The Bishop of Derry is an episcopal title which takes its name after the monastic settlement originally founded at Daire Calgach and later known as Daire Colm Cille, Anglicised as Derry. In the Catholic Church it remains a separate title, but in the Church of Ireland it has been united with another bishopric.
History
At the Synod of Ráth Breasail in 1111 Ireland was divided up into ecclesiastical dioceses based on territorial units. One of these was for the Cenel Conaill who could have its Episcopal see either at Raphoe or Derry. At the Synod of Kells in 1152 however Derry and the Inishowen peninsula were moved from the diocese of the Cenel Conaill to that of the Cenel Eogain who controlled both areas. Derry was a Columban establishment founded by Columba who was a prince of the Cenel Conaill. It opposed many of the church reforms as well as being made part of the diocese of the Cenel Eogain. As a compromise the foundation of Derry was essentially made a diocese of its own within that of the Cenel Eogain and its comarb styled as the bishop of Derry.[1]
In regards to the diocese of the Cenel Eogain, its see was at Rathlowry (Maghera), with the diocese in Latin became known as Rathlurensis and its bishop as Episcopis Rathlurensis. In 1246 its bishop, Germanus O'Carolan, obtained sanction from Pope Innocent IV to have the see transferred to Derry due to the remoteness of Rathlowry. By this stage the Columban foundation at Derry had become extinct and was replaced by the Augustinian Order.[1] From 1254 the diocese became known as Derry and the bishop of the Cenel Eogain was styled as the bishop of Derry.[2]
In the Roman Catholic Church, the title is still a separate bishopric. On 25 February 2014, Pope Francis appointed the then auxiliary Bishop of Down and Connor – Most Reverend Donal McKeown – as the new Bishop of Derry. He was installed as Bishop of Derry on Sunday 6 April 2014 in Saint Eugene's Cathedral Derry.[4][5]
Styled "bishop of Ard Macha" (Armagh) in the Annals of Ulster, but probably took care over the see of Cinél nEógain. Consecrated on 13 September 1107. Died at Derry in 1122.
Styled "bishop of Ard Macha" (Armagh) in the Annals of Ulster, but probably took care over the see of Cinél nEógain. Died on 29 January 1139.
unknown
1149
Ua Gormgaile
Died in office.
bef. 1152
1173
Muiredach Ua Cobthaig
Also known in Latin as Mauricius. Styled "bishop of Cenel-Eogain and of all the North of Ireland" in the Annals of Ulster. Present at the Synod of Kells in March 1152. Died on 10 February 1173.
unknown
1185
Amlaím Ua Muirethaig
Styled "bishop of Ard-Macha and Cenel-Feradhaigh" in the Annals of Ulster and appears to be reckoned as coarb of Saint Patrick in the Book of Leinster, but probably took care over the see of Cinél nEógain. Died at Cenél Feradaig Cruthnai in 1185 and buried at Derry.
1185
1230
Fogartach Ua Cerballáin I
Also known in Latin as Florentius. Died in office.
Transferred the See from Ráith Lúraig (Maghera) in 1254. Died in office.
1280
1293
Fogartach Ua Cerballáin II
Also known in Latin as Florentius. Elected circa 1280. Died in office before 24 July 1293.
1293
1294
(Michael)
Previously Treasurer of Derry. Elected on 10 October 1293, and though granted possession of the see's temporalities on 8 February 1294, he was never consecrated.
Also known as Henry O'Reghly or Henry of Ardagh. Elected before 12 August 1294 and again before March 1294. Received possession of the temporalities on 16 June 1295. Died in office.
1297
c.1315
Gofraid Mac Lochlainn
Elected before 26 June 1297 and received possession of the temporalities after that date. Died in office circa 1315.
Previously Bishop-elect of Clonmacnoise in earlier 1349. Appointed Bishop of Derry on 18 December 1349, but the date of his consecration is not known. Died in office after 1380.
Nominated on 15 February and appointed by Letters Patent and 13 June 1605. Also was bishop of Clogher (1605–1621) and Raphoe (1605–1609). Translated to Meath on 8 July 1609.
Translated from Cloyne. Nominated on 28 January and appointed by letters patent on 18 February 1768. Also became the fourth Earl of Bristol on 23 December 1779. Died in office on 8 July 1803.
Translated from Killaloe and Kilfenora. Nominated on 14 September and appointed by letters patent on 21 September 1831. Became Bishop of Derry and Raphoe when the two sees were united on 5 September 1834. Died in office on 27 October 1853.
Appointed vicar apostolic to administer the see by papal brief 10 January 1629. Deprived of the post in 1668.
1671
unknown
(Eugene Conwell)
Appointed vicar apostolic to administer the see by papal brief 30 June 1671.
1684
c.1711
(Bernard O'Cahan)
Appointed vicar apostolic to administer the see by papal brief in January 1684. Died in office circa 1711.
1694
c.1696
Fergus Laurence Lea
Appointed on 8 February 1694, but it seems probable that he never took possession of the see. Also was appointed Apostolic Administrator of Raphoe on 18 February 1694. Died circa 1696.
1711
1720
See vacant
1720
unknown
Terence Donnelly
Appointed on 5 January and consecrated on 27 March 1720. Death date unknown.
1727
1738
Neil Conway
Appointed on 7 April 1727. Died in office on 6 January 1738.
Also known as Patrick O'Brolchain. Appointed on 29 January and consecrated on 3 March 1751. Resigned in 1752.
1752
1765
John MacColgan
Elected on 19 March and appointed by papal brief on 4 May 1752. Died in office in 1765.
1766
1797
Phillip MacDevitt
Appointed on 4 January 1766. Died in office on 24 November 1797.
1797
1824
Charles O'Donnell
Appointed coadjutor bishop on 11 (or 14) January 1797 and succeeded diocesan bishop on 24 November 1797. Died in office on 19 July 1824.
1824
1840
Peter MacLaughlin
Formerly Bishop of Raphoe (1802–1819). Appointed Administrator of Derry on 12 January 1819 due to Bishop O'Donnell's age and infirmity. Confirmed bishop of Derry on 4 April and by papal brief on 11 May 1824. Died in office on 18 August 1840.
1840
1864
John MacLaughlin
Appointed coadjutor bishop on 21 February and consecrated on 16 July 1837. Succeeded diocesan bishop on 18 August 1840. Resigned in 1864 and died on 18 June 1864.
Appointed coadjutor bishop on 19 April and consecrated on 21 October 1849. Succeeded diocesan bishop on 13 June 1864. Died in office on 1 September 1889.
Translated from Raphoe. Appointed on 1 October and installed on 6 November 1994. Resigned for health reasons on 23 November 2011 and died on 20 September 2019.
^Charles, McNeill (1910). "Irish Confessors and Martyrs". The Catholic Encyclopedia, Vol. 8. New York: Robert Appleton Company. Retrieved 12 December 2015 – via newadvent.org.
^Fryde, E. B.; Greenway, D. E.; Porter, S.; Roy, I. (1986). Handbook of British Chronology (Third ed.). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. p. 345. ISBN0-521-56350-X.