Galway Bay fm news - Father Michael Duignan has been announced as the new Bishop of Clonfert, succeeding Bishop John Kirby.
The announcement was made at 11 o'clock mass at St Brendan's Cathedral in Loughrea.
Father Duignan currrently serves as Chancellor and Diocesan Secratary and Financial Administrator at the Diocese of Elphin.
He was born in 1970 in Bealnamulla, Athlone and is the eldest in a family of six.
Having been educated in Athlone in the early years of his life, Father Duignan entered the seminary in Wicklow before moving to Rome to continue his studies.
He graduated with a Bachelor Degree in Philosophy and Theology.
In 1993, Father Duignan was ordained a deacon in the Basilica of Santa Pressade in Rome and in 1994, he returned to Athlone where he was ordained a priest.
In 2005, Father Duignan was appointed Chaplain and full-time lecturer in Religious Education at St Angela's College in Sligo.
He has worked in developing and delivering outreach programmes in Theology, Religious Education and Pastoral Studies across the west - including at NUI Galway.
At 49 years of age, Father Duignan is now being appointed as the Bishop of Clonfert, replacing Bishop John Kirby as he retires.
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