James McLoughlin

James McLoughlin (9 April 1929 – 25 November 2005) 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 9 April 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 20 June 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 10 February 1993, when bishop Eamon Casey resigned, McLoughlin was appointed by Pope John Paul II as bishop of Galway and Kilmacduagh. His consecration occurred on 28 March. He served as chairman of the finance and general planning committee of the Irish Bishops' Conference.

McLoughlin announced his retirement on 23 May 2005 and on 3 July was succeeded as bishop of Galway and Kilmacduagh by Martin Drennan. He lived in Claregalway during his retirement, and died on 25 November 2005 in Galway Clinic. His funeral was held in Galway Cathedral, and he was interred in the crypt beneath the cathedral.

External links

• Catholic-hierarchy.org page on James McLoughlin
• Catholic Communications Office press release on death of James McLoughlin