James Magauran

James Magauran (or Magaurin), D.D., (1769/71–1829) was an Irish churchman who served as the bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Ardagh and Clonmacnoise from 1815 to 1829.

He was born in the townland of Moneensauran in County Cavan, Ireland sometime around 1769 and 1771. He belonged to the Magauran family of Glangevlin, County Cavan, a family that provided many priests to the Roman Catholic Diocese of Kilmore.

His siblings were:

• 1. Peter Magauran of Moneensauran who was elected King of Glan in 1815.
• 2. Arthur Magauran of Curraghglass, d.1857. Wife Ellen.
• 3. Dr. Patrick Magauran, British army doctor who died in London.
• 4. Elizabeth Magauran who was elected Queen of Glan in 1815. Her husband was Mr. O'Rourke.
• 5. Miss Magauran who married Mr Lyons of Edgeworthstown, County Longford. Their son was the Reverend James Lyons, Roman Catholic curate of Longford, who died during the Irish cholera epidemic of 1833 from a rapid consumption on 10 February 1833. He was interred in Longford Chapel on 14 February 1833.

James Magauran was educated at the University of Salamanca in Spain from 1789. He was appointed a curate in County Fermanagh and then the Priest in charge of the Parish of Oughteragh, Ballinamore, County Leitrim, situate in the Diocese of Kilmore on the borders of Ardagh & Clonmacnoise, at its north-western limits. Kindly and cordial relations have at all times existed between the Diocese of Kilmore and the Diocese of Ardagh & Clonmacnoise, in College, and on the mission afterwards, and justly so, for the Kilmore clergy are a highly respectable, and honest body of ecclesiastics.

On the death of the incumbent bishop of Ardagh and Clonmacnoise, Dr. James Cruise, the Ardagh parish priests, not having a suitable member of their own body, cast their eyes on the most eligible of the Kilmore clergy, and voted for Dr. Magauran, whom they had known to be in every way suited for the high and responsible office. So Bishop Magauran was elected, by Propaganda on the 6 March 1815, and confirmed by the Pope on the 12 March 1815. Dr. Magauran, some of the old priests used to say, was a man remarkable for common sense, and the practical and satisfactory administration of his diocese. He was a great patron of talented young priests, and thus compelled Dr. O'Higgins to stand the Concursus at Maynooth against Dr. Renehan, who was afterwards president of that college. Some few days after the examination at Maynooth, Dr. Magauran held a conference of his clergy in the different deaneries, and the Very Reverend K. Kilroe, P.P., St. Mary's, Athlone, who, at that time, was a young priest just home from college, and without a mission, and on that account was taken around by the bishop to the different places where the clergy assembled that there was no business at any of the conferences. It was kept as a holiday, the bishop was so pleased at the brilliant examination of Dr. O'Higgins, he entertained them with a most interesting and pleasing account of the triumphant and crushing defeat dealt out by the ex-professor from Paris to Dr. Renehan. "I have never witnessed," said the bishop, "such a display of theological learning." Even the students of Maynooth, although naturally on the side of the candidate of their own college, after the first day took to cheering and clapping O'Higgins.

Dr. Magauran had a noble and commanding presence, and was very affable and simple in his manners, a great favourite with his clergy and people.

It is said that he and the late Very Reverend Dean Farrelly, P.P., of Ardagh, went to Dublin, on the occasion of the visit of King George IV to that city, and were presented to his majesty, who afterwards observed, "They were the two finest-looking ecclesiastics in Great Britain."

On the 25 March 1825, Dr.Magauran gave evidence to a select committee of the Houses of Parliament, chaired by Lord Palmerston, about the State of Ireland.

Dr. Magauran died on the 3 or 25 June 1829 at Ballymahon, County Longford, where he resided and where he had officiated every Sunday at the 8 A.M. mass. He was interred in the little church there, at that time the pro-cathedral, and where his remains still repose within its renovated walls.