Francis Gerard Brooks

Who was Francis Gerard Brooks?

Francis Gerard Brooks was the Roman Catholic Bishop of the Diocese of Dromore, Northern Ireland. Born in Rathfriland, County Down, he was ordained a Catholic priest on 19 June 1949 for the Diocese of Dromore.

He received his early secondary education in Newry, first at the Abbey Christian Brothers' Grammar School, then at St Colman's College, Newry where eventually he was appointed Head Prefect. In 1942 he entered St Patrick's College, Maynooth to begin his studies for the priesthood, where he graduates with a Bachelor's Degree in Science in 1945 and again with a Bachelor of Divinity in 1948. He was ordained Priest 19 June 1949. After ordination he pursued post-graduate studies in Rome, achieving his Doctorate in Canon Law in June 1952. Dr Brooks was appointed in the autumn of 1953 to the staff of St. Colman's College, where he would go on to teach Science, Geography and Mathematics. Appointed as College President in 1972, he was also created a Canon of the Cathedral Chapter.

Very Rev Canon Brooks was appointed bishop of the diocese on 20 November 1975, and was ordained a bishop on 25 January 1976. The principal consecrator was Cardinal William Conway; the principal co-consecrators were the Papal Nuncio Archbishop Gaetano Alibrandi and Bishop Eugene O'Doherty, the retiring bishop of the diocese.