James McLoughlin
Encyclopedia
James McLoughlin was the Roman Catholic Bishop of Galway and Kilmacduagh
and Apostolic Administrator
of Kilfenora, Ireland
for twelve years from 1993 to 2005.
McLoughlin was born in Cross Street in the centre of Galway City on April 9, 1929. His parents ran a small wholesale grocery business. He attended the Patrician Brothers
primary school in Nuns' Island and St. Mary's College
in Galway. He studied for the priesthood at Maynooth
and was ordained on June 20, 1954. He then taught at St. Mary's College, Galway where he developed interests in basketball
and amateur dramatics
, and was appointed diocesan secretary in September, 1965. He became parish priest of the cathedral parish in Galway in 1983.
On February 10, 1993, when bishop Eamon Casey
resigned, McLoughlin was appointed by Pope John Paul II
as bishop of Galway and Kilmacduagh. The formal ordination as bishop occurred on March 28. He served as chairman of the finance and general planning committee of the Irish Bishops' Conference.
McLoughlin announced his retirement on May 23, 2005, and on July 3 was succeeded as bishop of Galway and Kilmacduagh by Martin Drennan
. He lived in Claregalway
during his retirement, and died on November 25, 2005 in Galway Clinic
. His funeral was held in Galway Cathedral
, and he was interred in the crypt beneath the cathedral.
Roman Catholic Diocese of Galway, Kilmacduagh and Kilfenora
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Galway, Kilmacduagh and Kilfenora is a Roman Catholic diocese in the western part of Ireland. It is in the Metropolitan Province of Tuam and is subject to the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Tuam...
and Apostolic Administrator
Apostolic Administrator
An apostolic administrator in the Roman Catholic Church is a prelate appointed by the Pope to serve as the ordinary for an apostolic administration...
of Kilfenora, Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
for twelve years from 1993 to 2005.
McLoughlin was born in Cross Street in the centre of Galway City on April 9, 1929. His parents ran a small wholesale grocery business. He attended the Patrician Brothers
Patrician Brothers
The Patrician Brothers, or Brothers of Saint Patrick, are a Roman Catholic congregation for the religious and literary education of youth and the instruction of the faithful in Christian piety.-History:This Brotherhood was founded by the Right Rev. Dr...
primary school in Nuns' Island and St. Mary's College
St Mary's College, Galway
St Mary's College is a boys secondary school in Galway, Ireland. It educates students aged 12 to 18 for the Junior and Leaving Certificate examinations. It was founded in 1912 as the junior seminary of the Roman Catholic Galway and Kilmacduagh dioceses. It teaches boys to the Junior Certificate...
in Galway. He studied for the priesthood at Maynooth
Maynooth
Maynooth is a town in north County Kildare, Ireland. It is home to a branch of the National University of Ireland, a Papal University and Ireland's main Roman Catholic seminary, St. Patrick's College...
and was ordained on June 20, 1954. He then taught at St. Mary's College, Galway where he developed interests in basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
and amateur dramatics
Drama
Drama is the specific mode of fiction represented in performance. The term comes from a Greek word meaning "action" , which is derived from "to do","to act" . The enactment of drama in theatre, performed by actors on a stage before an audience, presupposes collaborative modes of production and a...
, and was appointed diocesan secretary in September, 1965. He became parish priest of the cathedral parish in Galway in 1983.
On February 10, 1993, when bishop Eamon Casey
Eamon Casey
Eamon Casey is Roman Catholic Bishop Emeritus of Galway and Kilmacduagh, Ireland.-Priest and bishop:...
resigned, McLoughlin was appointed by Pope John Paul II
Pope John Paul II
Blessed Pope John Paul II , born Karol Józef Wojtyła , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church and Sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death on 2 April 2005, at of age. His was the second-longest documented pontificate, which lasted ; only Pope Pius IX ...
as bishop of Galway and Kilmacduagh. The formal ordination as bishop occurred on March 28. He served as chairman of the finance and general planning committee of the Irish Bishops' Conference.
McLoughlin announced his retirement on May 23, 2005, and on July 3 was succeeded as bishop of Galway and Kilmacduagh by Martin Drennan
Martin Drennan
Martin Drennan is the Roman Catholic Bishop of the Diocese of Galway and Kilmacduagh and Apostolic Administrator for the Diocese of Kilfenora.-Early life and ordination:He was born in Piltown, County Kilkenny, Ireland...
. He lived in Claregalway
Claregalway
Claregalway is a village situated about 10 km from the city of Galway in County Galway, Ireland. Claregalway was founded on the banks of the River Clare, hence the derivation of its name: Baile Chláir na Gaillimhe meaning "town on the Clare, in Galway"...
during his retirement, and died on November 25, 2005 in Galway Clinic
Galway Clinic
The Galway Clinic is a private hospital in Galway, Republic of Ireland. The hospital is the site of the first private emergency department in the West of Ireland....
. His funeral was held in Galway Cathedral
Galway Cathedral
The Cathedral of Our Lady Assumed into Heaven and St Nicholas , commonly known as Galway Cathedral is a Roman Catholic cathedral in Galway, Ireland and is one of the largest and most impressive buildings in the city.Construction began in 1958 on the site of the old city jail, and in 1965 was finally...
, and he was interred in the crypt beneath the cathedral.