Canon Simon Doogan

Simon is the Church of Ireland rector of Ballyholme in the seaside town of Bangor Co Down. Originally from Portadown, Simon has degrees in law, theology and canon law. He was ordained in 1997 for a curacy at St Finnian’s in Belfast. Four years later he served in West Sussex as Chaplain to the Bishop of Horsham before being appointed rector of the parish of Aghalee on the shores of Lough Neagh in 2004. Moving to Ballyholme in 2008, Simon has been a Canon of St Patrick’s Cathedral Dublin since 2011. Simon’s life is an ever-changing pastoral round of people, prayer and preparation rooted in the love of God and the personal highs and lows universal to human experience. He gave his first Thought for the Day in 1999 and alongside a range of contributions to Radio Ulster’s religious output has also led Prayer for the Day, Sunday Worship and the Daily Service on BBC Radio 4.