Neil Farren (25 March 1893 – 7 May 1980),[1] Bishop of Derry and Apostolic Administrator, was an Irish educator, activist, and Roman Catholic priest.
Neil Farren was born in Buncrana, County Donegal, Ireland and received his secondary education at St. Columb's College in Derry.
[2] After ordination, he took on postgraduate studies at the Pontifical Gregorian University, and was awarded the degree of Doctor of Canon Law for his (later published) thesis 'Domicile and Quasi-Domicile'.
He took an active interest with his Church of Ireland counterpart, Cuthbert Peacocke, in seeking to restore peace among the communities in Derry, and he engaged with nationalist and civil rights activists Eddie McAteer and John Hume.
"[3] He served as Bishop of Derry until his 80th birthday in 1973. and then as apostolic administrator until the appointment of Edward Daly as his successor in 1974.