A historic diary detailing the life and times of Rev William Bisset who later became the last Church of Ireland Bishop of Raphoe has been presented to the Derry and Raphoe Diocesan library at the University of Ulster’s Magee Campus.

Dating back to 1799, the diary was written by Rev Bisset who at the time was Rector of Loughgall but went on to become Bishop of Raphoe. The Diocesan of Derry and Raphoe was created in 1834 after his death.

The diary recounts the story of a holiday which he and his brother George undertook on horseback and on foot in August 1799. Their journey took them through Co Derry, and around the Antrim Coast and diary is full of interesting details about the areas they visited and people they met on their way.

The leatherbound manuscript diary was handed over by an Ulsterman Brian Mayes, who now lives in Sheffield. He discovered it among his family possessions and fortunately for posterity, immediately recognised the significance of his find.

Mr Mayes says he felt the contents of the diary should be more widely known in Northern Ireland, and, because of its historical significance, the diary itself should be returned to Northern Ireland for safe keeping. 

“This is a historic and hitherto unknown diary so I am delighted to that it is now to be safely housed in the Derry and Raphoe Diocesan Library at Magee. “

Mr Mayes handed the diary over to the Right Rev Kenneth Good, Bishop of Derry and Raphoe, who gave it into the safekeeping of Mr Joe McLaughlin, Archivist at the University of Ulster.

For further information, please contact:

David Young
Telephone: 028 90366074
Email: David Young