New Bishop of Galway announced

Bishop Michael Duignan was unveiled at the new Bishop of Galway at 11am Mass in the Cathedral. His appointment by Pope Francis follows the Pontiff’s earlier decision to link Galway with the Bishop’s current Diocese – united under one Bishop but maintaining their respective autonomy.

Bishop Duignan was joined for this morning’s announcement and concelebrated Mass by the retiring Bishop of Galway Brendan Kelly, and Papal Nuncio, Archbishop Jude Thaddeus Okolo.

A native of Athlone, Co Roscommon, Bishop Duignan was born on July 15 1970.  He is the eldest of six children and attended Cloonakilla National School, Bealnamulla and Saint Aloysius College, Athlone.

He studied for the Priesthood at St Patrick’s Missionary Society in Kiltegan, Co Wicklow and at the Pontifical Irish College in Rome.  He was ordained to the Priesthood for the Diocese of Elphin on 17 July 1994.

On July 16 2019, Bishop Duignan was named by Pope Francis as Bishop of Clonfert succeeding Bishop John Kirby.  He was ordained at Saint Brendan’s Cathedral in Loughrea on October 13 that year.

Dr Duignan had been seen as the front runner since Pope Francis announced he was appointing one bishop for two Dioceses – the Diocese of Clonfert and the Diocese of Galway, Kilmacduagh and Kilfenora.

But he said today that he never made any such assumptions.

“More than once, the question emerged as to who would be the new bishop for the two dioceses and how would he be able to manage all the moving parts.  Although others may have made presumptions about whom it would be – I never did,” he said.

“Last week when Archbishop Okolo asked me on behalf of Pope Francis to become the Bishop of Galway, Kilmacduagh and the Apostolic Administrator of Kilfenora along with being the Bishop of Clonfert – it was like being asked again to be a bishop for the first time,” he added.

He paid tribute to his predecessor what was the anniversary of his elevation.

“I do not think we should let a day like today go by without recording the debt of gratitude the Diocese of Galway, Kilmacduagh and Kilfenora and indeed the Diocese of Achonry owe to you for your many years of faithful service as a priest and bishop,” he told Dr Kelly.