# Bishop of Clogher

The Bishop of Clogher (/ˈklɔː.ər/, /ˈklɒ.hər/) is an episcopal title which takes its name after the village of Clogher in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. Following the Reformation, there are now parallel apostolic successions: one of the Church of Ireland and the other of the Roman Catholic Church.

## History

Clogher is one of the twenty-four dioceses established at the Synod of Ráth Breasail in 1111 and consists of much of south west Ulster, taking in most of counties Fermanagh and Monaghan and parts of Tyrone, Cavan, Leitrim and Donegal. Frequently in the Irish annals the Bishop of Clogher was styled the Bishop of Oirialla. Between c. 1140 to c. 1190, County Louth was transferred from the see of Armagh to the see of Clogher. During this period the Bishop of Clogher used the style Bishop of Louth. The title Bishop of Clogher was resumed after 1193, when County Louth was restored to the see of Armagh.

## Present Ordinaries
### In the Church of Ireland

The present Church of Ireland bishop is the Right Reverend Dr. Ian W. Ellis, elected in September 2020 and consecrated in April 2021 The Church of Ireland bishop is unique in having two diocesan cathedrals within a single diocese, with one Dean and chapter between them: the Cathedral Church of Saint Macartin, Enniskillen and the Cathedral Church of Saint Macartan, Clogher.

### In the Roman Catholic Church

The current Roman Catholic bishop is the Most Reverend Lawrence Duffy who was appointed by the Holy See on 8 December 2018 and ordained bishop on 10 February 2019. The Roman Catholic bishop's seat (cathedra) is located at the Cathedral Church of Saint Macartan, Monaghan.

## Pre-Reformation bishops

Pre-Reformation Bishops of Clogher :
| From | Until | Incumbent | Notes |
| unknown | 1135 | Cináeth Ua Baígill | Died in office. |
| 1135 | 1138 | Christian of Clogher | Irish: Gilla Críst Ua Morgair; died in office. |
| 1138 | 1140 | Áed Ua Cáellaide | Edanus; Canon Regular; styled Bishop of Louth from 1140. |
| Bishops of Louth ||||
| From | Until | Incumbent | Notes |
| 1140 | 1178 | Áed Ua Cáellaide | Resigned before May 1178; died in office on 29 March 1182. |
| 1178 | 1186/87 | Mael Ísu Ua Cerbaill | Maelisu O'Carroll; Malachias; elected before 18 May 1178; also Archbishop of Armagh from 1184; died in office. |
| c.1187 | 1193 | Gilla Críst Ua Mucaráin | Christianus; died in office. |
| Pre-Reformation Bishops of Clogher ||||
| From | Until | Incumbent | Notes |
| 1194 | 1197 | Máel Ísu Ua Máel Chiaráin OCist | Died in office. |
| c.1197 | 1218 | Gilla Tigernaig Mac Gilla Rónáin | Thomas; died in office. |
| c.1218 | 1227 | Donatus Ó Fidabra | Donat Fury; Donat O'Feery; translated to Armagh c. August 1227 |
| 1227 | 1240 | Nehemias Ó Brácáin OCist | Elected in September 1227; consecrated c. 1228; died in office before 15 November 1240. |
| 1240 | 1245 | See vacant | Probably due to the action by Donatus Archbishop of Armagh who was seeking to unite the two sees of Armagh and Clogher. |
| c.1245 | 1267 | David Ó Brácáin OCist | Elected c. 1245; died in office. |
| 1268 | 1287 | Michael Mac an tSáir | Elected in 1268; consecrated 9 September 1268; resigned before 1287; died 1288. |
| 1287 | c.1310 | Matthaeus Mac Cathasaig (I) | Elected in 1287; consecrated 29 June 1287; died in office. |
| fl. 1310 | c.1316 | Henricus | Died in office. |
| c.1316 | 1319 | Gelasius | Cornelius Ó Bánáin; elected and consecrated c. 1316; died in office. |
| 1320 | 1356 | Nicolaus Mac Cathasaigh | Elected on 23 February 1320; consecrated in 1320; died in office. |
| 1356 | 1358 | Brian Mac Cathmhaoil | Bernardus; elected after September 1356; appointed c. 1357; died in office. |
| c. 1361 | unknown | Matthaeus Mac Cathasaigh (II) | Elected c. 1361; consecrated after February 1362. |
| unknown | 1369 | Aodh Ó hEóthaigh | Odo (or Hugh) Ó Neill; died on 27 July 1369. |
| 1373 | c. 1389 | Johannes Ó Corcráin OSB | Johannes Würzburg; appointed on 6 April 1373; died in office. |
| 1390 | 1432 | Art Mac Cathmhaoil | Appointed on 15 February 1390; consecrated before 28 April 1390; died in office on 10 August 1432. |
| 1433 | 1447 | Piaras Mag Uidhir | Petrus; appointed on 31 August 1433; resigned before July 1447; died in office on 5 December 1450. |
| 1447 | 1483 | Rossa mac Tomáis Óig Mág Uidhir | Rogerius; Ross Maguire; appointed on 21 July 1447; consecrated before 6 January 1450; died in office. |
| 1475 | 1475 | Florence Woolley OSB | Appointed on 20 November 1475 on apparently the false news of Rossa's resignation; did not gain possession of the see; acted as a suffragan bishop in the Diocese of Norwich from 1478 until his death in 1500. |
| 1484 | 1484 | Niall mac Séamuis Mac Mathghamhna | Appointed before 14 June 1484, but the papal bulls were not expedited; died in 1488. |
| 1484 | 1502 | John Edmund de Courcy OFM | Appointed 14 June 1484; papal bulls expedited 12 September 1484; also Bishop of Ross from 26 September 1492. |
| 1494 | 1494 | Séamus mac Pilib Mac Mathghamhna | James McMahon; appointed on 5 November 1494, but did take effect; later became Bishop of Derry on 26 November 1503. |
| 1500 | 1502 | Andreas (coadjutor) | Appointed coadjutor on 10 June 1500 to Bishop de Courcy; the see was declared void by the resignation of de Courcy when Ó Cluainín was appointed. |
| 1502 | 1503 | Nehemias Ó Cluainín OESA | Appointed on 24 January 1502; resigned. |
| 1504 | 1504 | Giolla Pádraig Ó Connálaigh | Appointed on 6 March 1504; died before December 1504; also known as Patricius. |
| 1505 | 1515 | Eoghan Mac Cathmhaoil | Eugenius; Owen McCaul; appointed on 4 April 1505; died in office. |
| 1517 | 1534 | Pádraig Ó Cuilín OESA | Patrick O'Cullen; appointed on 11 February 1517; died in office before 26 March 1534. |
| Source(s): ||||

## Post-Reformation bishops
### Church of Ireland succession

Church of Ireland Bishops of Clogher :
| From | Until | Incumbent | Notes |
| 1535 | 1569 | Hugh O'Carolan | Appointment by Pope Paul III on 6 August 1535; consecrated in January 1537; renounced papal appointment on 1 October 1542; confirmed (re-appointed) by King Henry VIII on 8 October 1542; died in office. |
| 1570 | 1571 | Miler Magrath | Roman Catholic Bishop of Down and Connor; accepted royal supremacy in 1567; appointed to Clogher by letters patent on 18 September 1570; translated to Cashel on 3 February 1571. |
| 1571 | 1603 | See vacant | See vacant |
| 1603 | 1603 | Denis Campbell | Dean of Limerick; nominated to Clogher, Derry and Raphoe in 1603, but died before consecration in July 1603. |
| 1603 | 1605 | See vacant | See vacant |
| 1605 | 1621 | George Montgomery | Nominated on 15 February 1605 and appointed by letters patent on 13 June 1605; also held Derry and Raphoe 1605 to 1609, and Meath 1609 to 1621; died in office 15 January 1621. |
| 1621 | 1645 | James Spottiswood | Nominated on 20 January 1621; mandate for consecration on 22 October 1621; died in office in March 1645; his brother John was Archbishop of St Andrews 1615–1639. |
| 1645 | 1661 | Henry Jones | Nominated on 29 September and consecrated on 9 November 1645; translated to Meath on 25 May 1661; his father Lewis was Bishop of Killaloe 1633–1646. |
| 1661 | 1671 | John Leslie | Translated from Raphoe; nominated on 29 April 1661 and appointed by letters patent on 17 June 1661; died in office on 8 September 1671. |
| 1671 | 1672 | Robert Leslie | Translated from Raphoe; appointed by letters patent on 26 October 1671; died in office on 10 August 1672. |
| 1672 | 1687 | Roger Boyle | Translated from Down and Connor; nominated on 29 August 1672 and appointed by letters patent on 19 September 1672; died in office on 26 November 1687. |
| 1687 | 1690 | See vacant | See vacant |
| 1691 | 1697 | Richard Tennison | Translated from Killala and Achonry; nominated on 4 December 1690 and appointed by letters patent on 28 February 1691; translated to Meath on 25 June 1697. |
| 1697 | 1717 | St George Ashe | Translated from Cloyne; nominated on 1 June 1697 and appointed by letters patent 25 June 1697; translated to Derry on 25 February 1717. |
| 1717 | 1745 | John Stearne | Translated from Dromore; nominated on 28 February 1717 and appointed by letters patent on 30 March 1717; died in office on 6 June 1745. |
| 1745 | 1758 | Robert Clayton | Translated from Cork and Ross; nominated on 3 August 1745 and appointed by letters patent on 26 August 1745; died in office on 26 February 1758. |
| 1758 | 1782 | John Garnett | Translated from Ferns and Leighlin; nominated on 14 March 1758 and appointed by letters patent on 4 April 1758; died in office on 1 March 1782. |
| 1782 | 1795 | John Hotham | Translated from Ossory; nominated on 11 April 1782 and appointed by letters patent on 17 May 1782; also succeeded as 9th Baronet Hotham of Scorborough on 25 January 1794; died in office on 3 November 1795. |
| 1796 | 1797 | William Foster | Translated from Kilmore; nominated on 26 December 1795 and appointed by letters patent on 21 January 1796; died in office before 4 November 1797. |
| 1797 | 1819 | John Porter | Translated to Killala and Achonry; nominated on 18 December 1797 and appointed by letters on 30 December 1797; died in office on 27 July 1819. |
| 1819 | 1820 | The Lord John Beresford | Translated from Raphoe; nominated on 29 August 1819 and appointed by letters patent on 25 September 1819; translated to Dublin & Glendalough on 21 April 1820 |
| 1820 | 1822 | The Hon Percy Jocelyn | Translated from Ferns and Leighlin; nominated and appointed by letters patent on 3 April 1820; deprived of the see on 21 October 1822; died on 2 December 1843. |
| 1822 | 1850 | The Lord Robert Tottenham | Translated from Ferns and Leighlin; nominated on 26 November 1822 and appointed by letters patent on 21 December 1822; died in office on 28 April 1850. |
| 1850 | 1886 | During this period the Diocese of Clogher was united to the Diocese of Armagh. | During this period the Diocese of Clogher was united to the Diocese of Armagh. |
| 1886 | 1902 | Charles Stack | Elected on 4 June 1886 and consecrated on 29 June 1886; resigned on 31 December 1902; died on 9 January 1914. |
| 1903 | 1907 | Charles D'Arcy | Elected on 21 January and consecrated on 24 February 1903; translated to Ossory, Ferns and Leighlin on 6 November 1907. |
| 1908 | 1923 | Maurice Day | Elected on 19 December 1907 and consecrated 25 January 1908; died in office on 27 May 1923. |
| 1923 | 1943 | James MacManaway | Elected on 9 November and consecrated on 6 August 1923; resigned on 30 September 1943; died on 29 November 1947. |
| 1944 | 1958 | Richard Tyner | Elected on 9 November 1943 and consecrated on 6 January 1944; died in office on 6 April 1958. |
| 1958 | 1969 | Alan Buchanan | Elected on 17 June and consecrated on 29 September 1958; translated to Dublin & Glendalough on 22 November 1969. |
| 1970 | 1973 | Richard Hanson | Elected on 9 December 1969 and consecrated on 17 March 1970; resigned on 31 March 1973. |
| 1973 | 1980 | Robert Heavener | Elected on 4 May and consecrated on 29 June 1973; retired on 31 May 1980; died on 8 March 2005. |
| 1980 | 1986 | Gordon McMullan | Elected on 13 June and consecrated on 7 September 1980; translated to Down and Dromore in 1986. |
| 1986 | 2001 | Brian Hannon | Elected and consecrated in 1986; retired on 5 October 2001. |
| 2002 | 2011 | Michael Jackson | Elected on 21 November 2001 and consecrated on 6 March 2002; translated to Dublin & Glendalough on 8 May 2011 |
| 2011 | 2020 | John McDowell | Appointed by the House of Bishops on 30 May 2011 and consecrated on 23 September 2011. Translated to Armagh on 28 April 2020. |
| 2021 | present | Ian Ellis | Elected by the House of Bishops on 9 November 2020 and consecrated on 26 April 2021. |
| Source(s): ||||

### Roman Catholic succession

Roman Catholic Bishops of Clogher :
| From | Until | Incumbent | Notes |
| 1546 | c.1560 | Raymund MacMahon | Appointed on 27 August 1546; died in office. |
| 1560 | c. 1592 | Cornelius MacArdel | Appointed on 29 May 1560; died in office. |
| 1592 | 1609 | See vacant | See vacant |
| 1609 | 1611 | Eugene Matthews | Appointed on 31 August 1609; translated to Dublin on 2 May 1611. |
| 1611 | 1622 | See vacant | See vacant |
| 1622 | unknown | Patrick Quinn (vicar apostolic) | Appointed vicar apostolic to administer the see by papal brief on 30 July 1622. |
| 1627 | 1642 | Heber MacMahon (vicar apostolic) | Appointed vicar apostolic to administer the see by papal brief on 17 November 1627; translated to Down and Connor on 10 March 1642. |
| 1642 | 1643 | See vacant | See vacant |
| 1643 | 1650 | Heber MacMahon (again) | Translated from Down and Connor on 27 June 1643; died in office on 17 July 1650. |
| 1651 | unknown | Philip Crolly (vicar apostolic) | Appointed vicar apostolic to administer the see by papal brief on 15 November 1651 and re-appointed on 17 April 1657. |
| 1671 | 1675 | Patrick Duffy OFM | Appointed on 26 May 1671; died in office on 1 August 1675. |
| 1676 | 1689 | Patrick Tyrrell OFM | Appointed on 13 May 1676; also became apostolic administrator of Kilmore 1678–1689; translated to Meath on 24 January 1689. |
| 1689 | 1707 | See vacant | See vacant |
| 1707 | 1715 | Hugh MacMahon | Appointed on 15 March 1707; translated to Armagh on 5 July 1715. |
| 1715 | 1727 | See vacant | See vacant |
| 1727 | 1737 | Bernard MacMahon | Appointed on 7 April 1727; translated to Armagh on 8 November 1737. |
| 1738 | 1747 | Ross MacMahon | Appointed on 17 May 1738; translated to Armagh on 3 August 1747. |
| 1747 | 1778 | Daniel O'Reilly | Appointed on 11 September 1747; died in office on 24 March 1778. |
| 1778 | 1801 | Hugh O'Reilly | Previously appointed coadjutor bishop on 16 May 1777; succeeded diocesan bishop on 24 March 1778; died on 3 November 1801. |
| 1801 | 1824 | James Murphy | Previously appointed coadjutor bishop in May 1798; succeeded diocesan bishop on 3 November 1801; died in office on 19 November 1824. |
| 1824 | 1844 | Edward Kernan | Previously appointed coadjutor bishop on 18 August 1816 and consecrated on 11 (or 12) April 1818; succeeded diocesan bishop on 19 November 1824; died in office on 20 February 1844. |
| 1844 | 1864 | Charles McNally | Previously appointed coadjutor bishop on 21 July 1843 and consecrated on 5 November 1843; succeeded diocesan bishop on 20 February 1844; died in office on 20 November 1864. |
| 1864 | 1893 | James Donnelly | Appointed on 11 December 1864 and consecrated on 26 February 1865; died in office on 29 December 1893. |
| 1894 | 1909 | Richard Owens | Appointed on 6 July 1894 and consecrated on 26 August 1894; died in office on 3 March 1909 |
| 1909 | 1942 | Patrick McKenna | Appointed on 12 June 1909 and consecrated on 10 October 1909; died in office on 7 February 1942. |
| 1943 | 1969 | Eugene O'Callaghan | Appointed on 17 February 1943 and consecrated on 4 April 1943; resigned 3 December 1969; died in office on 21 May 1973. |
| 1969 | 1979 | Patrick Mulligan | Appointed on 3 December 1969 and consecrated on 18 January 1870; resigned on 3 September 1979; died on 21 January 1991. |
| 1979 | 2010 | Joseph Duffy | Appointed on 7 July 1979 and consecrated on 2 September 1979; resigned on 6 May 2010. |
| 2010 | 2016 | Liam MacDaid | Appointed on 6 May 2010 and consecrated on 25 July 2010; resigned on 1 October 2016. |
| 2016 | 2018 | Sede vacante | |
| 2018 | | Lawrence Duffy | Appointed on 8 December 2018 and consecrated on 10 February 2019. |
| Source(s): ||||