Bishops of Limerick

You are here: Home » About the Diocese » Bishops of Limerick

 

Diocesan Administrator: Tony Mullins

The Very Rev. Tony Mullins was born on the 20 April 1959 and is a native of Ardagh parish. He studied in St. Patrick’s College, Maynooth, from 1977 to 1983. On the 12 June 1983, he was ordained in Ardagh and sent on loan to the Archdiocese of Armagh, where he was appointed C.C., St. Peter’s, Drogheda, Co. Louth. He returned to Limerick and was appointed C.C., St. Mary’s, on the 12 November 1984 and appointed spiritual director of St. Munchin’s College in March 1985. In July 1987, he was appointed C.C., St. John’s and remained as spiritual director in St. Munchin’s College. On the 2 September 1995, he was selected as Adm. St John’s Cathedral and on the 19 August 1998 he was appointed V.F. of the newly-created vicariate of St. John’s. In 1999, he took a sabbatical, Renewal for Ministry, at All Hallows. On the 21 September 2000, he was appointed diocesan secretary, taking on the role of diocesan financial administrator in 2001. On the 4 September 2004, he was appointed Parish Priest of Dromin/Athlacca, continuing on a part-time basis as diocesan secretary until December 2005. In March 2009, he was appointed a Pastoral Area Leader (Vicar Forane). Elected by the Limerick diocesan college of consultors to administer the diocese pending the appointment of a bishop, Fr. Mullins confirmed his acceptance of the post of Diocesan Administrator and notified the Apostolic Nuncio on the 22 December 2009.

Donal Murray (1940- )

Bishop Murray was born in Dublin in 1940, attended Blackrock College, Dublin, obtained his B.A. and Masters in Philosophy at U.C.D., his B.Div. at Maynooth and his License and Doctorate in Theology at the University of St Thomas, Rome. He was ordained a priest on 22 May 1966 and lectured extensively in theology and ethical issues. He began lecturing in Mater Dei Institute of Education in 1969, becoming Professor of Moral Theology at Clonliffe College in 1970. In addition to the above positions, from 1973 to 1982, he lectured on Cathechetics in U.C.D. and from 1978 to 1982, he lectured in Medical Ethics in U.C.D. Bishop Murray is a well-known author in the areas of theology, ethics and social issues, having written three books and numerous articles, booklets and pamphlets. In 1982, at the age of 41, he was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Dublin. At that time, he was the youngest member of the Irish hierarchy. His advice and opinion is highly valued. He served as advisor to the Irish representatives at the World Synod of Bishops 1977. He is a member of the Vatican’s Council for Culture and was a member of four episcopal commissions. He is the moving force in the joint Commission for Bio-Ethical Issues for the Bishops’ Conferences of Ireland, England, Wales and Scotland. He attended the European Synod of Bishops in Rome in Autumn 1999 on behalf of the Irish hierarchy. Bishop Murray resigned as Bishop of Limerick in December 2009. His latest publication is Let Love Speak: Reflections on Renewal in the Irish Church (Dublin, 2011),  available from publications@veritas.ie

Jeremiah Newman (1926-95)

Born at Dromcollagher, Co. Limerick, he followed the educational paths of his predecessors, in St. Munchin’s College, Limerick and St. Patrick’s College, Maynooth. Ordained in June 1950, he went to Louvain for post graduate studies. After a year as a lecturer in Queen’s University, Belfast, he was appointed to the staff of St. Patrick’s College, Maynooth. He became president of the college in 1967 and was the driving force behind its development as a lay university, as well as a seminary. A prolific writer and lecturer in philosophy and sociology, he was appointed bishop in 1974 and consecrated on 14 July of that year. Controversial in many areas of political debate, he was a leading member of the hierarchy during his years as bishop. He died on 3 April, 1995 and is buried in St. John’s Cathedral.

Henry Murphy (1912-73)

Born in Ardpatrick, Co. Limerick, he too was educated at St. Munchin’s College and St. Patrick’s College, Maynooth. Ordained in June 1936, he joined the staff of St. Munchin’s College after he had completed his post graduate studies. For twenty years he taught at the college before his appointment as bishop in 1958. His episcopate focused on two major works in the diocese, the building of the new St. Munchin’s College and the creation of the Limerick Social Service Centre. For many years he was Secretary of the Irish Episcopal Conference and he attended all the sessions of the Second Vatican Council. He died on 8 October 8 1973 and is buried in Mount St. Laurence beside his predecessor. Seen here (0:08) after confirmation in Glin, 1971.

Patrick O’Neill (1891-1958)

Born at Grange, Fedamore, Co Limerick, he was educated at St. Munchin’s College, Limerick and St. Patrick’s College, Maynooth. Ordained priest in June 1915, he returned to Maynooth to prepare for a Doctorate in Divinity. He was appointed to the staff of Maynooth and held the post of Professor of Moral Theology before becoming vice-president of the college in 1936. He became PP Bruff and St. Munchin’s before he was appointed bishop in December 1945. He was consecrated bishop of Limerick on 24 February 1946. Bishop O’Neill prepared the ground for development of St. Munchin’s College and moved the bishop’s residence to Kilmoyle. Despite being a shy person he was the driving force behind a great deal of diocesan work. He died suddenly in Kilmoyle on 26 March 1958 and is buried in the priests' plot in Mount St. Laurence, cemetery.

David Keane (1871-1945)

Born at Ballyagran, Co. Limerick he was educated in St. Coleman’s College, Fermoy, St. Munchin’s College, Limerick and St. Patrick’s College, Maynooth, where he was ordained in June 1895, the centenary of the foundation of the college. After the ordination he served in the diocese of Portsmouth, before joining the staff of St. Munchin’s College. After eleven years as president of the college, he was appointed PP Glin in 1920. On the death of Bishop Hallinan, he was consecrated bishop in March 1925. Bishop for twenty one years, he died on 13 March 1945 and is buried in St. John’s Cathedral.

Denis Hallinan (1849-1923)

A near contemporary of Bishop O’Dwyer, he was born in the parish of Coolcappagh, Co. Limerick in 1849. Educated at the Irish College, Rome, he was ordained in 1874. He served as CC in the parishes of Newcastle West and St. Michael’s, before becoming Adm. of St. Michael’s and eventually PP of St. Mary’s in 1895. He was appointed PP Newcastle West in 1898 and nominated bishop twenty years later, on 10 March 1918. His episcopacy was short lived but he was involved in a number of sensitive political issues. He introduced the Salesians to Limerick, both the priests and sisters. He died on 2 July 1923 and is buried in St. John’s Cathedral.

Edward Thomas O’Dwyer (1842-1917)

Born at Holy Cross, Co. Tipperary, he was educated at the C.B.S. in Limerick and at St. Patrick’s College, Maynooth, where he was ordained in June 1867. Having served as CC in Rathkeale, Bruff, St. Patrick’s Adare, Newcastle West and St. Michael’s, he was appointed bishop in May 1886. One of the most famous Irish bishops of the late nineteenth century, he was also one of the most controversial. Honoured by Pope Leo XIII for his part in the Plan of Campaign, he ended his life with approval from his people for his stand against General Maxwell in the wake of the 1916 Rising. He is buried in St. John’s Cathedral.

George Butler (1815-86)

Born in Limerick on 13 February 1815, he was educated at St. Munchin’s College, and ordained a priest from St. Patrick’s College, Maynooth, on 26 November 1838. His first appointment was as in Trinidad, in the West Indies, where he spent two years before returning to Limerick to become CC St. Patrick's. Appointments to St. John’s and St. Michael’s followed; he was appointed coadjutor of the diocese and consecrated on 25 July, during the first public ceremony to be held in the new cathedral. He became apostolic administrator of Limerick in1863 and bishop on the death of Dr. Ryan on 4 June 1864. His time as bishop saw the discovery of the Ardagh Chalice, the loan of the Black Book of Limerick to Maynooth, the building of the tower of St. John’s Cathedral and the erection of many churches and schools. He died on 3 February 1886 and is buried in St. John's.

John Ryan (1784-1864)

John Ryan was born in Twomileborris, Co. Tipperary in November 1784. He studied at St. Patrick’s College, Maynooth, where he was ordained in June 1810. His time in his native diocese of Cashel and Emly is somewhat uncertain due to many men in that diocese with the Ryan surname. It is generally accepted that he was PP Doon before his appointment as PP Mullinahone from which he was nominated coadjutor Bishop of Limerick on 17 March 1828, with the death of Bishop Tuohy. He was bishop for thirty six years, during which he built St. John’s Cathedral and many other churches in the diocese. He died in 1864 and is buried in front of the main altar in the cathedral.

Charles Tuohy (1754-1828)

Charles Tuohy was born in Nicholas Street, Limerick, in 1754. He studied at the Irish Colleges in Toulouse and Paris. Ordained in Paris in 1780, he continued his studies, receiving a Doctorate in Divinity in 1784. He returned to Limerick that year and was appointed a curate in St. John’s Parish. In 1796, Bishop Young appointed him to Newcastle West. After ten years he was appointed PP Rathkeale and subsequently went to St. Michael’s in 1812. On the death of Bishop Young, he was appointed Bishop of Limerick. He was a tireless worker in Limerick and also on the national political and ecclesiastical scene. He died in Newtown Villa, his residence in Sexton Street, on St. Patrick’s day 1828 and is buried in the same tomb as his predecessor, Bishop Young.

John Young (1746-1813)

He was born in John’s St., Limerick, in March 1746 into a merchant family. Educated in Limerick and at the Pastoral College of the Irish, Louvain, where he received an M.A. and a Ph.D., he was ordained in Louvain on 23 September 1769. He worked in Limerick city until he was appointed PP in Bruff in 1782. Nine years later he went as PP to St. Mary’s and became dean of the cathedral chapter. On 3 January 1793, he was appointed coadjutor to the Bishop of Limerick, and later bishop in 1796. One of his priorities as bishop was the opening of St. Munchin’s College, Palmerstown, in November 1796. He was deeply involved in local politics at the end of the eighteenth century and was well known on the national stage. He died on 22 September 1813, at Park House, Corbally and is buried in St. Patrick’s cemetery, off the Tipperary road.

Back to the top