A former lecturer at St Angela's College and chaplain at IT Sligo has been appointed as the new Bishop of Clonfert.
Michael Duignan has been appointed by Pope Francis after John Kirby announced he was stepping down from the role after three decades.
Today, Pope Francis appointed Father Michael Duignan - who has strong Sligo connections - as the Bishop of Clonfert.
The Clonfert Diocese takes in much of east Co Galway, as well as a small number of parishes in Offaly and Roscommon.
The Bishop-elect was born on July 15th 1970 and is a native of Bealnamulla, Athlone, Co Roscommon.
He has spent quite a number of years in Sligo in various roles since being ordained in July 1994.
The bishop elect ministered as Curate in the Cathedral Parish of St Mary's, Sligo and subsequently as Chaplain to the Institute of Technology, Sligo.
He also ministered as Curate in the Parish of Ahamlish and Innismurray in Cliffoney, and in 2005, he was appointed full-time Lecturer in Religious Education and Chaplain at St Angela's College.
Since 2009, he has served as Chairperson of the Board of Management of The College of the Immaculate Conception, Summerhill, Sligo.
Bishop-elect Duignan concelebrated Mass at 11.00am this morning in Saint Brendan's Cathedral, Loughrea with His Excellency the Apostolic Nuncio to Ireland, Archbishop Jude Thaddeus Okolo; Bishop John Kirby and a number of other priests from of the diocese.
Bishop of Elphin Kevin Doran has welcomed the appointment.
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