MOST REVEREND LAWRENCE (LARRY) DUFFY, BISHOP OF CLOGHER
Bishop Lawrence (Larry) Duffy comes from the parish of Magheracloone in south-Monaghan. He was born on 27 November 1951, the son of the late Thomas and Elizabeth Duffy. He received his early education at Ballynagearn National School and at the Patrician High School, Carrickmacross.
Having completed his studies for the priesthood at St Patrick’s College, Carlow, Bishop Duffy was ordained in St Macartan’s Cathedral, Monaghan in June 1976 by Bishop Patrick Mulligan. Following ordination he ministered in Enniskillen (1976-78); Castleblayney (1978-94); Monaghan & Rackwallace (1994-98); Ederney (PP, 2003-08); Clones (PP, 2008-13) and Carrickmacross (PP, 2013-19). In addition, he also spent over four years working in the Diocese of Kitui in Kenya (1998-2002). During that time, he helped to lead the building of a church in Mwingi.
Bishop Duffy was a Vicar General of the Diocese of Clogher from 2013 until the retirement of Bishop MacDaid in 2016. In addition, he was Dean of the Diocesan Chapter of Canons until his appointment as Bishop of Clogher on 8 Deceember 2018. He was ordained bishop on Sunday, 10 February 2019 in St Macartan’s Cathedral, Monaghan.
A former player with Magheracloone Mitchells GAA, Bishop Duffy is an avid follower of all sports, particularly GAA and golf.
BISHOP EMERITUS:
Most Rev Joseph Duffy
Bishop Joseph Duffy was born on 3 February 1934 and is a native of Annagoes in the Parish of Killeevan-Currin-Aghabog. He was ordained a priest on 22 June 1958. Appointed Bishop of Clogher by Pope John Paul II in July 1979, he was ordained bishop on Sunday 2 September 1979. He retired as bishop in July 2010.
Bishop Duffy was Chairperson of the Commission for Liturgy of the Irish Episcopal Conference. He chaired the council for ecclesiastical art and architecture during the 1980s and 1990s. He was Press Spokesman for the Irish Episcopal Conference for a number of years. Bishop Duffy was the Irish representative on the Commission for Bishops’ Conferences of the European Union (COMECE) for many years and played a pivotal part in enhancing the voice on the Catholic Church in Ireland on matters concerning Europe. Another area in which Bishop Duffy took a keen interest was that of ecumenism.
Bishop Duffy is an accomplished scholar, historian and linguist, with several publications to his name. An acknowledged expert on the life of St Patrick, his book Patrick in His Own Words is the recognised key text for the study of our national saint. Bishop Duffy has been associated with the Clogher Historical Society almost since its inception. He is a former editor of its journal The Clogher Record and has been Chairman of the society’s executive committee for many years. His latest work on the life of St Tiarnach of Clones draws from his many years of research on the genealogies of Irish saints and his immense knowledge of medieval Irish.
