CITY OF LONDONDERRY. 
other annalists cannot be doubted, though it did not occur to either Ware or Harris, who have him 
among- the archbishops of Armagh under the former name, for all the circumstances, related of 
the one, are also ascribed to the other. The title of bishop of Ivinel-Feradaigh, given him by the 
Four Masters, more distinctly points to his bishopric of Rathlury, or Maghera, which was 
comprised in the territory of Kinel-Feradaigh, though Derry was by no means so; and the notice 
by the same annalists relative to the consecration of his successor, Florence O’Caireallan, must, 
unquestionably, be understood as applying solely to that bishopric, which we have undoubted 
evidences that he filled, and not to the see of Armagh, to which it is equally certain he never 
succeeded. 
3rd. Fogartach, or Florence O’Cerbhallain [properly Caireallan], succeeded 1185, died 1230. 
The death of this bishop, whose Christian name is generally written Fogartach by the annalists, is 
thus recorded by the Four Masters:—“ Florence O’Caireallan bishop of Tirone, a noble select se¬ 
nior, died in the 86th year of his age.” 
'4th. German, or Gervase O’Caireallan, succeeded 1230, died 1279. Some account of this 
bishop, who was a Dominican friar, has been already given. His death is thus recorded in the 
Annals of the Four Masters. an Choimoe, [servant of God] O’Carolan, bishop of 
Tirone, died. In him terminates the succession of the bishops of Tirone, or Rathlury, distinct 
from Derry. 
Fogartach, or Florence O’Caireallan, succeeded 1279, died 1293. This was the third and last 
bishop of the same surname and family, who held the bishopric of Tirone in succession, after the 
manner usual among the powerful Irish families. The establishment of the episcopal chair in 
Derry seems to have been fixed during his time, as the annalists, who record his death, expressly 
call him bishop of Derry. He died in July, 1293, and on the 25th of October following, the king 
issued a Conge de Eslier, to proceed to the election of his successor. 
Of the powerful family to which these bishops belonged, some historical notices have been 
given in the preceding Annals of Derry, and still more will be found in the account of the parish 
of Clondermot. After this period the power of the British crown appears to have had, for a time, 
a dominant influence in this, as well as in the other Irish ecclesiastical sees, and the election of its 
bishops to have proceeded in a more orthodox manner. It is certain that henceforward we find but 
slight traces of that, exercise of power in the local aristocracy, which previously constitutes so re¬ 
markable a feature in the history of the Irish church. 
Henry of Ardagh succeeded 1295, died 1297. This bishop, who was “ a Cistercian monk, was 
lawfully elected by the dean and chapter of Derry, and obtained the royal assent on the 3rd of 
March, 1294, reckoning the year to begin from the 1st of January ; but he had not restitution of the 
temporalities until the 16 th of June following.” — Ware. His proper name was Mac-Oireaghtaigh, 
or, as it is now called, Geraghty, a distinguished family in Annaly, the present county of Long¬ 
ford. He was the first person elected to the bishopric of Derry, who did not belong to any of the 
powerful families of the district; and it may, perhaps, be doubtful that he was ever permitted to 
exercise ecclesiastical jurisdiction within the diocese, as in the records of his death, given by 
the annalists, he is not called bishop of Derry, but bishop of Connor.—Thus in the Annals of the 
Four Masters: — 
1297. “ Henry Mac-Oireaghty, bishop of Connor, died, and was buried in the monastery of 
Drogheda. He was a monk.” 
And in the Annals of Connaught:— 
1297. “ Henry Mac-Oireaghty, bishop of Connor, and a grey friar of the Cistercian order, 
quiescit.” 
Ware and Harris have also placed him among the bishops of Achonry, but erroneously, while 
they have omitted him among the bishops of Connor. 
Godfrid, or Jeffry Mac-Loughlin, succeeded 1297, died 1315. He was consecrated bishop of 
Derry, and had his writ of restitution to the temporalities, on the 26th of June, 1297. He go¬ 
verned this see about 17 years. The family of Mac-Loughlin as well as the O’Neills, were of 
the blood-royal of Ireland, and were long seated in the neighbourhood of Derry.—(See Grianan of 
Aileach). . 
Odo, or Hugh O’Neill, succeeeded 1316, died 1319. He was a secular priest of the diocese 
of Derry, was elected in the year 1316, and died in June, 1319. On the 19th of August fol¬ 
lowing the king’s license issued to the dean and chapter of Derry, to go to the election of a 
successor. 
Michael Mac Loughlin succeeded 1319, died 1324. This bishop was elected m August, 1319, 
and about the beginning of October following was confirmed by Denis, dean of. Armagh, in. the 
absence of primate Roland, who then lived beyond the seas. Tie sat in this see in the year 1 324, 
but I do not find how long after.— Ware. 
Simon—“ One Simon, a friar, (but I do not know of what order), governed this see in the 
year 1367, and 1369. I have not yet discovered either when he was consecrated, or when he 
died.”— Ware. 
