Francis Duffy (bishop)


Francis Duffy is an Irish clergyman who was appointed the Bishop of Ardagh and Clonmacnoise on 17 July 2013.

Early Life and Education

He was born in Bawnboy, County Cavan, Ireland on 21 April 1958. After early education at Munlough national school, he attended St. Patrick's College, Cavan and then entered Maynooth, where he took the requisite undergraduate Philosophy and graduate Theology seminary coursework. Subsequently, he earned two Master's Degrees: in History, from the National University of Ireland, and in Education and Management, at Trinity College Dublin.
He was ordained to the priesthood on 20 June 1982, for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Kilmore. After his presbyteral ordination, he taught History and the Irish language at St. Patrick's College, Cavan, and was subsequently a teacher at St. Felim's College, Ballinamore, later becoming the Dean there. From 2008 to 2012, he was the Secretary and the Chancellor of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Kilmore. Until his episcopal appointment, while assisting at St. Michael's Church, Clifferna in the Parish of Laragh, he was completing, on a sort of gap year, a Doctorate in Education.

Episcopal Ministry

He was appointed the Bishop of Ardagh and Clonmacnoise by Pope Francis on 17 July 2013. His episcopal consecration took place on 6 October 2013, the principal consecrator was Cardinal Seán Brady, Archbishop of Armagh, and the principal co-consecrators were Charles John Brown, Apostolic Nuncio to Ireland, and Colm O'Reilly, Bishop Emeritus of Ardagh and Clonmacnoise. He is the fourth native of Templeport civil parish to hold the See of Ardagh along with Cormac Mác Shamhradháin, Edmund MacGauran and James Magauran.