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Bishop Donal McKeown (Down and Connor Diocese)

Bishop Donal McKeown is a native of Randalstown, Co Antrim and was educated at Mount St. Michael’s Primary School, Randalstown and St MacNissi’s College, Garron Tower.

He entered Queen’s University, Belfast in 1968 and obtained an Honours B.A. degree in German and Italian in 1973.  He then proceeded to the Pontifical Irish College, Rome, obtaining his Licence in Sacred Theology (STL) at the Pontifical Gregorian University in 1978.

Bishop McKeown was ordained as a priest for the Diocese of Down and Connor on 3 July 1977.

He taught in St. Patrick’s College, Belfast, St. MacNissi’s College, Garron Tower and in St. Malachy’s College, Belfast, being appointed President there 1995-2001.  During his time as President he took his Masters in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Leicester.

On 29th April 2001 he was ordained Titular Bishop of Killossy and Auxiliary to the Bishop of Down and Connor.  He was a member of the NI Government’s Post-Primary Review Working Group (June-Dec 2003) and is currently Chair of the NI Commission for Catholic Education.

He has broadcast widely and published many articles on a wide range of issues.