Dr Donal McKeown appointed new Bishop of Derry
Thursday, February 27, 2014
Pope Francis has appointed Antrim native Dr Donal McKeown as the new Catholic Bishop of Derry. Auxiliary Bishop in the Diocese of Down and Connor since 2001, the 63-year-old was confirmed in the role following a ceremony in St Eugene’s Cathedral in Derry City this week.
We at Kickhams Creggan GAC would like to congratulate Dr Donal McKeown on this wonderful achievement and we wish him the best of luck throughout his term.
Born on April 12 1950, Bishop Donal McKeown was brought up in Randalstown, Co Antrim as the first of four children of a local watchmaker and school teacher.
He played Gaelic football and hurling with Creggan Kickhams GAA club, attending Saint Mac Nissi’s College, Garron Tower (1961-68), before studying at Queen’s University, Belfast from 1968 to 1973, staying in the diocesan seminary at Saint Malachy’s College.
Five years study of philosophy and theology followed in Rome at the Gregorian Pontifical University, before he was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Down and Connor in July 1977.
The Bishop-elect has spent his entire 37 years as a priest in the Down and Connor diocese, largely centred around Belfast, teaching in Saint Patrick’s College in East Belfast, Saint MacNissi’s College and later Saint Malachy’s College, Belfast.
In 2001 he was appointed as Auxiliary Bishop in the Diocese of Down and Connor.
CLG S Ciceam An Creagán
Picture by The County Antrim Post