Matthew Cullen

Who was Matthew Cullen?

Rev. Dr. Matthew Cullen, was an Irish Catholic priest and Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin. He was born in Kilcarney, Co. Wicklow in the parish of Hacketstown on St. Patrick's Day, 1864 to Matthew Cullen and Elizabeth Kehoe. He commenced his clerical studies in St. Patrick's, Carlow College, and continued them in Maynooth. He was ordained in 1889 and served initially as a curate in Geashill, Killeigh and the Tinyland, he served as chaplain to the Curragh Army camp.

Fr. Cullen served as rector to St. Mary's Knockbeg College from 1895 until 1909, when he moved to Newbridge, prior to being appointed parish priest of Tinyland and then Bangelstown before being elected a Bishop.

He was a keen supporter of Gaelic Games and regularly attended GAA matches in Kildare and Carlow.

In 1927 he was appointed Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin, succeeding Dr. Patrick Foley and served until his death.

Bishop Cullen encouraged and facilitated the establishment of St Patrick’s Missionary Society at Kiltegan.

He died on January 2, 1936. Following his death Carlow GAA Stadium, which had just been completed, was named Dr. Cullen Park in his honour.