William Mahony (Bishop)
Encyclopedia
William Mahony, Bishop
of Roman Catholic Diocese of Ilorin, 29 April 1919 - 15 November 1994.
The son of Mick and Mary Mahony of Derrybrien, Slieve Aughty, Mahony had two sisters and three brothers. His father, grandfather and two of his brothers were blacksmiths, a motif he incorporated into his coat of arms
as a bishop.
Mahony was at the Gort
sheep fair when he heard the call of God
to become a priest
, joining the Society of African Missions in 1936. He studied in Ballinafad
, Cork
, Galway
, Newry
and London
.
In 1948 he was assigned to what would become the Archdiocese of Kaduna in northern Nigeria
, teaching there till 1960. In the latter year, he was appointed Prefect Apostolic of Illorin, a province of more than thirty thousand square miles and a population of about one million. He was ordained Bishop
of Ilorin
on 1 August 1969 in Kampala
, Uganda
, by the pope.
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
of Roman Catholic Diocese of Ilorin, 29 April 1919 - 15 November 1994.
The son of Mick and Mary Mahony of Derrybrien, Slieve Aughty, Mahony had two sisters and three brothers. His father, grandfather and two of his brothers were blacksmiths, a motif he incorporated into his coat of arms
Coat of arms
A coat of arms is a unique heraldic design on a shield or escutcheon or on a surcoat or tabard used to cover and protect armour and to identify the wearer. Thus the term is often stated as "coat-armour", because it was anciently displayed on the front of a coat of cloth...
as a bishop.
Mahony was at the Gort
Gort
Gort is a town in south County Galway in the west of Ireland. An Gort is the official Irish name for the town, as defined by the Placenames Commission. In spoken Irish, however, the town is known by its traditional name Gort Inse Guaire. It lies just north of the border with County Clare on the...
sheep fair when he heard the call of God
God
God is the English name given to a singular being in theistic and deistic religions who is either the sole deity in monotheism, or a single deity in polytheism....
to become a priest
Priest
A priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...
, joining the Society of African Missions in 1936. He studied in Ballinafad
Ballinafad
Ballinafad is a village in County Sligo, Ireland. There is also a village Ballinafad in Connemara, County Galway.Ambrose O'Higgins, who became governor of Chile and viceroy of Perú, was born in this area. Ambrose was father of Bernardo O'Higgins, leader of South American emancipation....
, Cork
Cork (city)
Cork is the second largest city in the Republic of Ireland and the island of Ireland's third most populous city. It is the principal city and administrative centre of County Cork and the largest city in the province of Munster. Cork has a population of 119,418, while the addition of the suburban...
, Galway
Galway
Galway or City of Galway is a city in County Galway, Republic of Ireland. It is the sixth largest and the fastest-growing city in Ireland. It is also the third largest city within the Republic and the only city in the Province of Connacht. Located on the west coast of Ireland, it sits on the...
, Newry
Newry
Newry is a city in Northern Ireland. The River Clanrye, which runs through the city, formed the historic border between County Armagh and County Down. It is from Belfast and from Dublin. Newry had a population of 27,433 at the 2001 Census, while Newry and Mourne Council Area had a population...
and London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
.
In 1948 he was assigned to what would become the Archdiocese of Kaduna in northern Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
, teaching there till 1960. In the latter year, he was appointed Prefect Apostolic of Illorin, a province of more than thirty thousand square miles and a population of about one million. He was ordained Bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
of Ilorin
Ilorin
Ilorin is one of the largest cities in Nigeria and is the capital of Kwara State. As of 2007 it had a population of 847,582.-History:Ilorin was founded by the Yoruba, one of the three largest ethnic groups in Nigeria, in 1450...
on 1 August 1969 in Kampala
Kampala
Kampala is the largest city and capital of Uganda. The city is divided into five boroughs that oversee local planning: Kampala Central Division, Kawempe Division, Makindye Division, Nakawa Division and Lubaga Division. The city is coterminous with Kampala District.-History: of Buganda, had chosen...
, Uganda
Uganda
Uganda , officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. Uganda is also known as the "Pearl of Africa". It is bordered on the east by Kenya, on the north by South Sudan, on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the southwest by Rwanda, and on the south by...
, by the pope.