15 Facts About Alan McGuckian

Alan McGuckian's father was a successful pig farmer who, alongside his brothers, developed the world's biggest pig farm.

Alan McGuckian attended primary school in Cloughmills and secondary school at St MacNissi's College, before beginning studies in Irish and scholastic philosophy at Queen's University, Belfast in 1971, where he was a near-contemporary of future brother bishop Donal McKeown.

Alan McGuckian first visited Ranafast in 1968, and has since become a regular visitor to the Donegal Gaeltacht.

Alan McGuckian subsequently completed a Master of Arts in Irish translation from Queen's University, Belfast.

Alan McGuckian was ordained to the priesthood on 22 June 1984 and made his final profession on 15 February 1997.

Alan McGuckian returned to Ireland in 1992, where he was appointed director of the Jesuit Communication Centre, during which he developed Sacred Space, a website which allowed people to pray at their computer, in 1999, and Catholic news service CatholicIreland.

Alan McGuckian served as editor of both An Timire and Foilseachain Abhair Spioradalta, later translating the autobiography of Ignatius of Loyola into Irish under the title Sceal an Oilithrigh.

Alan McGuckian co-authored the drama 1912 - A Hundred Years On with Presbyterian historian Philip Orr in 2011, which looked at the experiences of the Ulster Covenant and the wider Home Rule movement from both nationalist and unionist perspectives.

Alan McGuckian served as chaplain to many of the Gaelscoileanna in the Diocese of Down and Connor, and subsequently as chaplain to Ulster University campuses in Belfast and Jordanstown.

Alan McGuckian was appointed diocesan director of formation for the permanent diaconate in 2014, and worked during his directorship of the Living Church Office to establish pastoral communities across the diocese, through fostering a culture of co-responsibility for the mission of the Church between clergy and lay people.

Alan McGuckian was appointed Bishop-elect of Raphoe by Pope Francis on 9 June 2017.

Alan McGuckian's appointment made him the first member of the Jesuits to be appointed a bishop in Ireland.

Alan McGuckian joined a number of church leaders in the West of Ireland on 16 September 2021, in calling on the Irish government to offer reparations to homeowners whose properties were affected by defective concrete blocks.

Alan McGuckian concelebrated at the Funeral Masses of each of the victims, describing the fact that the parish church would be holding two funerals in the space of three hours as "surreal".

Alan McGuckian was appointed Bishop of Down and Connor by Pope Francis on 2 February 2024.