Séamus Hegarty

Séamus Hegarty, D.D. (born 26 January 1940), is an Irish Roman Catholic prelate. He served as Bishop of Raphoe from 1982 to 1994, then as Bishop of Derry from 1994 to 2011.

Hegarty was born in Kilcar, County Donegal, Ireland, in 1940. He has one brother, Dermot, and one sister, Maire. He received his education in Kilcar National School, St Eunan's College, Letterkenny, and St Patrick's College, Maynooth, which he attended from 1959 to 1966.

He graduated in Celtic Studies and is fluent in Irish, English and German. He was ordained to the priesthood by Archbishop McQuaid of Dublin at St. Patrick's College, Maynooth on 19 June 1966. He taught in Colaiste na Croise Naofa, Falcarragh, where he later became President (1971–1981).

He carried through the establishment of Pobalscoil Chloich Cheannfhaola in 1973, becoming its first Principal, and with his staff he made it a successful school. His last appointment before elevation to the Episcopate was as a curate in Stranorlar.

He was appointed the Bishop of the Diocese of Raphoe by the Holy See on 12 February 1982. His episcopal consecration took place at St Eunan's Cathedral in Letterkenny on 28 March 1982, the principal consecrator was Cardinal Tomás Ó Fiaich, and the principal co-consecrators were Gaetano Alibrandi, titular Archbishop of Binda, and Edward Daly, Bishop of Derry.

Following the resignation of Bishop Edward Daly on 26 October 1993, Dr Hegarty was appointed the Bishop of the Diocese of Derry by the Holy See on 1 October and installed at St Eugene's Cathedral, Derry on 6 November 1994.

In November 2009, Bishop Hegarty expressed concern after 17 priests in the Derry diocese were found to have child sexual abuse allegations filed against them.

Retirement

On 7 November 2011, he issued a statement saying that, having been diagnosed with "a condition which is, unfortunately, irreversible and progressive", he had submitted his resignation because he was no longer able to fulfil his role as diocesan bishop.The Holy See announced on 23 November 2011 that his resignation had been accepted.

He was succeeded by Donal McKeown in 2014.