Stephen Kirwan was a Irish Anglican. He was Church of Ireland

Church of Ireland

The Church of Ireland is an autonomous province of the Anglican Communion. The church operates in all parts of Ireland and is the second largest religious body on the island after the Roman Catholic Church...

 bishop of Clonfert

Clonfert

Clonfert is a small village in east County Galway, Ireland. It is half way between Ballinasloe and Portumna.Clonfert Cathedral is situated in the village, which is the see of the Diocese of Clonfert.-See also:* List of towns and villages in Ireland...

 from 1582 until before 4 November 1601.

Life and career

Kirwan was a member of The Tribes of Galway and previously a Roman Catholic. Converting in the mid-16th century, he was Bishop of Kilmacduagh

Kilmacduagh

Kilmacduagh is a small village in south County Galway, near Gort, in Ireland. It is best known for Kilmacduagh monastery, seat of the Diocese of that name. The diocese is now part of the Diocese of Galway and Kilmacduagh in the Roman Catholic Church and in the Diocese of Limerick and Killaloe in...

 from 1572. Nominated 30 March 1582 for Clonfert

Clonfert

Clonfert is a small village in east County Galway, Ireland. It is half way between Ballinasloe and Portumna.Clonfert Cathedral is situated in the village, which is the see of the Diocese of Clonfert.-See also:* List of towns and villages in Ireland...

, letters patent

Letters patent

Letters patent are a type of legal instrument in the form of a published written order issued by a monarch or president, generally granting an office, right, monopoly, title, or status to a person or corporation...

 were issued 24 May 1582 and he was translated to Clonfert the same year. He died before 4 November 1601.

Other members of his family included:

• John William Kirwan
  John William Kirwan
  John William Kirwan was the first President of Queen's College, Galway.Kirwan was a member of one of The Tribes of Galway, and was noted by contemporaries as an outstanding preacher. He was appointed parish priest of Kilcummin John William Kirwan (died 29 December 1849) was the first President of...
  
  
• Rev. Augustine Kirwan
  Rev. Augustine Kirwan
  Rev. Augustine Kirwan, D.D., 1724 - 7 August 1791.A descendant of one of The Tribes of Galway, Kirwan was Warden of Galway and Vicar of St. Nicholas's church. He had spent forty years as a minister, and founded the town's charity school...
  
  
• Richard Kirwan
  Richard Kirwan
  Richard Kirwan FRS was an Irish scientist. He is remembered today, if at all, for being one of the last supporters of the theory of phlogiston. Kirwan was active in the fields of chemistry, meteorology, and geology...
  
  
• Sir John Kirwan
  Sir John Kirwan
  Sir John Kirwan, Irish Entrepreneur, founder of the Kirwans of Castle Hackett, County Galway. 1650-1721.-Background:Kirwan was a member of one of The Tribes of Galway. The family were of Gaelic origin, possibly of Conmhaícne descent. They settled in Galway around 1488 under William Ó Ciardhubháin...
  
  
• Dominick Kirwin
  Dominick Kirwin
  Dominick Kirwin was an Irish Confederate, fl. 1642–1653?Kirwin was a member of one of The Tribes of Galway, and led the raiding party that seized a ship anchored near Galway early in the morning of 19 March 1642. It was a British naval vessel under the command of a Captain Clarke, and had been sent...