Speculation mounting on who will be the next Bishop of Derry

Speculation is mounting in the Derry Diocese regarding who will succeed Bishop Dónal McKeown as Bishop of Derry.

Bishop McKeown was appointed Bishop-elect of Derry by the late Pope Francis on February 25, 2014. He was installed on April 6, 2014 in St Eugene’s Cathedral, Derry.

In keeping with Canon Law, which requires all bishops to submit their resignation to the Pope at the age of 75, Bishop McKeown submitted his resignation to the late Pope Francis on April 12, 2025, just days before the Pontiff’s death.

When his successor is appointed by Pope Leo, Bishop McKeown will retain the title of emeritus of his diocese and can keep a residence in the Derry Diocese if he so wishes.

In a recent article in The Irish Catholic newspaper, editor-in-chief Garry O’Sullivan reported the Papal Nuncio to Ireland Archbishop Luis Mariano Montemayor as saying: “With regard to the Diocese of Derry, the canonical enquiry that will lead to the appointment of a new bishop has begun but is still in the early stages”.

Fr Paul Farren.

One of several clerics being discussed as a possible successor to Bishop McKeown is Fr Paul Farren, who is the current administrator in St Eugene’s Cathedral and director of the Derry Diocesan Catechetical Centre.

A native of Clonmany in Inishowen in County Donegal, Fr Farren was ordained in 1997. He studied in St Patrick’s College, Maynooth and in the Catholic University of America, Washington DC. He served as a curate in Derry City from 1997 to 2004. Fr Farren has also served as director of religious education in the Derry Diocese; administrator of St Columba’s Church, Long Tower; and the director for vocations in the Derry Diocese.

In 2006, Fr Farren founded The Pope John Paul II Award to “help young people become more involved in their parish community. He is also a published author of several books including ‘Freedom and Forgiveness: A Fresh Look at the Sacrament of Reconciliation’ and ‘The Light of Forgiveness: The Sacrament of Reconciliation for Teens’.

Fr Timothy Bartlett.

Another possible candidate for Bishop of Derry is the Very Reverend Timothy Bartlett, the current director of public and social affairs in the Diocese of Down and Conor.

Fr Bartlett is also the administrator of St Mary’s Church in Belfast, and the Episcopal Vicar for Diocesan Future Planning for the Diocese of Down and Connor, part of the diocese’s ‘Pathways to the Future’ programme, which focuses on structuring parishes for the future particularly regarding the grouping of parishes.

The former assistant to Cardinal Seán Brady, Fr Bartlett helped organise Pope Francis’ visit to Ireland in 2018. In 2009, Fr Bartlett created a stir when, following publication of the Ryan Report (The Report of the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse), he said religious orders should pay more compensation to abuse victims beyond the €128 million agreed in 2002.
Fr Bartlett recently called for an independent review of the BBC, especially its operation in the North.

In a November sermon marking Red Wednesday, the designated international day highlighting the persecution of Christians, he accused the corporation of displaying “unconscious bias against Catholics and the practice of Catholic faith”.

Preaching during the August pilgrimage to Knock for Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) Ireland, a charity which works with persecuted Christians in 140 countries and for which he is an Ecclesiastical Assistant, Fr Bartlett spoke out against people living in the North being unable to vote in the Irish Presidential Election.

He said: “Sadly, though I am told I am an Irish citizen, and even though I have deeply treasured that identity since I was a child, even in the face of violent opposition, I am not entitled to vote in that election”.

Monsignor Kevin Gillespie.

Another priest who has been mentioned as potentially the next Bishop of Derry is Gaoth Dobhair native, Monsignor Kevin Gillespie.

Ordained in August 2018, Monsignor Gillespie currently serves as Vicar Forane - a priest with supervisory duties over a number of parishes - and administrator of the Diocese of Raphoe’s Cathedral Parish of Conwal and Leck.

Monsignor Gillespie moved to Rome in 2008 where he worked closely with Popes Benedict XVI and Francis, before returning to Ireland in 2017.

Bishop of Raphoe, Most Reverend Dr Niall Coll. 

Could history repeat itself with the recently installed Bishop of Raphoe, Most Reverend Dr Niall Coll, coming to Derry?

On October 1, 1994, Dr Seamus Hegarty was appointed the Bishop of Derry and was installed at St Eugene’s Cathedral on November 6, 1994. Bishop Hegarty had previously been appointed the Bishop of the Diocese of Raphoe on February 12, 1982.

Fr Eugene O’Hagan.

Born in the County Derry village of Derry, might Fr Eugene O’Hagan, one third of the recently retired Priests, the internationally celebrated classical music group with his brother Fr Martin O’Hagan and Fr David Delargy, be the next Bishop of Derry?

Fr O’Hagan is currently both Vicar General for the Diocese of Down and Connor and exercises significant administrative authority alongside Bishop Alan McGuckian.

Another possibility for the next Bishop of Derry is a ‘Fr Dark Horse’ - a priest with an acute awareness of the Catholic Church in the North but someone who is not widely known in the Derry Diocese. This man might possibly be in his mid-50s, have an as yet unknown connection with Derry, and perhaps have spent time in Rome or the United States.

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When contacted for comment, Fr Michael Canny, the Derry Diocesan Media Liaison, said: “Bishop McKeown as we know having reached the age to retire as a bishop submitted his letter to the Nuncio who no doubt passed it on to the appropriate office at the Vatican.

“I understand that Bishop McKeown received a letter acknowledging that he had reached the age and that a new bishop would be appointed. The letter gave no indication as to when that would be.

“When a bishop reaches the age to retire some people speculate as to who the new bishop might be but, I think it is futile speculating who and when. As indicated by the Nuncio in the Irish Catholic interview the process has begun and is at a very early stage.

“This would, in my opinion, indicate that we are many months away from the announcement of a new bishop,” said Fr Canny

The concluding part of this two-piece feature, in next week’s Derry News, will look at what people in the Derry Diocese think the priorities of the new bishop should be.