In a significant development for the Roman Catholic Church in Ireland, Bishop Niall Coll has been appointed as the new Bishop of Raphoe, his native diocese. This marks the first Irish appointment by Pope Leo XIV since his election in May 2025. The announcement was made at St Eunan’s Cathedral in Letterkenny, County Donegal, following Mass on Thursday. The diocese had been without a bishop since February 2024, when Bishop Alan McGuckian was appointed to Down and Connor. Bishop Coll, 62, a native of Saint Johnston in east Donegal, returns to the northwest after serving as Bishop of Ossory since January 2023. Ordained a priest in 1988, Bishop Coll has a rich academic and pastoral background, including studies in Maynooth, Rome, and Trinity College Dublin, and roles as a chaplain, teacher, and parish priest. His appointment underscores the Church’s commitment to leadership continuity and local roots.