Roman Catholic Diocese of Derry

{{Short description|Catholic diocese in Ireland}} {{Use dmy dates|date=November 2019}} {{Infobox diocese | jurisdiction = Diocese | name = Derry | latin = Dioecesis Derriena | local = Deoise Dhoire | image = Londonderry St Eugene's Cathedral Nordirland@20160529.jpg | image_size = frameless | image_alt = | caption = St Eugene's Cathedral viewed from the walls of Derry  | country = [[Northern Ireland]]<br>[[Republic of Ireland]] | metropolitan = [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Armagh|Archdiocese of Armagh]] | territory = Most of [[County Londonderry]], some parishes in counties [[County Tyrone|Tyrone]] and [[County Antrim|Antrim]] and [[County Donegal]] | province = [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Armagh|Province of Armagh]] | coordinates = {{coord|54.995|-7.326|display=inline,title|region:GB_scale:100000}}  | area_sqmi = 965  | population = 336,741 | population_as_of = 2019 | catholics = 252,347 | catholics_percent = 74.9 | parishes =  | churches =  | congregations =  | schools =  | members =   | denomination = [[Catholic]] | sui_iuris_church = [[Latin Church]] | rite = [[Roman Rite]] | established = | cathedral = [[St Eugene's Cathedral]], Derry | cocathedral = | patron = [[Saint Eugene of Derry|St Eugene]] and [[Columba|St Columba]] | priests =   | pope = {{Incumbent pope}}  | bishop = [[Donal McKeown]] | metro_archbishop = [[Eamon Martin]] | coadjutor = | auxiliary_bishops = | vicar_general = Paul McCafferty & Monsignor Andy Dolan | emeritus_bishops =  | map = Roman Catholic Diocese of Derry map.png | map_alt =  | website = [https://www.derrydiocese.org/ derrydiocese.org] | footnotes = }}

The '''Diocese of Derry''' ({{langx|la|Dioecesis Derriena}}; {{langx|ga|Deoise Dhoire}}) is a [[Latin Church]] [[diocese]] of the [[Catholic Church]] which in [[Ireland]]. It is in the [[ecclesiastical province]] of [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Armagh|Armagh]]. The diocese was established in the year 1158.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.gcatholic.org/dioceses/diocese/derr0.htm |title=Diocese of Derry |publisher=GCatholic.org}}</ref> The diocese consists of almost fifty parishes and some number of religious congregations have houses in various parts of the diocese.

The Cathedral Church of the diocese is [[St Eugene's Cathedral]]. Nearby is [[St Columba's Church, Long Tower]].

==Schools in the Diocese== Schools in the diocese include: [[St Columb's College]], [[Thornhill College]], [[St Joseph's Boys' School]], [[Lumen Christi College, Derry|Lumen Christi College]].

==Adult Faith Development== As part of their adult faith development, the diocese runs the Diploma in Pastoral Theology validated by [[St. Patrick's College, Maynooth]],<ref>[https://www.derrydiocese.org/courses/diploma-in-theology-information-leaflet.pdf Diploma in Pastoral Theology] Derry Diocese.</ref> from the ''Drumalis Retreat Centre''.<ref>[http://drumalis.co.uk/ Drumalis Retreat Centre run by the Sisters of the Cross and Passion] - Official Website</ref>

The ''Derry Diocese Catechetical Centre'' in conjunction with [[St Mary's University, Twickenham]] offer a Masters in Catholic School Leadership.<ref>[https://catecheticalcentre.org/masters-in-catholic-school-leadership/overview/ Masters in Catholic School Leadership] Derry Diocese Catechetical Centre.</ref>

==Geography== Derry contains most of [[County Londonderry]], some parishes in counties [[County Tyrone|Tyrone]] and [[County Antrim|Antrim]] and the [[Inishowen peninsula]] in [[County Donegal]], and the parish of [[Lifford]] (Clonleigh) in East Donegal. As well as the city of [[Derry]], the main towns are [[Buncrana]], [[Coleraine]], [[Lifford]], [[Limavady]], [[Maghera]], [[Omagh]] and [[Strabane]].

==Bishops== {{main|Bishop of Derry}} The following is a basic list of the post-[[English Reformation|Reformation]] Roman Catholic bishops and [[vicar apostolic|vicars apostolic]].<ref name=3rdhandbook>{{cite book |author=Fryde, E. B. |author2=Greenway, D. E. |author3=Porter, S. |author4= Roy, I. |title=Handbook of British Chronology |edition=3rd |publisher=Cambridge University Press |location=Cambridge |year=1986 |isbn=0-521-56350-X |pages=422–423}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Diocese of Derry |url=http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/diocese/dderr.html |work=Catholic Hierarchy |access-date=2009-06-19}}</ref> {{columns-list|colwidth=30em| * [[Réamonn Ó Gallchobhair]] (also known as Redmond O'Gallagher) (1569–1601) * ''position vacant'' (1601–1622) * ''Luke Rochford, [[vicar apostolic]]'' (appointed 1622) * ''Terence Kelly, vicar apostolic'' (1629–1668) * ''Eugene Conwell, vicar apostolic'' (appointed 1671) * ''Bernard O'Cahan, vicar apostolic'' (1684–1711) * Fergus Laurence Lea (1694–c. 1696) * ''position vacant'' (1711–1720) * Terence Donnelly (1720–unknown) * [[Neil Conway]] (1727–1738) * [[Michael O'Reilly (prelate)]] (1739–1749) * [[John Brullaghhaun]] (1749–1750) * Patrick Bradley, O.P. (1751–1752) * John MacColgan (1752–1765) * Phillip MacDevitt (1766–1797) * Charles O'Donnell (1797–1824) * Peter MacLaughlin (1824–1840) * John MacLaughlin (1840–1864) * Francis Kelly (1864–1889) * [[John Keys O'Doherty]] (1889–1907) * [[Charles McHugh (bishop)|Charles MacHugh]] (1907–1926) * [[Bernard O'Kane (bishop)|Bernard O'Kane]] (1926–1939) * [[Neil Farren]] (1939–1973) * [[Edward Daly (bishop)|Edward Daly]] (1974–1993) * [[Séamus Hegarty]] (1994–2011) * ''position vacant'' (2011–2014) * [[Donal McKeown]] (2014–present) }}

==Sex abuse allegations== Diocese of Derry priest. Fr. Edward Gallagher was arrested in April 2025 after being charged with attempted sexual communication with a child. Gallagher, who on April 19, 2025 appeared before the Derry magistrates court via video link and was by this point in time suspended from ministry, was found to have attempted sexual communication with a child between April 2 and April 17, 2025.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/crime-law/courts/2025/04/19/priest-remanded-over-alleged-attempted-sexual-communication-with-child/|title=Priest suspended from ministry after appearing in court over alleged attempted sexual communication with child|publisher=The Irish Times|date=19 April 2025|accessdate=4 May 2026}}</ref> In September 2025, it was reported that Gallagher was now suspected of having committed acts of sexual abuse against more than 60 possible victims.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cx2nq17e7n7o|title=More than 60 possible victims in priest case, court told|publisher=BBC News|date=11 September 2025|accessdate=4 May 2026}}</ref> In April 2026, it was reported that Gallagher, who has remained in jail since his April 2025 arrest, would face "a large number of offences" when the sex abuse case against is brought before the [[Crown Court]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/derry-priest-accused-of-child-sex-offences-facing-large-number-of-offences-court-hears/a/147623429.html|title=Derry priest accused of child sex offences facing ‘large number of offences’, court hears|first=George|last=Jackson|publisher=Belfast Telegraph|date=23 April 2026|accessdate=4 May 2026}}</ref>

==See also== *[[Diocese of Derry and Raphoe]] (Church of Ireland) *[[Roman Catholicism in Ireland]] *[[List of Roman Catholic dioceses in Northern Ireland]] *[[Apostolic Nuncio to Ireland]]

==References== <references/>

==External links== * [https://www.derrydiocese.org/ Diocese of Derry] – official website

{{DEFAULTSORT:Derry}} [[Category:Roman Catholic Diocese of Derry| ]] [[Category:Roman Catholic dioceses in Ireland|Derry]] [[Category:1158 establishments in Ireland]] [[Category:Roman Catholic dioceses established in the 12th century|Derry]] [[Category:Religion in County Antrim]] [[Category:Religion in County Donegal]] [[Category:Religion in County Londonderry]] [[Category:Religion in County Tyrone]] [[Category:Roman Catholic Ecclesiastical Province of Armagh]]