Archbishop Eamon Martin
In April 2019, Pope Francis appointed Archbishop Eamon Martin to take over the role of Apostolic Administrator of Dromore from Bishop Philip Boyce, who had held the role since March 2018, following the resignation of Bishop John McAreavey in that same year.
Profile
Eamon Columba Martin was born in Derry in 1961; his late parents, Catherine Crossan and John James Martin were both from Inishowen in Donegal and his grandparents came from Counties Donegal and Fermanagh. He has six sisters and five brothers.
Eamon went to St Patrick’s Primary School and St Columb’s College, Derry where he developed a great interest in singing and later playing the trombone!
He proceeded to study for the priesthood at St Patrick’s College, Maynooth during which time he took degrees in Mathematical Science and Theology. During his seminary training he was a senior cantor and leading member of the seminary choir – in his final year he was Acting Director of Sacred Music in Maynooth. His postgraduate studies were at Queen’s University Belfast, the Institute of Education in London and the University of Cambridge.
After ordination on 28th June 1987, Fr Eamon was appointed to Templemore Parish in Derry City, serving as curate at St Eugene’s Cathedral. In 1990 he went to teach Mathematics and Religion at his old school, St Columb’s College. He became Head of Religious Education in 1997 and eventually President (Principal) of the College, a post he held for eight years.
After leaving St Columb’s in 2008, Fr Eamon was appointed Executive Secretary of the Irish Bishops’ Conference but he returned to his native diocese as Vicar General just over two years later. Also in 2010 he was appointed Chaplain to His Holiness. Upon the retirement of Bishop Séamus Hegarty, Monsignor Eamon was elected as Diocesan Administrator of the Diocese of Derry.
On 18 January 2013 it was announced that His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI had appointed Monsignor Eamon as Coadjutor Archbishop of Armagh. He was ordained Coadjutor Archbishop of Armagh on 21 April 2013 in St Patrick’s Cathedral, Armagh.
On the retirement of Cardinal Seán Brady, Coadjutor Archbishop Eamon Martin succeeded as Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland on 8 September 2014. To mark the occasion a Mass, to ask God’s Blessing on Archbishop Eamon and on the People of the diocese, was celebrated on 7 October 2014.
Archbishop Eamon was elected President of the Irish Episcopal Conference in October 2014 . He also serves as Chairman of the Council for Communications of the Conference. In April 2019, in addition to his duties in Armagh, he was appointed by Pope Francis as Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Dromore.