Catholic-Hierarchy.org]] * [http://www.gcatholic.org/dioceses/diocese/osso0.htm?focus=74516&tab=bishops Bishop-elect Niall Coll] on GCatholic {{s-start}} {{s-rel|ca}} {{s-break}} {{s-bef | before = [[Alan McGuckian]] }} {{s-ttl | title = [[Bishop of Raphoe]] | years = since 2026 }} {{s-inc}} {{s-end}} {{Roman Catholic dioceses in Ireland}} {{Roman Catholic Bishops of Ossory}} {{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Coll, Niall}} [[Category:1963 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Sportspeople from Letterkenny]] [[Category:Irish Roman Catholic theologians]] [[Category:Roman Catholic bishops of Ossory]] [[Category:People educated at St Eunan's College]] [[Category:Pontifical Gregorian University alumni]] [[Category:Pontifical Irish College alumni]] [[Category:Alumni of Trinity College Dublin]] [[Category:Alumni of St Patrick's College, Maynooth]] [[Category:Bishops appointed by Pope Francis]] [[Category:21st-century Roman Catholic bishops in Ireland]] [[Category:Christian clergy from County Donegal]] [[Category:People from St Johnston, County Donegal]]