Irish bishop appointed to shepherd two dioceses

Rome Newsroom, Feb 16, 2025 / 09:00 am (CNA).

Pope Francis has appointed Bishop Kevin Doran as new bishop of the Diocese of Achonry, in addition to being bishop of the Diocese of Elphin.

The announcement, published Feb. 16, means that the two dioceses of Achonry and Elphin are joined “in persona episcopi” or “in the person of the Bishop.” 

On Sunday morning, the bishop of Achonry and Elphin addressed Catholics, expressing his gratitude for the support he has received from people in both dioceses. 

“I gladly accept my responsibility as bishop of the two dioceses to work with you as we grow together into that unity to which we are called, and as we discover the gifts that God has given us to share,” he told the congregation at the Cathedral of the Annunciation and Saint Nathy.  

Doran has served as bishop of the Elphin diocese since 2014. He was appointed apostolic administrator of Achonry diocese in April 2024, after the then-serving Bishop Paul Dempsy was appointed as auxiliary bishop for the Archdiocese of Dublin.

In a 2024 letter, Doran acknowledged that some Catholics may be “shocked” or “disappointed” by developments but that lower levels of religious practice and inadequate human and financial resources necessitated change.

“Both Achonry and Elphin are small by the standards of the Church around the world,” he wrote. “The hope is that, with our combined resources, we will be able to exercise our mission more effectively.”  

Doran, 71, was ordained a priest in 1977 for the Archdiocese of Dublin after completing his studies at Mater Dei College in Dublin. He also obtained a Master of Arts in Philosophy from the National University of Ireland. 

Following his priestly ordination, Doran taught at Dublin’s Ringsend Vocational School from 1977-1983. He was also a member of the Diocesan Secretariat for Education from 1980 to 1983.

In 1990, Doran continued his studies in Rome and was awarded a Doctorate in Philosophy at the Angelicum while serving as spiritual director at the Pontifical Irish College.

In addition to his pastoral ministry in Dublin parishes, Doran also served as a vocations and formation director at a diocesan and national level between 1998 and 2006 and was general secretary for the preparatory committee for the 50th International Eucharistic Congress from 2008-2012, 

Before his episcopal ordination in 2014, Doran was secretary of the Commission of the Episcopal Conference for Bioethics from 1996-2014. From 2013-2014, he was a member of the Management Committee of the Mater Misericordiae Hospital in Dublin and a consultant to the Congregation for Catholic Education.