Neil Farren

Dr. Neil Farren 1893-1980 BA, BCL, BD, DCL was an Irish educator, Catholic priest, and from 1939 to 1973 Bishop of Derry.

Early life and education

Farren was born in Buncrana and revived his secondary education at St. Columb's College in Derry. He graduated from University College, Dublin with first class honours BA in 1914. He received a BCL and a BD from Maynooth College in 1916 and 1918, respectively. He was ordained to the priesthood for service in the Derry Diocese in 1918.

After ordination he took on postgraduate studies and was awarded the degree of DCL for his (later published) thesis Domicile and Quasi-Domicile.[1] He spent a large part of his time as a priest teaching in Derry and served as President of St. Columb's College in Derry, from 1928 until 1939 when he was appointed bishop.

Bishop of Derry

He was Ireland's youngest bishop when appointed and during the Second World War he was appointed "ordinary" of the American forces in Ireland, and his services were recognised by the award of the United States Medal of Freedom.

He was bishop during the outbreak of the Troubles in Derry, and during Bloody Sunday. During his time as bishop he campaigned for a University in Derry.[1]

An obituary recalled that he became bishop at a time of rapid expansion and that he "opened 25 new schools, 23 new post-primary schools and many more primary schools." [2]

He served as Bishop of Derry until his 80th birthday in 1973 and was succeeded by Dr Edward Daly. Bishop Farren died on 7 May 1980 having spent his retirement in his native Buncrana. His remains were interred to the right of the main entrance of St. Eugene's Cathedral, Derry.[3]

At the time of his successor's death one veteran journalist recalled Bishop Farren as being "every inch a prince of the church in manner and pronouncement, wary of contact with Protestants and implacably against mixed marriage." [4]

See also

References


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