Michael Corcoran

Who was Michael Corcoran?

Michael Corcoran DD, was the Roman Catholic Bishop in Kildare and Leighlin from 1815 until his death in 1819. A native of Co. Laois, he served on mission in Dublin before being appointed as Paish Priest in Balyna before he being appointed Parish priest in Kildare in 1802. During his time in Kildare he worked to calm tensions leading up to and after the 1798 Rebellion, with efforts such as liaising with his Church of Ireland to avoid trouble between their parishioners but also with disciplining a priest in his parish. Following the death of Bishop Daniel Delany of Kildare and Leighlin in 1814, Arthur Murphy was appointed but this was not accepted and in 1815 Dr Corcoran was appointed Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin. Dr. Corcoran died on the 22nd of February 1819