Thomas McDonnell (8 November 1912 – 9 December 1987) was an Irish prelate who served as

Bishop of Killala The Bishop of Killala () is an episcopal title which takes its name after the village of Killala in County Mayo, Ireland. In the Roman Catholic Church it remains a separate title, but in the Church of Ireland it has been united with other bish ...

.Diocese of Killala
/ref> He was born in

Ballycastle, County Mayo Ballycastle () is a village in County Mayo, Ireland, situated northwest from Ballina, near Mayo's north coast. It lies on the edge of the Mayo Gaeltacht. Ballycastle is situated on the coast of north County Mayo, with its northern boundary ex ...

, in 1912. He went to

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. ...

, in 1930, where he earned a First Class Honours degree in Classics.

Priestly ministry

He was ordained priest on 23 June 1937. Two of his classmates ordained on the same day would also serve as Irish bishops, William Cardinal Conway and Patrick Mulligan. All three entered Maynooth's Dunboyne Institute, and in 1939 McDonnell was awarded a Doctorate of Divinity on the topic of Mass Stipends. His first pastoral appointment was as Diocesan Examiner which necessitated him travelling throughout the primary schools of the small diocese, examining the catechetical learning of the children to be presented for confirmation, and supporting teachers who were giving this instruction. He was appointed Administrator of the Diocesan Cathedral in 1961, and two years later Parish Priest of

Dromore West Dromore West () is a village in County Sligo, Ireland. Dromore West is situated on the Dunneil River and sits between the Ox Mountains and the Atlantic coast. A river walk runs from just below the petrol station towards the sea. There is an old ...

County Sligo County Sligo ( , gle, Contae Shligigh) is a county in Ireland. It is located in the Border Region and is part of the province of Connacht. Sligo is the administrative capital and largest town in the county. Sligo County Council is the local ...

Episcopal ministry

McDonnell was appointed Bishop of Killala on 12 October 1970, and received episcopal ordination from the hands of his erstwhile classmate William Cardinal Conway on 13 December 1970. McDonnell retired on 21 January 1987. Shortly after his retirement, a meeting of the clergy of

Killala Killala () is a village in County Mayo in Ireland, north of Ballina. The railway line from Dublin to Ballina once extended to Killala. To the west of Killala is a Townsplots West (known locally as Enagh Beg), which contains a number of ancient ...

was convened at which a ten-point plan was issued outlining their hopes for pastoral changes in the diocese.

Death

McDonnell died on 9 December 1987 at age 75, less than a year after retiring as bishop.Bishop Thomas McDonnell profile
catholic-hierarchy.org; accessed 31 January 2018.

References

Roman Catholic bishops of Killala 1912 births 1987 deaths 20th-century Roman Catholic bishops in Ireland Alumni of St Patrick's College, Maynooth Place of birth missing Christian clergy from County Mayo People from Ballycastle, County Mayo {{ireland-RC-bishop-stub