Diocese of Raphoe

---

Bishop(s) Philip Boyce, O.C.D., Bishop

General Information Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese Erected: 5th Century Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Armagh Rite: Latin (or Roman) Country: Ireland Square Kilometers: 4,030 (1,556 Square Miles) Description: Most of Donegal Official Web Site: http://www.raphoediocese.com/ Mailing Address: Árd Adhamhnáin, Letterkenny, Co. Dunegal, Ireland Telephone: (074)21.208 Fax: 24.872

---

Past and Present Ordinaries

• Donald McGonagle (MacGongail) † ( 1562 Appointed - 1598 Died)
• James O'Gallagher † ( 1725 Appointed - 18 May 1737 Appointed, Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin)
• Anthony Coyle † ( 1782 Succeeded - 21 Jan 1801 Died)
• Peter McLaughlin † (14 Mar 1802 Appointed - 29 Jul 1819 Resigned)
• Patrick McGettigan † (25 Jun 1820 Appointed - 1 May 1861 Died)
• Daniel McGettigan † (1 May 1861 Succeeded - 6 Mar 1870 Appointed, Archbishop of Armagh)
• James McDevitt † (24 Feb 1871 Appointed - 5 Jan 1879 Died)
• Michael Logue † (13 May 1879 Appointed - 19 Apr 1887 Appointed, Coadjutor Archbishop of Armagh)
• Patrick Joseph O'Donnell † (26 Feb 1888 Appointed - 14 Jan 1922 Appointed, Coadjutor Archbishop of Armagh)
• William MacNeely † (21 Apr 1923 Appointed - 11 Dec 1963 Died)
• Anthony Columba McFeely † (14 May 1965 Appointed - 16 Feb 1982 Resigned)
• Séamus Hegarty (12 Feb 1982 Appointed - 1 Oct 1994 Appointed, Bishop of Derry)
• Philip Boyce, O.C.D. (29 Jun 1995 Appointed - )

---

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
5th Century	Erected		Diocese of Raphoe (erected)

---

Statistics

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Permanent Deacons	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
1950	82,000	102,000	80.4%	94	10	104	788		21	102	27	ap1951
1970	61,500	71,000	86.6%	80	10	90	683		35	121	27	ap1971
1980	73,337	82,934	88.4%	78	18	96	763		27	106	29	ap1981
1990	78,130	86,218	90.6%	82	12	94	831		16	104	31	ap1991
1999	80,753	88,808	90.9%	94	10	104	776		15	75	31	ap2000
2000	81,500	89,000	91.6%	84	9	93	876		14	65	31	ap2001
2001	79,500	87,200	91.2%	88	9	97	819		14	65	33	ap2002
2002	79,500	87,250	91.1%	84	12	96	828		16	57	33	ap2003
2003	79,600	87,300	91.2%	83	12	95	837		15	54	33	ap2004
2004	79,720	87,470	91.1%	83	10	93	857		14	53	33	ap2005

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

---

Affiliated Bishops, Living

• Philip Boyce, O.C.D. (Bishop: 29 Jun 1995 - )
• Séamus Hegarty (Priest: 19 Jun 1966; Bishop: 12 Feb 1982 to 1 Oct 1994)

  ---

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

• Anthony Coyle † (Coadjutor Bishop: 27 Apr 1777; Bishop: 1782 to 21 Jan 1801)
• Michael Logue † (Bishop: 13 May 1879 to 19 Apr 1887)
• William MacNeely † (Bishop: 21 Apr 1923 to 11 Dec 1963)
• James McDevitt † (Bishop: 24 Feb 1871 to 5 Jan 1879)
• Anthony Columba McFeely † (Bishop: 14 May 1965 to 16 Feb 1982)
• Daniel McGettigan † (Coadjutor Bishop: 18 Feb 1856; Bishop: 1 May 1861 to 6 Mar 1870)
• Patrick McGettigan † (Bishop: 25 Jun 1820 to 1 May 1861)
• Donald McGonagle (MacGongail) † (Bishop: 1562 to 1598)
• Peter McLaughlin † (Bishop: 14 Mar 1802 to 29 Jul 1819)
• Patrick Joseph O'Donnell † (Bishop: 26 Feb 1888 to 14 Jan 1922)
• James O'Gallagher † (Bishop: 1725 to 18 May 1737)