Native Priests of Greencastle Parish
We are grateful to Lucy McCullagh for compiling much of the information included below.
We acknowledge with great appreciation, permission to reproduce information recorded in The Clergy of the Derry Diocese – An Index [Second Edition] by Bishop Edward Daly and Fr. Kieran Devlin, published by Four Courts Press.
We are also grateful for the information supplied by Edward J. Long, (Archivist and Historian of the Cathedral of the Diocese of Syracuse, New York), Monsignor Elvin Sunds (Vicar General of the Diocese of Jackson, Mississippi), Fr. Richard Somers (Pastor of the Parish of Greenville, Mississippi) and Fr. Donal Gillespie of the Archdiocese of Cardiff.
FR. J. QUINN • FR. J. CONWAY (I) • FR. J. CONWAY (II) • FR. E. MORRIS • FR. M. MORRIS • FR. J. MORRIS (I)
FR. P. CLARKE • FR. J. MORRIS (II) • FR. F. KEENAN (I) • FR. F. KEENAN (II) • T. KEENAN • FR. F. FOX FR. D. F. McCREA • MSGR. W. MORRIS • FR. J. MORRIS • FR. M. MORRIS • FR. H. B. MORRIS • FR. I. LOUGHRAN FR. P. B McCREA • MSGR. M. T. FOX • FR. J. McCULLAGH • FR. J. MORRIS • FR. V. MACRORY • FR. P. O’HAGAN
FR. P. CLARKE • FR. J. MORRIS (II) • FR. F. KEENAN (I) • FR. F. KEENAN (II) • T. KEENAN • FR. F. FOX FR. D. F. McCREA • MSGR. W. MORRIS • FR. J. MORRIS • FR. M. MORRIS • FR. H. B. MORRIS • FR. I. LOUGHRAN FR. P. B McCREA • MSGR. M. T. FOX • FR. J. McCULLAGH • FR. J. MORRIS • FR. V. MACRORY • FR. P. O’HAGAN
FR. J. QUINN • FR. J. CONWAY (I) • FR. J. CONWAY (II)
FR. E. MORRIS • FR. M. MORRIS • FR. J. MORRIS (I)
FR. P. CLARKE • FR. J. MORRIS (II) • FR. F. KEENAN (I)
FR. F. KEENAN (II) • T. KEENAN • FR. F. FOX
FR. D. F. McCREA • MSGR. W. MORRIS • FR. J. MORRIS
FR. M. MORRIS • FR. H. B. MORRIS • FR. I. LOUGHRAN
FR. P. B McCREA • MSGR. M. T. FOX • FR. J. McCULLAGH
FR. J. MORRIS • FR. V. MACRORY • FR. P. O’HAGAN
Note: Information marked with a * may be incorrect
Diocese of Derry – An Index [Second Edition] (page 168)
FR. JEREMIAH QUINN
Born: 1811 in Broughderg
Ordained: 1st June, 1844 (Derry Diocese)
Appointments:
1844-1852 – Curate in Badoney Lower
1852-1884 – Curate in Clonca
1884-1885 – Parish Priest in Clonca
Died: 12th April, 1885
Buried: Aughacloy, Malin, Co. Donegal
Diocese of Derry – An Index [Second Edition] (page 168)
Diocese of Derry – An Index [Second Edition] (page 54)
FR. JAMES CONWAY (I)
Born: 1819 in Broughderg
Ordained: 29th May, 1847 (Derry Diocese)
Appointments:
1847-1848 – No record
1848-1852 – Curate in Badony Upper
1852-1855 – Curate in Limavady
1855-1857 – Curate in Ardstraw West
1857-1860 – Curate in Killyclogher
1860-1869 – Curate in Ballinascreen
1869-1877 – Curate in Buncrana
1877-1889 – Parish Priest in Burt, Inch and Fahan
Died: 21st June, 1889
Buried: Fahan, Co. Donegal
Diocese of Derry – An Index [Second Edition] (page 54)
Diocese of Derry – An Index [Second Edition] (page 55)
FR. JAMES CONWAY (II)
Born: 1839 in Broughderg
Ordained: 1869 in Carlow
Appointments:
1869-1877 – Curate in Ballinascreen
1877-1879 – Curate in Clonmany
1879-1887 – Curate in Badoney Lower
Died: 2nd October, 1897 in Greencastle, Co. Tyrone
Buried: Cranagh, Co. Tyrone
Diocese of Derry – An Index [Second Edition] (page 55)
FR. EDWARD MORRIS
Worked in India and Borneo* alongside his brother Fr. Matthew Morris.
On returning to Ireland he visited his sister Peggy, a nun, in Liverpool and died there.
FR. MATTHEW MORRIS
Born in Carnanrancy around the time of the Great Famine (an Gorta Mór) in Ireland.*
Worked on the missions in India and was 99 years old when he died.
Brother of Fr. Edward Morris.
Diocese of Derry – An Index [Second Edition] (page 137)
Details may be confused with James Morris (II)
FR. JAMES MORRIS (I)
Born: 1851
Ordained: 1874
Appointments:
1875-1877 – Curate in Coleraine
1877-1887 – Curate in Limavady
Diocese of Derry – An Index [Second Edition] (page 137)
Details may be confused with James Morris (II)
Diocese of Derry – An Index [Second Edition] (page 50)
FR. PATRICK CLARKE
Ordained: 1st July, 1877 in Maynooth(Derry Diocese)
Appointments:
1877-1878 – Curate in Badoney Lower
1878-1883 – Curate in Ballyscullion
1883-1884 – Curate in Malin
Died: 1888 in the United States of America
Diocese of Derry – An Index [Second Edition] (page 50)
Diocese of Derry – An Index [Second Edition] (page 55)
FR. JAMES MORRIS (II)
Born: 1854
Ordained: 1880 at the Irish College, Paris
(Derry Diocese)
Appointments:
1881-1882 – Curate in Buncrana
1882-1885 – Curate in Desertmartin
1885-1886 – Curate in Malin
1886-1887 – Curate in Donaghmore
1887-1903 – Curate in Greencastle
1903-1920 – Curate in Clonca (Malin)
1920-1926 – Curate in Donaghmore
Died: 12th December, 1926
Buried: Crossroads, Killygordon, Co. Donegal
Diocese of Derry – An Index [Second Edition] (page 55)
Details may be confused with James Morris (I)
Diocese of Derry – An Index [Second Edition] (page 83)
FR. FRANCIS KEENAN (I)
Ordained: 24th June, 1894 in Maynooth
Appointments:
1894-1895 – Curate in Limavady
1895-1897 – Curate in Malin
1897-1899 – Curate in Culdaff
1899-1901 – Curate in Leckpatrick
1901-1907 – Absence due to ill health
1907-1910 – Curate in Lavey
1910-1912 – Curate in Iskaheen
Retired: 1912 due to ill health
Died: 19th September, 1940
Buried: Carndonagh, Co. Donegal
Diocese of Derry – An Index [Second Edition] (page 83)
THOMAS KEENAN
Born: 13th August, 1858 in Formil North
to Andrewand Mary Keenan (Any Jeanies)
Died: 3rd December, 1883
Buried: Pontifical Irish College, Rome
Formil (described as being in Lower Badoney according to the archives of the Pontifical Irish College in Rome. At that time Lower Badoney and Greencastle were united.
He received his classical education in Legcloughgin where a relative, Mr. Tracey was the teacher. He entered college in Rome on 26th October, 1879.
He received ‘tonsure, porter and lector’ on 8th June, 1882, but died while still a student and before he was ordained a priest.
Diocese of Derry – An Index [Second Edition] (page 50)
FR. FRANCIS FOX
Born: Formil, Co. Tyrone
Ordained: 23rd June, 1895 (Derry Diocese)
Appointments:
1895-1897 – Curate in Iskaheen
1897-1900 – Curate at St. Eugene’s Cathedral, Derry
1900-1904 – Curate in Clonmany
1904-1912 – Curate in Knockmoyle
1912-1915 – Curate in Buncrana
1915-1920 – Curate in Doneyloop
1920-1922 – Curate in Sessiaghoneill
Died: 1st December, 1922
Buried: St. Patrick’s Church, Greencastle, Co. Tyrone
Renowned for his preaching
Diocese of Derry – An Index [Second Edition] (page 50)
Diocese of Derry – An Index [Second Edition] (page 103)
FR. DAN F. McCREA
Born: 1857 in Coneyglen, Co. Tyrone
Ordained: 1884 at the Pontifical Irish
College, Rome (Derry Diocese)
Appointments:
1884-1885 – Curate in Buncrana
1885-1890 – Curate at Termonamongan
1890-1894 – Curate in Limavady
1894-1896 – Curate in Coleraine
1896-1897 – Curate in Maghera
1897-1901 – Vice-Rector at Irish College, Rome
1901-1911 – Curate in Drumragh (Omagh)
1911-1951 – Parish Priest in Kilrea
Died: 11th January, 1951
Buried: Drumnagarner, Kilrea, Co. Derry
Scholarly man. Member of Royal Irish Academy. In 1895 he acted as secretary to the Irish Race Convention that met in Dublin to endeavour towards healing the Parnell split.
Diocese of Derry – An Index [Second Edition] (page 103)
Diocese of Derry – An Index [Second Edition] (page 137)
Information on appointments supplied by Edward J. Long (Archivist, Historian of the Cathedal) – Diocese of Syracuse, New York
MSGR. WILLIAM MORRIS
Born: 1888 in Carnanrancy, Co. Tyrone
Ordained: 21st June, 1914 in St. Patrick’s Church,
Maynooth, Co. Kildare
Appointments:
October, 1914 – Assistant at St. Patrick’s Church
in Oneida, New York
April, 1922 – St. Lucy’s Church in Syracuse,
New York
October 1923 – Pastor at St. Mary’s Church in
Cleveland, New York
24th November – St. Mary’s Church in Clinton,
New York
4th April – St. Paul’s Church in Binghampton,
New York
22nd March, 1956 – Elevated to Honorary Prelate (then called Domestic Prelate) by Pope Pius XII and given the title of Rt. Rev. Monsignor
Retired: 31st October to residence at St. Paul’s
Died: 27th July, 1973
Buried: Calvary Cemetery
Diocese of Derry – An Index [Second Edition] (page 137)
Information on appointments supplied by Edward J. Long (Archivist, Historian of the Cathedal) – Diocese of Syracuse, New York
Diocese of Derry – An Index [Second Edition] (page 137)
FR. JOHN MORRIS
Born: 1888 in Crouck, Co. Tyrone
Ordained: 22nd June, 1913 in Maynooth, Co. Kildare
Died: 1st January, 1920
Buried: 113 miles north east of Christchurch in
Kaikoura, New Zealand
Diocese of Derry – An Index [Second Edition] (page 137)
FR. MALACHY MORRIS
Born: 12th December, 1907 in Cashel, Co. Tyrone
Ordained: 17th December, 1939
Died: 11th April, 1974 in Wilton, Co. Cork
Buried: Society of African Missions (SMA)
Cemetery of Wilton, Co. Cork
FR. HENRY BRENDAN MORRIS
Born: 22nd October, 1914 in Cashel
to Solomon andMaria Morris (nee O’Doherty)
Educated: All Hallows College and Seminary, Dublin
Ordained: 10th July, 1938 by the Archbishop of Cardiff,
Most Rev. Francis Mostyn at St. Alban’s Church, Cardiff
(for the Archdiocese of Cardiff)
Appointments:
1938 – Curate in Our Lady Help of Christians, Newbridge
1941 – Curate in St. Mary’s, Merthyr Tydfil
1947 – Curate in St. Dyfrig’s, Treforest
1948 – Curate in St. Mary’s, Merthyr Tydfil
1955 – Parish Priest in Our Lady and St. Illtyd’s, Llantwit Mayor
1962 – Parish Priest in St. Peter’s, Bargoed
1964 – Parish Priest in St. Brigid’s, Crystal Glens, Cardiff
Died: 29th May, 1968 in St. Brigid’s, Cardiff
Buried: Cathay’s Cemetery, Cardiff
Ministered in South Wales for most of his life.
Built St. Brigid’s Church in Crystal Glens, Cardiff.
Brother of Sr. Francis Morris and Fr. Malachy Morris.
Diocese of Derry – An Index [Second Edition] (page 88)
FR. IGNATIUS LOUGHRAN
Born: 24th January, 1916 in Crouck
Ordained: 23rd March, 1940 in Basilica of St. John
Lateran, Rome (Derry Diocese)
Appointments:
1941 – On loan to the Diocese of Monterey / Fresno
Assistant Pastor in St. Louis, Obisipo – St. Joseph’s, Bakersfield – Hollistor – Delano – Hanford – Tipton – Carmel
1949 – Incardinated into the Diocese of Monterey / Fresno
Pastor in Carmel Valley – Seaside – Taft – Los Banos
– Sanger – Hilmar
Retired: 1987
Died: 23rd September, 1990
Buried: Turlock, California
Diocese of Derry – An Index [Second Edition] (page 88)
FR. PATRICK BERNARD McCREA
Born: 14th August, 1916 in Coneyglen
to Jacob andMaria McCrea (nee Clarke)
Educated: 1936-1943 – Studied in Co. Carlow
Ordained: 1943 in Rome (Diocese of Down and Connor)
Appointments:
Ministered in several parishes including Rathlin Island and St. Malachy’s parish in Belfast.
Retired: 1992, from Ballintoy to live in Cranagh
Died: 17th March, 2008
Buried: St. Patrick’s Church, Greencastle, Co. Tyrone
MSGR. MICHAEL THOMAS FOX
Born: 12th August, 1918 in Cashel
to Michael andBrigid Fox (nee O’Hagan)
Educated: St. Patrick’s College, Co. Carlow
Ordained: 8th June, 1944 in St. Macartan’s Cathedral, Monaghan (Diocese of Nachez-Jackson, arriving there on 18th July, 1946)
Appointments:
18th July, 1946 –
Assistant Pastor in St. Paul Church, Vicksburg
14th October, 1946 –
Assistant Pastor in Our Lady of the Gulf, Bay St. Luis
21st November, 1948 –
Pastor in St. Ann Church, Lizana
15th March, 1956 –
Pastor in St. John Church, Biloxi
5th June, 1967 –
Pastor in St. Joseph Church, Greenville
8th Sepember, 1967 –
Dean, Episcopal Vicar and Consultor (3 year term)
31st January, 1969 –
Named Honourary Prelate of His Holiness Pope Paul VI
Died: 22nd June, 1969 in Cashel, Co. Tyrone
Buried: St. Patrick’s Church, Greencastle, Co. Tyrone
FR. JOHN McCULLAGH
Born: 24th May, 1924
Ordained: 22nd June, 1952 in St. Patrick’s College, Maynooth
Appointments:
1952 – Assistant Priest in Greencastle
1953 – Curate in Mourne
1953-1960 – Curate in Lavey
1960-1963 – Curate in Craigbane
1963-1966 – Curate in Dregish
1966-1970 – Curate in Termonamongan
1970-1980 – Curate in Sessiaghoneill
1980-1988 – Parish Priest in Banagher
Died: 12th April, 1988 in a road traffic accident near Claudy
Buried: St. Joseph’s Church, Fincairn, Feeny, Co. Derry
Diocese of Derry – An Index [Second Edition] (page 137)
FR. JOE MORRIS
Born: 23rd December, 1928 in Crockanboy
Educated: Greencastle Primary School – Christian Brothers Grammar School, Omagh – St. Columb’s College, Derry – St. Patrick’s College, Maynooth
Ordained: 4th April, 1954
Appointments:
1954-1961 – Curate in Termonamongan
1961-1964 – Curate in Carndonagh
1964-1988 – Curate in Clonmany
1988-1996 – Parish Priest in Clonmany
1996-2004 – Parish Priest in Culdaff
Retired: 2004
Died: 22nd November, 2009
Buried: Clonmany, Co. Donegal
Diocese of Derry – An Index [Second Edition] (page 137)
FR. VINCENT MACRORY
Born: 3rd July, 1933
Educated: In 1961 began studies for priesthood at the Jesuit College in Osterley, Middlesex
Ordained: 1967 in Rome (Northampton Diocese in England)
Appointments:
1967-1970 – Assistant Priest in King’s Lynn, Norfolk
1970-1976 – Assistant Priest in Luton, Bedfordshire
1976-1983 – Parish Priest in Luton, Bedfordshire
1983-1991 – Parish Priest in Bourne End, Buckinghamshire
1991-1999 – Bedford town
Retired: 1999 to live in Dunamore, Co. Tyrone
Died: 23rd July, 2013
Buried: Our Lady of the Wayside Church, Broughderg, Co. Tyrone
FR. PAT O’HAGAN
Born: 18th May, 1939 in Cashel, Co. Tyrone
Educated: Holds a Master of Counselling and Guidance degree from Loyola University and a Doctor of Ministry degree from the Theological Foundation in Indiana. Served on the faculty of Bishop Amat High School (1965 – 1970) and Bishop Alemany High School (1970 – 1971). From 1971 to 2002 he served as a ministry chaplain with the Veterans Administration hospital system and the Army Reserves. He entered as a Lieutenant and retired as a full Colonel.
Ordained: 13th June, 1965 in Cootehill, Co. Cavan (Sacred Heart Missionary Society)
Died: 21st September, 2021
Buried: San Fernando Mission Cemetery, California
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