# Thomas Deenihan

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Irish Roman Catholic prelate

The Most Reverend, Dr. Thomas Deenihan D.Ed KC*HS Bishop of Meath Church Roman Catholic Diocese Meath Appointed 18 June 2018 Predecessor Michael Smith Previous posts Diocesan Secretary, Education Secretary and Advisor for Post-Primary Catechetics of the Diocese of Cork and Ross General Secretary of the Catholic Primary Schools Management Association Chair of the Board of Directors of the Christian Leadership in Education Office Teacher at St Goban's College Orders Ordination 1 June 1991 by Michael Murphy Consecration 2 September 2018 by Eamon Martin Personal details Born (1967-06-20) 20 June 1967 (age 59) Cork, Ireland Alma mater University of Hull St Patrick’s College, Maynooth Motto Illuminabit te Christus (Christ will give you light) Coat of arms

Styles of Thomas Deenihan Reference style The Most Reverend Spoken style Your Grace Religious style Bishop

**Thomas Deenihan** [KC*HS](/source/Order_of_the_Holy_Sepulchre_(Catholic)) (born 20 June 1967) is an [Irish](/source/Republic_of_Ireland) [Roman Catholic](/source/Catholic_Church) [prelate](/source/Prelate) who has served as [Bishop of Meath](/source/Bishop_of_Meath) since 2018.

## Early life and education

Deenihan was born in [Blackpool](/source/Blackpool%2C_Cork), [Cork](/source/Cork_(city)) on 20 June 1967. He attended secondary school at the [North Monastery Christian Brothers School](/source/North_Monastery) and studied for the priesthood at [St Patrick's College, Maynooth](/source/St_Patrick's_College%2C_Maynooth).[1]

Deenihan was [ordained a priest](/source/Holy_orders_in_the_Catholic_Church) for the [Diocese of Cork and Ross](/source/Roman_Catholic_Diocese_of_Cork_and_Ross) in 1991.[2]

## Presbyteral ministry

Following ordination, Deenihan's first pastoral assignment was as [curate](/source/Curate) in [Glanmire](/source/Glanmire). He was appointed to the teaching staff of St Goban's College, [Bantry](/source/Bantry) in 1994, during which time he also served as curate in [Ballydehob](/source/Ballydehob), Bantry, [Kealkill](/source/Kealkill) and [Schull](/source/Schull). As part of the [Christian Leadership in Education Office](/source/Christian_Leadership_in_Education_Office) programme, Deenihan also completed further studies at the [University of Hull](/source/University_of_Hull), completing a [Master of Education](/source/Master_of_Education) in 1999 and subsequently a [Doctor of Education](/source/Doctor_of_Education).[1][3][4]

He was appointed diocesan advisor for post-primary catechetics in 2003, and subsequently as diocesan secretary and education secretary three years later.[1][5]

On a national level, Deenihan served as general secretary of the Catholic Primary Schools Management Association from 2013 to 2016, and acted as executive secretary to the Council for Education and the Commission for Catholic Education and Formation of the [Irish Catholic Bishops' Conference](/source/Irish_Catholic_Bishops'_Conference) from 2016 to 2018. He also served as a member of the Honan Governors at [University College Cork](/source/University_College_Cork) and Mercy Care South, as diocesan [juridical person](/source/Juridical_person) for [Mercy University Hospital](/source/Mercy_University_Hospital) and as chair of the Board of Directors of the Christian Leadership in Education Office.[1]

Deenihan was appointed a [canon](/source/Canon_regular) and member of the [cathedral chapter](/source/Cathedral_chapter) in 2017.[1]

## Episcopal ministry

Deenihan was appointed [Bishop-elect of Meath](/source/Bishop_of_Meath) by [Pope Francis](/source/Pope_Francis) on 18 June 2018.[1][6][7][8]

He was consecrated by the [Archbishop of Armagh](/source/Archbishop_of_Armagh) and [Primate of All-Ireland](/source/Primacy_of_Ireland), [Eamon Martin](/source/Eamon_Martin), on 2 September at the [Cathedral of Christ the King](/source/Cathedral_of_Christ_the_King%2C_Mullingar), [Mullingar](/source/Mullingar).[9][10][11]

Speaking at the funeral of [Ashling Murphy](/source/Killing_of_Ashling_Murphy) on 18 January 2022, Deenihan referred to her murder as "a depraved act of violence" and called on people to respect each other.[12][13]

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:0_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:0_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-:0_1-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-:0_1-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-:0_1-4) [***f***](#cite_ref-:0_1-5) ["Pope Francis appoints Canon Thomas Deenihan as the new Bishop of Meath"](https://www.catholicbishops.ie/2018/06/18/pope-francis-appoints-canon-thomas-deenihan-as-the-new-bishop-of-meath/). *Irish Catholic Bishops' Conference*. 18 June 2018. Retrieved 25 February 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** Bermingham, Darragh (18 June 2018). ["Blackpool-born Fr Tom Deenihan appointed Bishop of Meath"](https://www.echolive.ie/corknews/arid-40168581.html). *The Echo*. Retrieved 25 February 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** Deenihan, Thomas (16 June 1999). [*An analysis of religious education in post-primary schools in the dioceses of Cork and Ross - with specific reference to the introduction of religious education as an examination subject*](https://www.cleocork.com/uploads/2/6/2/1/26219445/deenihan_thomas_1999.pdf) (PDF) (Master of Education thesis). University of Hull.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["Bishop"](https://www.dioceseofmeath.ie/most-reverend-thomas-deenihan). *Diocese of Meath*. Retrieved 25 February 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** Ryan, Eilís (30 August 2018). ["Cork canon to be ordained bishop of Meath on Sunday"](https://www.meathchronicle.ie/2018/08/30/cork-canon-to-be-ordained-bishop-of-meath-on-sunday/). *Meath Chronicle*. Retrieved 25 February 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** Little, Joe (18 June 2018). ["Thomas Deenihan appointed new Bishop of Meath"](https://www.rte.ie/news/ireland/2018/0618/971321-thomas-deenihan-bishop-of-meath/). RTÉ.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** Becton, Gavan (18 June 2018). ["Pope appoints Canon Thomas Deenihan as new Bishop of Meath"](https://www.meathchronicle.ie/2018/06/18/pope-appoints-canon-thomas-deenihan-as-new-bishop-of-meath/). *Meath Chronicle*. Retrieved 25 February 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** Mac Donald, Sarah (18 June 2018). ["Canon Thomas Deenihan appointed by Pope as new Bishop of Meath"](https://www.catholicireland.net/canon-thomas-deenihan-appointed-pope-new-bishop-meath/). *CatholicIreland.net*. Retrieved 25 February 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** Farry, Rodney (2 September 2018). ["It's not always easy being a priest today, says new Bishop of Meath"](https://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/it-s-not-always-easy-being-a-priest-today-says-new-bishop-of-meath-1.3616011). *The Irish Times*. Retrieved 25 February 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** Daly, Greg (6 September 2018). ["We must go to the people – Bishop Deenihan"](https://www.irishcatholic.com/we-must-go-to-the-people-bishop-deenihan/). *The Irish Catholic*. Retrieved 25 February 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** Gledhill, Ruth (3 September 2018). ["New Bishop of Meath: 'Our ministry must be joyful!'"](https://www.thetablet.co.uk/news/9684/new-bishop-of-meath-our-ministry-must-be-joyful-). *The Tablet*. Retrieved 25 February 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** Hussey, Sinéad (18 January 2022). ["Teacher's murder a 'depraved act of violence'"](https://www.rte.ie/news/leinster/2022/0118/1274345-ashling-murphy-funeral/). *RTÉ*. Retrieved 25 February 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** Grennan, Geraldine (18 January 2022). ["Bishop makes heartfelt plea for "respect" at funeral of Ashling Murphy"](https://www.anglocelt.ie/2022/01/18/bishop-makes-heartfelt-plea-for-respect-at-funeral-of-ashling-murphy/). *Anglo Celt*. Retrieved 25 February 2023.

## External links

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Wikimedia Commons has media related to [Thomas Deenihan](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Thomas_Deenihan).

- [Bishop Thomas Deenihan](http://www.gcatholic.org/dioceses/diocese/meat0.htm#62105) on GCatholic

Catholic Church titles Preceded by Michael Smith Bishop of Meath since 2018 Succeeded by Incumbent

v t e Catholic Church in Ireland Irish Catholic Bishops' Conference Dioceses Province of Armagh: Archdiocese of Armagh Diocese of Ardagh and Clonmacnoise Diocese of Clogher Diocese of Derry Diocese of Down and Connor Diocese of Dromore Diocese of Kilmore Diocese of Meath Diocese of Raphoe Province of Cashel: Archdiocese of Cashel and Emly Diocese of Cloyne Cork and Ross Diocese of Kerry Diocese of Killaloe Diocese of Limerick Diocese of Waterford and Lismore Diocese of Kilfenora Province of Dublin: Archdiocese of Dublin Diocese of Ferns Diocese of Kildare and Leighlin Diocese of Ossory Province of Tuam: Archdiocese of Tuam Diocese of Achonry Diocese of Clonfert Diocese of Galway and Kilmacduagh Diocese of Elphin Diocese of Killala Bishops Archbishop of Armagh (Eamon Martin) Bishop of Ardagh and Clonmacnoise (Paul Connell) Bishop of Clogher (Lawrence Duffy) Bishop of Derry (Donal McKeown) Bishop of Down and Connor (Noel Treanor) Bishop of Dromore (sede vacante) Bishop of Kilmore (Martin Hayes) Bishop of Meath (Thomas Deenihan) Bishop of Raphoe (Alan McGuckian) Archbishop of Cashel and Emly (Kieran O'Reilly) Bishop of Cloyne (William Crean) Bishop of Cork and Ross (Fintan Gavin) Bishop of Kerry (Raymond Browne) Bishop of Killaloe (Fintan Monahan) Bishop of Limerick (Brendan Leahy) Bishop of Waterford and Lismore (Alphonsus Cullinan) Archbishop of Dublin (Dermot Farrell) Bishop of Ferns (Gerard Nash) Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin (Denis Nulty) Bishop of Ossory (Niall Coll) Archbishop of Tuam and Bishop of Killala (Francis Duffy) Bishop of Clonfert and Bishop of Galway, Kilmacduagh and Kilfenora (Michael Duignan) Bishop of Achonry and Bishop of Elphin (Kevin Doran) Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Apostolic Visitor (Kenneth Nowakowski) Churches Armagh Cathedral Belfast Cathedral Cavan Cathedral Derry Cathedral Letterkenny Cathedral Longford Cathedral Monaghan Cathedral Mullingar Cathedral Newry Cathedral Cobh Cathedral Cork Cathedral Ennis Cathedral Killarney Cathedral Limerick Cathedral Skibbereen Cathedral Thurles Cathedral Waterford Cathedral Carlow Cathedral Dublin Cathedral Enniscorthy Cathedral Kilkenny Cathedral Ballaghaderreen Cathedral Ballina Cathedral Galway Cathedral Loughrea Cathedral Sligo Cathedral Tuam Cathedral List of Catholic churches in Ireland See also Knock Shrine St Patrick's Purgatory St Patrick's Pontifical University, Maynooth List of monastic houses in Ireland List of Catholic schools in Ireland by religious order List of saints of Ireland Apostolic Nunciature to Ireland Holy See–Ireland relations Catholicism portal Ireland portal

v t e Roman Catholic Bishops of Meath Thomas Dease Anthony MacGeoghegan Edmund Mac Teige Patrick Plunkett James Cusack Patrick Tyrrell. Luke Fagan Stephen MacEgan Augustine Cheevers Patrick Joseph Plunkett Robert Logan John Cantwell Thomas Nulty Mathew Gaffney Laurence Gaughran Thomas Mulvany John D'Alton John Anthony Kyne John McCormack Michael Smith Thomas Deenihan

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