Thomas Anthony Finnegan (26 August 1925 – 25 December 2011) was the Bishop of Killala,

County Mayo County Mayo (; ga, Contae Mhaigh Eo, meaning "Plain of the Taxus baccata, yew trees") is a Counties of Ireland, county in Republic of Ireland, Ireland. In the West Region, Ireland, West of Ireland, in the Provinces of Ireland, province of Conn ...

, Ireland from 1987 to 2002. Thomas Anthony Finnegan was born on 26 August 1925, in

Castlerea Castlerea (; ) is the third largest town in County Roscommon, Ireland. It is located in the west of the county and had a population of 1,992 at the 2016 Census. Roughly translated from Irish, Castlerea is generally thought to mean 'brindled ca ...

, County Roscommon. He was educated at Runamoat National School and then Summerhill College. He studied for the priesthood in

Maynooth College St Patrick's Pontifical University, Maynooth ( ga, Coláiste Naoimh Phádraig, Maigh Nuad), is the "National Seminary for Ireland" (a Roman Catholic college), and a pontifical university, located in the town of Maynooth, from Dublin, Ireland. ...

and was ordained priest for the diocese of Elphin in 1951. He served first as Chaplain at St Angela's College, Sligo before undertaking postgraduate studies in Education and Canon Law. In 1960 he became Junior Dean at

St Patrick's College, Maynooth St Patrick's Pontifical University, Maynooth ( ga, Coláiste Naoimh Phádraig, Maigh Nuad), is the "National Seminary for Ireland" (a Roman Catholic college), and a pontifical university, located in the town of Maynooth, from Dublin, Ireland. ...

, and while ambitious to serve longer at the National Seminary was recalled in 1966 to become President of Summerhill College. He served 13 years as president transforming much within the college and earning a reputation as a committed, pioneering educator. In 1979, he was appointed to be Director of the Marriage Tribunal in Galway which adjudicated on annulments In 1982, he became parish priest of Roscommon town and

Vicar General A vicar general (previously, archdeacon) is the principal deputy of the bishop of a diocese for the exercise of administrative authority and possesses the title of local ordinary. As vicar of the bishop, the vicar general exercises the bishop's ...

Bishop

In July 1987 he succeeded Bishop Thomas McDonnell as Bishop of Killala. He was a founder member of the Council for the West along with the other west of Ireland bishops. In 1998 Bishop Finnegan founded the

Newman Institute The Newman Institute is a charitable organisation based in Ballina, County Mayo in Ireland. Operating in conjunction with the Roman Catholic Diocese of Killala, one of its stated aims is to "provide an opportunity for people to learn more about ...

which offers courses in counseling, theology and spirituality. Also in 2002, Finnegan was succeeded by Monsignor John Fleming. Bishop Finnegan celebrated his Diamond Jubilee in 2011.

Death

He died in Sligo General hospital on Christmas Day 2011, aged 86, and was buried in the grounds of Saint Muredach's Cathedral, Ballina.

References

1925 births 2011 deaths Alumni of St Patrick's College, Maynooth People from County Roscommon Religious leaders from County Mayo Roman Catholic bishops of Killala {{Ireland-RC-bishop-stub

Bishop

Death

See also

References