Laurence Gillooly

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Laurence Gillooly CM (12 May 1819 – 12 January 1895) was an Irish Roman Catholic bishop who served as the Bishop of Elphin from 1858 to 1895.[1] The son of Laurence Gillooly and his wife Margaret (née McGann), he was born at Bothair Garbh, Gallowstown, County Roscommon, near Roscommon Town. His older brother, Timothy, also became a priest.

Brought up an Irish Catholic, he was educated locally in Roscommon, and at St Nathy's College in Ballaghadereen. He studied at the Irish College in Paris before ordination as a Vincentian Priest in 1847.[2] Favoured by Cardinal Cullen, his status as a ultramontanist helped him to obtain the position of bishopric of Elphin.[3]

Life and ministry

During Gillhooly's time in Elphin, he developed many churches, including the redevelopment of Sligo Cathedral. He founded Summerhill College (originally outside Athlone, now in Sligo) as a Diocesan College. Gillhooly Hall is named after him.

He was succeeded as Bishop of Elphin by John Joseph Clancy (bishop), a priest of the diocese and professor at Maynooth College.[4]

References

  1. 1.Bishop Laurence Gillooly. Catholic Hierarchy website. Retrieved 5 May 2022.
  2. 2.Parish History Archived 2014-12-08 at the Wayback Machine - Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception.
  3. 3.'Paul Cardinal Cullen and the Shaping of Modern Irish Catholicism' (1983) By Desmond Bowen.
  4. 4."Clancy, John | Dictionary of Irish Biography". Archived from the original on 24 June 2021. Retrieved 27 March 2026.