Kevin Doran was born in Dublin in 1953 and ordained a priest of the Archdiocese of Dublin in July 1977.  During his thirty-six years as a Dublin priest, he served in six parishes around the Diocese, as well as working in educational administration, university chaplaincy and in the accompaniment of canidates for ordained ministry. He was Secretary General of the 50th International Eucharistic Congress which was held in Dublin in 2012.  Prior to becoming Bishop of Elphin in July 2014, he was parish priest of Sacred Heart Parish, Donnybrook.

Bishop Kevin’s academic background is in the philosophy of the human person. He completed an MA in UCD in 1987 and also holds a PhD from the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas (Rome). Between 1996 and 2006 he lectured in bioethics and Catholic Social Teaching, first at Mater Dei Institute and subsequently at the Milltown Institute, as well as serving on various commissions and councils of the Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference.

In April 2024, Bishop Kevin was appointed Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Achonry, while remaining Bishop of Elphin. On 30 March 2025, he was installed as Bishop of Achonry, thus uniting the Diocese of Achonry with the Diocese of Elphin “in persona episcopi” (in the person of the bishop).

At the Irish Bishops’ Conference, Bishop Doran serves as Chairperson of the Council for Life and as a member of the Council for Migrants, Refugees, Justice and Peace. He is also a member of the Joint Bioethics Committee for the bishops’ conferences of Ireland, England and Wales, and Scotland.

He is fluent in French and Italian and, as well as being a keen walker, he enjoys listening to music and cooking for friends. Bishop Kevin can be contacted at bishopsecretary@elphindiocese.ie