1. Kevin Peter Doran was born on 26 June 1953 and is an Irish Roman Catholic prelate, bioethicist and theologian who has served as Bishop of Elphin since 2014 and Bishop of Achonry since 2025.
18 Facts About Kevin Doran
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Kevin Doran studied for the priesthood at Holy Cross College between 1970 and 1974, completing a Bachelor of Arts in philosophy and French at University College Dublin, and at the Pontifical Irish College, Rome, between 1974 and 1977, completing a Bachelor of Sacred Theology at the Pontifical Gregorian University.
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Kevin Doran was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Dublin on 6 July 1977.
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Kevin Doran subsequently served as an advisor for VEC schools in the diocesan secretariat for education, and as an occasional lecturer in midwifery ethics at the Coombe Women's Hospital.
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Kevin Doran returned to University College Dublin in 1983, where he was appointed university chaplain until 1990.
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Kevin Doran subsequently returned to the Pontifical Irish College in 1990, where he was appointed spiritual director, during which time he completed a Doctor of Philosophy in philosophical anthropology, with specific focus on the philosophy of Pope John Paul II, at the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas.
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Kevin Doran returned to the Archdiocese of Dublin in 1995, where he received his first pastoral assignment as curate in Our Lady of Perpetual Succour parish, Foxrock.
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Kevin Doran was appointed parish chaplain to St Anthony's parish, Clontarf, and diocesan vocations director in 1998.
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Kevin Doran was appointed national vocations co-ordinator for the Irish Catholic Bishops' Conference in 2000 and a lecturer in philosophy and Catholic social teaching at Milltown Institute of Theology and Philosophy.
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Kevin Doran was appointed diocesan director for the permanent diaconate in 2008 and administrator of Sacred Heart parish, Donnybrook, five years later.
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Kevin Doran served as secretary general of the Preparatory Committee of the 50th International Eucharistic Congress between 2008 and 2012.
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Kevin Doran served on numerous governing bodies, including the Mater Misericordiae University Hospital, from which he resigned in October 2013 after hospital management confirmed its intention to comply with the Protection of Life during Pregnancy Act.
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Kevin Doran was appointed Bishop-elect of Elphin by Pope Francis on 14 May 2014.
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In December 2004, Kevin Doran urged Catholics to consider the appropriateness of participating in or attending a register office marriage.
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Kevin Doran later expressed his regret over the hurt experienced by people, either due to his choice of words or to the manner in which what he said had been subsequently reported.
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In 2013, while a member of the Mater Hospital board, Kevin Doran said the hospital "can't carry out abortions because it goes against our ethos".
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In July 2021, Kevin Doran defied government advice by advising priests in the Diocese of Elphin to proceed with celebrating the sacraments of First Communion and Confirmation.
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Kevin Doran was reported to have had his Twitter account temporarily restricted on 22 February 2021, after he Tweeted on 31 January his opposition to efforts to legalise assisted suicide in Ireland.