Mary Lyons rsm at her desk in Tuam

On 1st February, 2011, history was made in the archdiocese of Tuam with the appointment by Archbishop Michael Neary of Sr. Mary Lyons, a Sister of Mercy, as diocesan Chancellor. Mary is a native of Louisburgh, Co Mayo.

After completing Primary Education in Holy Family School, Killeen, Mary attended Mount Saint Michael Secondary School, Claremorris, following which she joined the Sisters of Mercy in Tuam. After graduating from the National University of Ireland, Galway, with a B.A. in Latin and English and a Higher Diploma in Education, Mary taught Latin and English in Scoil Bhríde, Tuam.

In 1994, she was awarded the JCL and MCL degrees in Canon Law by Saint Paul University and the University of Ottawa. Teaching and work as a Judge in the Regional Marriage Tribunal, Galway, followed. In June 2000, Mary took early retirement from teaching, and in September commenced doctoral studies in Canon Law at Saint Paul University, receiving the JCD and PhD degrees in October 2002. In December 2002 she was appointed Judge/Instructor in the Regional Marriage Tribunal, Galway, by the late Bishop James McLoughlin. In addition to work at the Tribunal, Mary also served on Diocesan Commissions and as a Canonical Consultant to religious congregations.

In December 2010 she retired from Tribunal work and was appointed Chancellor of the Archdiocese of Tuam. The role of the Chancery Office consists, among other things, in issuing official documents, granting dispensations, providing necessary indults and faculties, overseeing the application of the law, and seeing to the preservation of documents in the Diocesan Archives.

Mary Lyons rsm
Western Province