# Bishop of Elphin

The Bishop of Elphin (el-FIN; Irish: Easpag Ail Finn) is an episcopal title which takes its name after the village of Elphin, County Roscommon, Ireland. In the Roman Catholic Church it remains a separate title, but in the Church of Ireland it has been united with other bishoprics.

## History

From the time Christianity first arrived in Ireland in the first half of the 5th century (in the form of Palladius's mission), the early church was centred around monastic settlements. Patrick founded such a settlement in an area known as Corcoghlan, now known as Elphin, in 434 or 435. Following the Synod of Rathbreasail in the year 1111, the Diocese of Elphin was formally established.
Following the Reformation of the 16th century and related turmoil, there were parallel apostolic successions.
In the Church of Ireland, the bishopric continued until 1841 when it combined with Kilmore and Ardagh to form the united bishopric of Kilmore, Elphin and Ardagh.
In the Roman Catholic Church, the title continues as a separate bishopric. The bishop's seat (cathedra) is located at the Cathedral Church of the Immaculate Conception in Sligo, Ireland. The current bishop, the Most Reverend Kevin Doran was appointed to the post by Pope Francis on 14 May 2014.

## Pre-Reformation bishops

List of Pre-Reformation Bishops of Elphin :
| From | Until | Ordinary | Notes |
| ?1111 | 1136 | Domnall mac Flannacáin Ua Dubthaig | Possibly became bishop of Elphin and Clonmacnoise at the Synod of Rathbreasail in 1111. Also was Abbot of Roscommon. Died in office on 17 March 1136. |
| unknown | bef. 1152 | Flannacán Ua Dubthaig | Resigned before 1152 and died at Cong Abbey in 1168. He was remembered as a great scholar (ecnaid) and historian (senchaid). A genealogical section for the Síl Muiredaig in the Book of Ballymote (Minigud sencasa Síl Muiredaig) is attributed to him. |
| bef. 1152 | 1174 | Máel Ísu Ua Connachtáin | Present at the Synod of Kells in 1152. Died in office. |
| unknown | 1180 | Tommaltach mac Áeda Ua Conchobair | Also known as Thomas. Translated to Armagh before February 1180. |
| c. 1180 | 1195 | Floirint Ua Riacáin Uí Máelruanaid, O.Cist. | Formerly Abbot of Boyle. Became bishop c. 1180. Died in office. |
| 1206 | 1215 | Ardgar Ua Conchobair | Became bishop before 14 February 1206. Died in office. |
| fl. 1217/21 | 1229 | Dionysius Ó Mórda | Known to be bishop around 1217 and 1221. Resigned in 1229 and died 15 December 1231. |
| c. 1230 | c. 1230 | Alanus | Archdeacon of Mayo. Became bishop c. 1230, but probably did not get possession of the see. |
| 1231 | 1244 | Donnchad mac Fíngein Ó Conchobhair | Also known as Dionysius and Donatus. Consecrated in 1231. Died in office on 24 April 1244. |
| 1245 | 1246 | Eóin Ó Mugróin | Also known as John O'Hugrain. Formerly Archdeacon of Elphin. Elected after 12 June 1244, appointed on 2 July 1245, and consecrated in the same year. Died in office in 1246. |
| 1247 | 1259 | Tomaltach mac Toirrdelbaig Ó Conchobhair | Also known as Thomas. Formerly Dean of Annaghdown. Elected before 21 August 1246 and consecrated on 21 January 1247. Translated to Tuam 23 March 1259. |
| 1260 | 1262 | Máel Sechlainn Ó Conchobair | Also known as Milo O'Connor. Formerly Archdeacon of Clonmacnoise. Elected before 30 January 1260 by the majority of the Chapter of Elphin, received possession of the temporalities on 8 November 1260, and consecrated c. November 1260. He was opposed by Tomas mac Fergail Mac Diarmata. Died in office on 9 January 1262. |
| 1262 | 1265 | Tomas mac Fergail Mac Diarmata, O.Cist. | Also known as Thomas Mac Ferrall McDermott. Elected before 26 January 1260 by the Dean of Elphin and others of the Chapter, but was not able to take possession of the see. He successfully appealed to the pope, but did not take possession of the temporalities until after the death of Bishop Máel Sechlainn Ó Conchobair in 1262. Died in office in 1265. |
| 1266 | 1284 | Muiris mac Néill Ó Conchobair, O.P. | Also known as Mauricius. Elected after 27 February 1266 and received possession of the temporalities after 23 April 1266. Died in office c. 5 December 1284. |
| 1285 | 1285 | Amiaim Ó Tommaltaig (bishop-elect) | Elected and confirmed in 1285, but was never consecrated. |
| 1285 | 1296 | Gilla Ísu mac in Liathána Ó Conchobair, O.Praem. | Also known as Gelasius. Formerly Abbot of Loch Cé, near Boyle, County Roscommon. Elected on 10 August 1285 and received possession of the temporalities after 5 March 1285. Died in office before September 1296. |
| 1297 | 1303 | Máel Sechlainn mac Briain, O.Cist. | Also known as Malachias. Formerly Abbot of Boyle. Elected before 2 November 1296 and received possession of the temporalities on 7 September 1297. Died in office before March 1303. |
| 1296 | 1297 | Marianus Ó Donnabair, O.P. | Elected in September or October 1296. Died in office in 1297. |
| 1303 | 1307 | Donnchad Ó Flannacain, O.Cist. | Also known as Donatus. Formerly Abbot of Boyle. Elected before 28 June 1303 and received possession of the temporalities after 28 June 1303. Died in office on 22 June 1307. |
| 1307 | 1310 | Cathal Ó Conchobair, O.Praem. | Also known as Carolus. Formerly Abbot of Loch Cé, near Boyle, County Roscommon. Elected after 2 September 1307, consecrated c. October 1307, and received possession of the temporalities on 12 March 1309. Resigned in 1310 and died in 1343. |
| 1310 | 1312 | Máel Sechlainn Mac Áeda | Also known as Malachias. Formerly a canon of Elphin. Appointed on 22 June 1310 and received possession of the temporalities on 7 December 1310. Translated to Tuam on 19 December 1312. |
| 1313 | 1326 | Lúrint Ó Lachtnáin | Also known as Laurentius. Formerly a canon of Elphin. Appointed on 21 January 1313, consecrated after 19 February 1313, and received possession of the temporalities on 22 September 1314. Died in office in 1326. |
| 1326 | 1354 | Seoán Ó Fínnachta | Elected and consecrated in 1326, and received possession of the temporalities after 31 December 1326. Died in office in 1354. |
| c. 1355 | 1357 | Carolus | Elected c. 1355. Deprived in 1357. |
| 1357 | 1372 | Gregorius Ó Mocháin | Formerly Provost of Killala. Appointed on 27 February 1357 and received possession of the temporalities on 26 June 1357. Translated to Tuam in 1372. |
| 1372 | 1404 | Thomas Barrett | Formerly Archdeacon of Annaghdown. Appointed on 16 June 1372 and received possession of the temporalities on 24 November 1372. Deprived by Pope Clement VIII on 17 January 1383, but without effect. Continued in office until his death in 1404. |
| 1383 | 1383 | Seoán Ó Mocháin | Possibly a priest of the Diocese of Achonry. Appointed sometime between 17 January and 19 February 1383 by Pope Clement VII, but apparently did not take effect. Later appointed Bishop of Derry on 16 September 1394. |
| c. 1405 | c. 1405 | Gerald Caneton, O.S.A. | Translated from Cloyne c. 1405, but did not take effect. |
| 1407 | 1417 | Seaán Ó Gráda | Also known as John O'Grada. Appointed before 12 October 1407. Died in office in 1417. |
| 1412 | 1414 | Thomas Colby, O.Carm. | Appointed by Antipope John XXIII on 18 March 1412, in opposition to Seaán Ó Gráda, but did not take effect. Translated to Waterford and Lismore in February 1414. |
| 1418 | unknown | Robert Fosten, O.F.M. | Also known as Robert Forster. Appointed on 18 February 1418. Acted as a suffragan bishop in the Diocese of Durham (1426). Died in office after 1430 |
| 1421 | 1421 | Edmund Barrett | Also known as Éamonn 'mac an easbuig' Bairéad. Appointed in 1421 and died in the same year. |
| unknown | 1429 | Johannes | Deprived before 26 January 1429 and died before March 1434. |
| 1429 | 1429 | Laurentius Ó Beólláin | Formerly a canon of Elphin. Appointed on 26 January 1429. Died in office before December 1429. |
| 1429 | 1449 | William Ó hEidheáin | Appointed on 2 December 1429. Translated to Emly on 20 October 1449. |
| 1449 | 1468 | Conchobair Ó Maolalaidh, O.F.M. | Also known as Cornelius O'Mullaghlin. Translated from Emly on 20 October 1449. Died in 1468. |
| 1458/69 | 1494 | Nicol Ó Flannagáin, O.P. | Also known as Nicholas O'Flanagan. Appointed on 7 June 1458 and again 10 July 1469. Resigned in September 1494. |
| 1487 | ?1495 | Hugo Arward | Maybe also known as Aodh Mac an Bhaird. Appointed on 24 January 1487. Possibly died in 1495. |
| 1492 | unknown | Riocard mac Briain Ó gCuanach, O.P. | Appointed on 22 June 1492, but not known if took effect. Died after 1501. |
| 1499 | unknown | Georgios Vranas | Also known as Georgius de Brana, George Braua, or 'an-t-easbog Gréagach'. Translated from Dromore 15 April 1499. Resigned several years later, but the date not known. Died sometime between 18 August and 27 December 1529. |
| bef. 1501 | unknown | Cornelius Ó Flannagain | Appointed before 1501, but not known if took effect. |
| 1508 | 1511 | Christopher Fisher | Appointed on 12 December 1508. Also Prebendary of Husthwaite, York (1507–11). Died in 1511. |
| aft. 1511 | ?1524 | Thomas Walsh | Prior of Bradenstoke (1483–1524). He succeeded Fisher as prebendary of Husthwaite, York, and was likewise named by Erasmus as Bishop of Elphin. Died in 1524. |
| 1525 | 1536 | John Maxey, O.Praem. | Appointed on 7 April 1525. Acted as a suffragan bishop in the Diocese of York (1525). Also was Abbot of Welbeck (1520–36), Prebendary of Ampleforth, York (1528–36), and Abbot of Titchfield (c. 1535–36). Died in office on 15 August 1536. |
| Sources: ||||

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

List of Church of Ireland Bishops of Elphin :
| From | Until | Ordinary | Notes |
| 1541 | 1551 | Conach O'Shiel | Also surnamed as O'Shyagall or O'Negall. Nominated on 23 September 1541. Died in office before 28 July 1551. |
| 1551 | 1580 | Roland de Burgo | Also known as Roland Burke. Nominated on 23 November 1551 and appointed by letters patent 10 April 1552. Also was Bishop of Clonfert (1537–1580). Held possession of both sees until his death on 20 June 1580. |
| 1580 | 1583 | Thomas Chester | Nominated on 25 May 1582. Died in office. |
| 1583 | 1611 | John Lynch | Nominated on 4 November 1583. Resigned on 19 August 1611 |
| 1611 | 1639 | Edward King | Nominated on 6 July 1611 and consecrated in December 1611. Died in office on 8 March 1639. |
| 1639 | 1655 | Henry Tilson | Formerly Dean of Christ Church, Dublin. Nominated on 7 August 1639 and consecrated on 23 September 1639. Died on office on 31 March 1655. |
| 1655 | 1661 | See vacant | See vacant |
| 1661 | 1667 | John Parker | Nominated on 6 August 1660 and consecrated on 27 January 1661. Translated to Tuam on 9 August 1667. |
| 1667 | 1686 | John Hodson | Formerly Dean of Clogher. Nominated on 17 July 1667 and consecrated on 8 September 1667. Died on office on 18 February 1686. |
| 1686 | 1691 | See vacant | See vacant |
| 1691 | 1720 | Simon Digby | Translated from Limerick, Ardfert and Aghadoe. Nominated on 4 December 1690 and appointed by letters patent on 12 January 1691. Died on office on 7 April 1720. |
| 1720 | 1724 | Henry Downes | Translated from Killala and Achonry. Nominated on 1 May 1720 and appointed by letters patent on 12 May 1720. Translated to Meath on 9 April 1724. |
| 1724 | 1730 | Theophilus Bolton | Translated from Clonfert and Kilmacduagh. Nominated on 18 March 1724 and appointed by letters patent on 16 April 1724. Translated to Cashel on 6 January 1730. |
| 1730 | 1740 | Robert Howard | Translated from Killala and Achonry. Nominated on 26 December 1729 and appointed by letters patent on 13 January 1730. Died in office on 3 April 1740. |
| 1740 | 1762 | Edward Synge | Translated from Ferns and Leighlin. Nominated on 30 April 1740 and appointed by letters patent 15 May 1740. Died on office on 27 January 1762. |
| 1762 | 1772 | William Gore | Translated from Clonfert and Kilmacduagh. Nominated on 21 April 1762 and appointed by letters patent on 3 May 1762. Translated to Limerick, Ardfert and Aghadoe on 5 March 1772. |
| 1772 | 1775 | Jemmett Browne | Translated from Cork and Ross. Nominated on 27 January 1772 and appointed by letters patent on 6 March 1772. Translated to Tuam on 11 April 1775. |
| 1775 | 1795 | Charles Dodgson | Translated from Ossory. Nominated on 23 March 1775 and appointed by letters patent on 12 April 1775. Died on office on 7 March 1795. |
| 1795 | 1810 | John Law | Translated from Killala and Achonry. Nominated on 11 March 1795 and appointed by letters patent on 27 March 1795. Died on office on 19 March 1810. |
| 1810 | 1819 | The Hon. Power Le Poer Trench | Translated from Waterford and Lismore. Nominated on 12 April 1810 and appointed by letters patent on 30 April 1810. Translated to Tuam on 10 November 1819. |
| 1819 | 1854 | John Powell Leslie | Translated from Dromore. Nominated on 16 November 1819. Became Bishop of Kilmore, Elphin and Ardagh on 15 October 1841 and died in office on 22 July 1854. |
| Since 1841 | Since 1841 | Part of the united Church of Ireland bishopric of Kilmore, Elphin and Ardagh. | Part of the united Church of Ireland bishopric of Kilmore, Elphin and Ardagh. |
| Sources: ||||

### Roman Catholic succession

List of Roman Catholic Bishops of Elphin :
| From | Until | Ordinary | Notes |
| 1539 | 1539 | William Magennis | Appointed on 16 June 1539. There is some confusion with this appointment; he may be Eugene Magennis, who was appointed Bishop of Down and Connor on the same day since nothing further is known of William Magennis. |
| 1539 | 1541 | Gabriel de S. Serio, O.S.B. | Appointed on 27 August 1539. Translated to Ferns on 3 June 1541. |
| 1541 | 1542 | Bernard O'Donnell, O.F.M. | Translated from Ferns on 3 June 1541. Died in office before 5 July 1542. |
| 1542 | 1561 | Bernard O'Higgins, O.E.S.A. | Appointed on 5 May 1542 and consecrated on 7 September 1542. He left Ireland in the later years of the reign of King Henry VIII and returned in the reign of Queen Mary I. Resigned in 1561 and died 1564. |
| 1545 | c. 1553/54 | John O'Heyne (apostolic administrator) | Bishop of Cork and Cloyne (1540–1556). During the absence of Bishop O'Higgins, O'Heyne was appointed Apostolic Administrator of Elphin by papal brief on 20 February 1545. He ceased to administer the see of Elphin on the return of O'Higgins c. 1553–54. |
| 1562 | 1594 | Andrew O'Crean, O.P. | Appointed on 28 January 1562. Died in office in 1594. |
| 1594 | 1620 | See vacant | No record of vicars apostolic during this period. |
| 1620 | unknown | Nicholas a S. Patritio, O.E.S.A. (vicar apostolic) | An Augustinian friar, he was appointed vicar apostolic of Elphin by papal brief on 29 August 1620. |
| unknown | bef. 1625 | Raymund Galvin | There is no record found of his appointment, but he was mentioned in the appointment of his successor, Boetius Egan, in 1625. |
| 1625 | 1650 | Boetius Egan, O.F.M. | Appointed on 9 June 1625 and consecrated in 1626. Died in office on 19 April 1650. |
| 1650 | 1665 | See vacant | See vacant |
| 1665 | 1669 | William Burgat (vicar apostolic) | Appointed vicar apostolic of Elphin on 24 November 1665. Also vicar apostolic of Emly (1657–1669) and Archbishop of Cashel (1669–1674). |
| 1669 | 1671 | See vacant | See vacant |
| 1671 | 1703/04 | Dominic de Burgo, O.P. | Also known as Dominic Burke. Appointed on 16 May 1671 (N.S.), papal brief issued on 13 July 1671 (N.S.), and consecrated on 22 November 1671 (N.S.). Died in office on 31 December 1703 or 1 January 1704. |
| 1704 | 1707 | See vacant | See vacant |
| 1707 | 1717 | Ambrose MacDermott, O.P. | Appointed on 21 March 1707 (N.S.), papal brief issued on 31 March 1707 (N.S.), and consecrated c. August 1707 (N.S.). Died in office in September 1717. |
| 1718 | 1731 | Gabriel O'Kelly | Also known as Carbry O'Kelly. Appointed by papal brief on 26 March 1718 (N.S.) and consecrated on 8 June 1718 (N.S). Died in office on 4 August 1731. |
| 1731 | 1748 | Patrick French, O.F.M. | Appointed by papal brief on 23 November 1731 (N.S.). Died in office before August 1748. |
| 1748 | 1756 | John Brett, O.P. | Translated from Killala. Appointed by papal brief on 28 August 1748 (N.S.). Died in office on 22 June 1756. |
| 1756 | 1786 | James O'Fallon | Appointed by papal brief on 4 August 1756. Died in office on 2 December 1786. |
| 1787 | 1810 | Edward French | Appointed by papal brief on 13 February 1787. Died in office on 29 April 1810. |
| 1810 | 1814 | See vacant | See vacant |
| 1814 | 1827 | George Thomas Plunkett | Appointed on 25 September 1814, papal brief issued on 4 October 1814, and consecrated 24 February 1815. Died in office on 8 May 1827. |
| 1827 | 1843 | Patrick Burke | Appointed coadjutor bishop of Elphin on 12 January 1819 and consecrated on 27 June 1819. Succeeded diocesan bishop on 8 May 1827. Died in office on 16 September 1843. |
| 1844 | 1858 | George Joseph Plunket Browne | Translated from Galway. Appointed on 10 March 1844 and papal brief issued on 26 March 1844. Died in office on 1 December 1858. |
| 1858 | 1895 | Laurence Gillooly C.M. | Appointed coadjutor bishop of Elphin by papal brief on 26 February 1856 and consecrated on 7 September 1856. Succeeded diocesan bishop on 1 December 1858. Died in office on 15 January 1895. |
| 1895 | 1912 | John Joseph Clancy | Appointed coadjutor bishop of Elphin on 12 January 1895, succeeded diocesan bishop on 8 February 1895, and consecrated on 24 March 1895. Died in office on 19 October 1912. |
| 1913 | 1926 | Bernard Coyne | Appointed on 18 January 1913 and consecrated 30 March 1913. Died in office on 17 July 1926. |
| 1926 | 1950 | Edward Doorly | Appointed coadjutor bishop of Elphin on 5 April 1923 and consecrated 24 June 1923. Succeeded diocesan bishop on 17 July 1926. Died in office on 5 April 1950. |
| 1950 | 1970 | Vincent Hanly | Appointed diocesan bishop on 19 July 1950 and consecrated 24 September 1950. Died in office on 9 November 1970. |
| 1971 | 1994 | Dominic Joseph Conway | Appointed an auxiliary bishop of Elphin on 16 October 1970 and consecrated on 8 November 1970. Appointed diocesan bishop of Elphin on 12 March 1971. Retired on 24 May 1994 and died on 22 August 1996. |
| 1994 | 2014 | Christopher Jones | Appointed on 24 May 1994 and consecrated on 15 August 1994. Retired on 14 May 2014 and died on 19 May 2018. |
| 2014 | present | Kevin Doran | Appointed on 14 May 2014 and consecrated on 14 July 2014. |
| Sources: ||||