Donal McKeown

Dónal McKeown (born 12 April 1950) is a Roman Catholic prelate from Northern Ireland who served as Bishop of Derry from 2014 to 2026.

Early life and education McKeown was born in Belfast on 12 April 1950, one of four children to James McKeown and his wife Rose (née McMeel), and was baptised in St Patrick's Church, Donegall Street. He was brought up in Randalstown, County Antrim, where he played Gaelic football and hurling with Kickhams GAC Creggan.

McKeown attended primary school at Mount St Michael's Primary School, Randalstown, and secondary school as a boarder at St MacNissi's College, Camlough, between 1961 and 1968, completing his O-Levels and A-Levels with special distinctions in Modern Languages. Two of his teachers at St MacNissi's College were his future brother bishops, Anthony Farquhar and Patrick Walsh.

McKeown returned to St MacNissi's College in 1983, where he continued his involvement with youth ministry and was given responsibility for organising the annual diocesan pilgrimage to Lourdes.

It was reported in an article in The Irish News that the mention of McKeown as a possible successor to Walsh as Bishop of Down and Connor was actively opposed by some priests in the diocese, who regarded him as being "too soft" on the issue of integrated education. This opposition was branded a "Stop Donal" campaign.

McKeown also served as a member of the Irish Catholic Bishops' Conference, with responsibility for the promotion of Catholic education, youth ministry, university chaplaincies and the promotion of vocations. His interests include the interface between faith and the empirical sciences, and working with Catholic schools in Norway, Denmark, Lithuania, Poland and Germany.

McKeown is also a regular contributor on Thought for the Day on BBC Radio Ulster.

Bishop of Derry McKeown was appointed Bishop-elect of Derry by Pope Francis on 25 February 2014.

He was installed on 6 April in St Eugene's Cathedral, Derry.

After his 75th birthday on 12 April 2025 Canon law requires all bishops to submit their resignation to the Pope at the age of 75. Bishop McKeown submitted his resignation on 12 April 2025. He celebrated the silver jubilee of his episcopal ordination almost exactly one year later

His resignation was accepted in July 2026 and his successor Michael Router was announced on the same day.

Apostolic Administrator of Down and Connor Following the appointment of Noël Treanor as Apostolic Nuncio to the European Union on 26 November 2022, McKeown was announced as Apostolic Administrator of Down and Connor on 21 January 2023. He served in this role until the installation of Alan McGuckian, following his appointment as Bishop of Down and Connor on 2 February 2024.