James Dillon (Bishop)
Encyclopedia
Dr. James Dillon was the Roman Catholic Bishop of Kilmore
from 1800 to 1806.
, France and graduated as a Doctor of Divinity. Dillon served as parish priest of Dungannon
, County Tyrone
and as Vicar-General of the Armagh Archdiocese.
, County Donegal. The Bishop of Raphoe
, Anthony Coyle was aging and was being given a difficult time by a group of factious priests. Dillon sided with this group, which antagonised the majority of the Raphoe clergy. He was also unpopular with them because he was from outside the Diocese.
, County Cavan. The Bishop of Meath, Patrick Joseph Plunkett (1778–1827), in his Visitation Book notes- "9th July 1801. I dined at Rev. Mr. M'Mahon's with the Right Rev. Dr. Dillon, Bishop of Kilmore. 24th August 1802. This day Dr. M'Laughiin was consecrated Bishop of Raphoe by Dr. O'Reilly, the Primate; Drs. Plunket of Meath, and Dillon of Kilmore, assisting consecrators. The other bishops of the province, Dr. Cruise excepted, were present on the occasion. All dined with our Primate after the ceremony. August 25 and 26, 1802. On these two days the provincial meeting of the bishops of the Province of Armagh, interrupted since the year 1797, the year before the rebellion, was held at Drogheda. It was composed of Drs. O'Reilly, Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of all Ireland, Plunket of Meath, Dillon of Kilmore, Murphy of Clogher, M'Mullan of Down and Connor, O'Donnell of Derry, O'Dwyer of Dromore, and M'Laughlin of Raphoe. Uniformity in the observance of Lent was agreed upon; various cases of conscience discussed; letters answered. 23rd July 1805. I dined at Mullagh, in the County Cavan, at the house of Rev. Felix M'Cabe, with the Right Rev. Dr. Dillon, of Kilmore.". James Dillon was described by his contemporaries as- “The good-natured and mild Dr. Dillon succeeded Dr. O’Reilly at an advanced period in life, at which his exertion of mind, if ever he had been conspicuous for it, was greatly lessened. Unacquainted with his own clergy and perhaps fond of his own ease, he was made the dupe of the panders of adulation and the slave of faction”. Bishop Dillon died in Ballyconnell on 19th August 1806. The Gentleman's Magazine
1806, Volume 76, Part 1 gives a list of recent deaths- "At Ballyconnel, the Rev. Dr. Dillon, a Roman Catholic bishop." A local tradition in Ballyconnell states that Bishop Dillon was buried in the graveyard attached to Tomregan Church of Ireland in Church Street but no tombstone survives. James Dillon was succeeded by Bishop Farrell O’Reilly.
Bishop of Kilmore
The Bishop of Kilmore is an episcopal title which takes its name after the parish of Kilmore in County Cavan, Ireland. In the Roman Catholic Church it remains a separate title, but in the Church of Ireland it has been united with other bishoprics.-History:...
from 1800 to 1806.
Early Life
James Dillon was born in the Diocese of Armagh in 1738. He studied for the priesthood at the Sorbonne, University of ParisUniversity of Paris
The University of Paris was a university located in Paris, France and one of the earliest to be established in Europe. It was founded in the mid 12th century, and officially recognized as a university probably between 1160 and 1250...
, France and graduated as a Doctor of Divinity. Dillon served as parish priest of Dungannon
Dungannon
Dungannon is a medium-sized town in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. It is the third-largest town in the county and a population of 11,139 people was recorded in the 2001 Census. In August 2006, Dungannon won Ulster In Bloom's Best Kept Town Award for the fifth time...
, County Tyrone
County Tyrone
Historically Tyrone stretched as far north as Lough Foyle, and comprised part of modern day County Londonderry east of the River Foyle. The majority of County Londonderry was carved out of Tyrone between 1610-1620 when that land went to the Guilds of London to set up profit making schemes based on...
and as Vicar-General of the Armagh Archdiocese.
Raphoe See
On the 22nd May 1796 Dillon was consecrated Bishop of Nilopoli in partibus and Coadjutor of Raphoe by the Archbishop of Armagh, Dr. Richard O’Reilly. The Bishop of Meath, Patrick Joseph Plunkett (1778–1827), in his Visitation Book notes- "22nd May 1796. This day I assisted with the Right Rev. Dr. Lennan at the consecration of Dr. Dillon, appointed Coadjutor-Bishop of Raphoe. The consecration was performed by the Most Rev. Dr. Reilly, in the presence of the other bishops of the province, —viz., Drs. M'Davett of Derry; Reilly of Clogher; McGuire of Kilmore, and his coadjutor, Dr. Charles Reilly; Cruise of Ardagh; McMullen of Down and Connor, who held their provincial meeting on Tuesday, 24th of this month." While exercising his office of coadjutor, Dillon lved in BallyshannonBallyshannon
Ballyshannon is a town in County Donegal, Ireland. It is located where the N3 and N15 cross the River Erne, and claims to be the oldest town in Ireland.-Location:...
, County Donegal. The Bishop of Raphoe
Bishop of Raphoe
The Bishop of Raphoe is an episcopal title which takes its name after the town of Raphoe in County Donegal, Ireland. In the Roman Catholic Church it remains a separate title, but in the Church of Ireland it has been united with another bishopric.-History:...
, Anthony Coyle was aging and was being given a difficult time by a group of factious priests. Dillon sided with this group, which antagonised the majority of the Raphoe clergy. He was also unpopular with them because he was from outside the Diocese.
Kilmore See
When the Bishop of Kilmore Charles O’Reilly died on 5th March 1800, James Dillon was appointed as his successor, to the relief of the Raphoe clergy. He was translated to the See on 10th August 1800. His Episcopal income in 1801 was 140 guineas. Dr. Dillon took up residence at Church Street, BallyconnellBallyconnell
Ballyconnell is a town in County Cavan, Ireland. It is situated on the N87 national secondary road at the junction of four townlands Annagh, Cullyleenan, Doon and Derryginny in the parish of Tomregan, Barony of Tullyhaw. The town has an altitude of 55 metres above sea level...
, County Cavan. The Bishop of Meath, Patrick Joseph Plunkett (1778–1827), in his Visitation Book notes- "9th July 1801. I dined at Rev. Mr. M'Mahon's with the Right Rev. Dr. Dillon, Bishop of Kilmore. 24th August 1802. This day Dr. M'Laughiin was consecrated Bishop of Raphoe by Dr. O'Reilly, the Primate; Drs. Plunket of Meath, and Dillon of Kilmore, assisting consecrators. The other bishops of the province, Dr. Cruise excepted, were present on the occasion. All dined with our Primate after the ceremony. August 25 and 26, 1802. On these two days the provincial meeting of the bishops of the Province of Armagh, interrupted since the year 1797, the year before the rebellion, was held at Drogheda. It was composed of Drs. O'Reilly, Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of all Ireland, Plunket of Meath, Dillon of Kilmore, Murphy of Clogher, M'Mullan of Down and Connor, O'Donnell of Derry, O'Dwyer of Dromore, and M'Laughlin of Raphoe. Uniformity in the observance of Lent was agreed upon; various cases of conscience discussed; letters answered. 23rd July 1805. I dined at Mullagh, in the County Cavan, at the house of Rev. Felix M'Cabe, with the Right Rev. Dr. Dillon, of Kilmore.". James Dillon was described by his contemporaries as- “The good-natured and mild Dr. Dillon succeeded Dr. O’Reilly at an advanced period in life, at which his exertion of mind, if ever he had been conspicuous for it, was greatly lessened. Unacquainted with his own clergy and perhaps fond of his own ease, he was made the dupe of the panders of adulation and the slave of faction”. Bishop Dillon died in Ballyconnell on 19th August 1806. The Gentleman's Magazine
The Gentleman's Magazine
The Gentleman's Magazine was founded in London, England, by Edward Cave in January 1731. It ran uninterrupted for almost 200 years, until 1922. It was the first to use the term "magazine" for a periodical...
1806, Volume 76, Part 1 gives a list of recent deaths- "At Ballyconnel, the Rev. Dr. Dillon, a Roman Catholic bishop." A local tradition in Ballyconnell states that Bishop Dillon was buried in the graveyard attached to Tomregan Church of Ireland in Church Street but no tombstone survives. James Dillon was succeeded by Bishop Farrell O’Reilly.