Galway and Kilmacduagh (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Michael Gerard Duignan, Bishop
Brendan Kelly, Bishop Emeritus

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
United: 5 June 1883
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Tuam
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: Ireland
Square Kilometers: 2,610 (1,008 Square Miles)
Description: Parts of Mayo, Galway and Clare; With perpetual administration of Kilfenora
Official Web Site: http://www.galwaydiocese.ie/
Mailing Address: Diocesan Office, The Cathedral, Galway, H91 A780, Ireland
Telephone: (091)563.566
Fax: 568.333

Historical Details

Diocese of Galway
- Latin Name: Galviensis
- Erected: 26 April 1831
- Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Tuam
- Country: Ireland

Past and Present Ordinaries

Nicholas Foran † (27 Apr 1831 Appointed - Did Not Take Effect)
George Joseph Plunkett Browne † (26 Aug 1831 Appointed - 26 Mar 1844 Appointed, Bishop of Elphin)
Laurence O’Donnell † (27 Sep 1844 Appointed - 29 Jun 1855 Died)
John MacEvilly † (9 Jan 1857 Appointed - 7 Nov 1881 Succeeded, Archbishop of Tuam)
Thomas Joseph Carr † (12 Jun 1883 Appointed - 16 Nov 1886 Appointed, Archbishop of Melbourne)
Francis McCormack † (26 Apr 1887 Appointed - 21 Oct 1908 Retired)
Thomas O’Dea † (29 Apr 1909 Appointed - 9 Apr 1923 Died)
Thomas O’Doherty † (13 Jul 1923 Appointed - 15 Dec 1936 Died)
Michael John Browne † (6 Aug 1937 Appointed - 21 Jul 1976 Retired)
Eamon Casey † (21 Jul 1976 Appointed - 6 May 1992 Resigned)
James McLoughlin † (10 Feb 1993 Appointed - 23 May 2005 Retired)
Martin Drennan † (23 May 2005 Appointed - 29 Jul 2016 Resigned)
Brendan Kelly (11 Dec 2017 Appointed - 11 Feb 2022 Retired)
Michael Gerard Duignan (11 Feb 2022 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Diocese of Galway
26 April 1831	Erected	Archdiocese of Tuam	Diocese of Galway (erected)
Diocese of Galway and Kilmacduagh
5 June 1883	United	Diocese of Galway Diocese of Kilmacduagh Diocese of Kilfenora	Diocese of Galway and Kilmacduagh

Year Catholics Total Population Percent Catholic Diocesan Priests Religious Priests Total Priests Catholics Per Priest Permanent Deacons Male Religious Female Religious Parishes Source

Diocese of Galway and Kilmacduagh

1950 59,379 59,742 99.4% 74 70 144 412 240 300 31 ap1951

1970 57,026 57,435 99.3% 89 62 151 377 143 349 32 ap1971

1980 72,860 73,648 98.9% 109 56 165 441 144 305 39 ap1981

1990 76,100 77,159 98.6% 94 2 96 792 43 236 39 ap1991

1999 91,282 94,014 97.1% 78 39 117 780 61 217 40 ap2000

2000 92,971 96,004 96.8% 80 47 127 732 62 221 40 ap2001

2001 95,166 96,304 98.8% 76 53 129 737 65 210 40 ap2002

2002 98,157 101,234 97.0% 77 47 124 791 62 224 40 ap2003

2003 100,755 103,138 97.7% 75 42 117 861 62 225 40 ap2004

2004 102,425 105,079 97.5% 74 39 113 906 58 219 38 ap2005

2006 104,822 109,493 95.7% 70 42 112 935 61 188 38 ap2007

2013 103,084 113,392 90.9% 61 39 100 1,030 58 205 39 ap2014

2016 111,584 122,466 91.1% 58 37 95 1,174 55 228 39 ap2017

2019 114,022 140,152 81.4% 62 45 107 1,065 60 187 40 ap2020

2021 116,752 152,755 76.4% 45 40 85 1,373 51 182 40 ap2022

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
Diocese of Galway and Kilmacduagh
1950	59,379	59,742	99.4%	74	70	144	412	240	300	31	ap1951
1970	57,026	57,435	99.3%	89	62	151	377	143	349	32	ap1971
1980	72,860	73,648	98.9%	109	56	165	441	144	305	39	ap1981
1990	76,100	77,159	98.6%	94	2	96	792	43	236	39	ap1991
1999	91,282	94,014	97.1%	78	39	117	780	61	217	40	ap2000
2000	92,971	96,004	96.8%	80	47	127	732	62	221	40	ap2001
2001	95,166	96,304	98.8%	76	53	129	737	65	210	40	ap2002
2002	98,157	101,234	97.0%	77	47	124	791	62	224	40	ap2003
2003	100,755	103,138	97.7%	75	42	117	861	62	225	40	ap2004
2004	102,425	105,079	97.5%	74	39	113	906	58	219	38	ap2005
2006	104,822	109,493	95.7%	70	42	112	935	61	188	38	ap2007
2013	103,084	113,392	90.9%	61	39	100	1,030	58	205	39	ap2014
2016	111,584	122,466	91.1%	58	37	95	1,174	55	228	39	ap2017
2019	114,022	140,152	81.4%	62	45	107	1,065	60	187	40	ap2020
2021	116,752	152,755	76.4%	45	40	85	1,373	51	182	40	ap2022

Note: Any changes in boundaries over time are not indicated in the above table.

Affiliated Bishops, Living

Michael Gerard Duignan (Bishop: 11 Feb 2022 - )
Brendan Kelly (Priest: 20 Jun 1971 to 20 Nov 2007; Bishop: 11 Dec 2017 to 11 Feb 2022)

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

George Joseph Plunkett Browne † (Bishop: 26 Aug 1831 to 26 Mar 1844)
Michael John Browne † (Bishop: 6 Aug 1937 to 21 Jul 1976)
Anthony Butler, S.J. †
Thomas Joseph Carr † (Bishop: 12 Jun 1883 to 16 Nov 1886)
Eamon Casey † (Bishop: 21 Jul 1976 to 6 May 1992)
Patrick Maurice Connaughton, O.F.M. †
Martin Drennan † (Bishop: 23 May 2005 to 29 Jul 2016)
Nicholas Foran † (Bishop: 27 Apr 1831 - Did Not Take Effect)
John MacEvilly † (Bishop: 9 Jan 1857 to 7 Nov 1881)
John McCarthy † (Priest: 15 Aug 1883 to 14 Feb 1917)
Francis McCormack † (Bishop: 26 Apr 1887 to 21 Oct 1908)
James McLoughlin † (Priest: 20 Jun 1954; Bishop: 10 Feb 1993 to 23 May 2005)
Thomas O’Dea † (Bishop: 29 Apr 1909 to 9 Apr 1923)
Thomas O’Doherty † (Bishop: 13 Jul 1923 to 15 Dec 1936)
Laurence O’Donnell † (Bishop: 27 Sep 1844 to 29 Jun 1855)

Source(s)

Diocese of Galway
- Series Episcoporum Ecclesiae Catholicae, Volume 1, Page 221

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Copyright David M. Cheney, 1996-2024
Code: web_d, v3.4.8, 30 Jun 2024; Data: 15 Sep 2024

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Diocese of Galway and Kilmacduagh

Dioecesis Galviensis et Duacensis