Michael Dallat

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Michael Dallat (1925 - 2000) D.D. M.A. S.T.L., is the deceased Titular Bishop of Thala and Auxiliary Bishop of The Diocese of Down and Connor.

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[edit] Early Life and Study

He was a native of Ballycastle, a unique town in that it still has two other living bishops among its sons. After post primary education in St Malachy's College (1938-43), he proceeded to Queen's where he graduated with an M.A. in History (1947). He was one of the first generation of students who began to study theology in Rome after the war. His theology studies (1947-51) were completed at the Pontifical Lateran University, where he obtained an Licentiate in Sacred Theology.

[edit] Ministry

Styles of
Michael Dallat
Reference style The Most Reverend
Spoken style Your Lordship
Religious style Bishop
Posthumous style Monsignor


He was ordained priest for the Diocese of Down and Connor on March 10th 1951. Following ordination, he was sent to pursue further studies for four years in Louvain, Belgium (1951-55). It was a source of some amusement that a man who, as Bishop Patrick Walsh said at his funeral "would never use a paragraph when a sentence would do", obtained further postgraduate qualifications with unusually long titles -Lic.en Pol et Soc, Lic en Sc Hist.!

This well qualified academic would then spent much of his life in the field of education. Initially he was appointed to the teaching staff of St Malachy's College, his alma mater, before beginning his 24 years in teacher training. He initially taught in St Mary's Teacher Training College (1963-69), and was then appointed as Principal of St Joseph’s Teacher Training College.

He was an obvious inspiration to his family as his great niece now studies Religious Education at St. Mary's University College, and has just completed a semester of study at the KHL in Louvain, Belgium. He nephew is also a priest, The Very Rev Fr Ciaran Dallat is the current Parish Priest in the Sacred Heart Parish, Belfast.

During the Seventies he was a staunch defender of the principles of Catholic education, when there were proposals to move towards a unitary system for teacher training. However, he was not to be seen as merely a Catholic apologist, for he had many friends and much respect across the world of education.

His work also involved the amalgamation of St Mary's and St Joseph’s in 1985, when he became principal of the new joined college. For his efforts he was made a Member of the Cathedral Chapter.

In 1987, he was appointed as Parish Priest of St Paul's on the Falls Road. At that time, it was the largest parish in Down and Connor, and its people had suffered very seriously during the previous two decades of civil unrest.

He was made a Monsignor in 1988 and served as Vicar General of Down and Connor during this time.

[edit] Bishop

But he was destined for higher things. On February 13th 1994, he was ordained Titular Bishop of Thala, and Auxiliary of Down and Connor. He took as his motto Mary's response to the Angel Gabriel's invitation, Fiat Voluntas Tua (Your Will be Done). During this period, he retained his interest in education and was Chairman of the Council for Catholic Maintained Schools (CCMS).

He retired as Bishop in March 2000. He died unexpectedly on 25th September 2000 and was buried in Hannahstown Cemetery, within the view of the city where he had laboured for 45 years.

[edit] References