Diocese_of_Limerick_and_Killaloe

Diocese of Limerick and Killaloe

Diocese of Limerick and Killaloe

Anglican diocese of the Church of Ireland


The Diocese of Limerick and Killaloe (formally: 'The United Dioceses of Limerick, Ardfert, Aghadoe, Killaloe, Kilfenora, Clonfert, Kilmacduagh and Emly') was a former diocese of the Church of Ireland that was located in mid-western Ireland. The diocese was formed by a merger of neighbouring dioceses in 1976, before itself merging with the neighbouring Diocese of Tuam in 2022 to form the Diocese of Tuam, Limerick and Killaloe.

Quick Facts United Dioceses of Limerick, Ardfert, Aghadoe, Killaloe, Kilfenora, Clonfert, Kilmacduagh and Emly, Location ...
St Mary's Cathedral, Limerick
St Flannan's Cathedral, Killaloe
St Brendan's Cathedral, Clonfert

The diocese was in the ecclesiastical province of Dublin and was one of the twelve Church of Ireland dioceses that cover the whole of Ireland. The diocese covered all of counties Limerick, Kerry and Clare, plus parts of counties Galway, Cork and Tipperary.

Overview and history

Diocese Highlighted

After the Church of England and the Roman Catholic Church broke communion, by decree of the Irish Parliament, the Church of Ireland became the independent State Church of the Kingdom of Ireland. It assumed possession of most Church property (and so retained a great repository of religious architecture and other items, though some were later destroyed). The substantial majority of the population remained faithful to Roman Catholicism, despite the political and economic advantages of membership in the state church. The English-speaking minority mostly adhered to the Church of Ireland or to Presbyterianism. Since the formation of the Church of Ireland, it has experienced a continual process of merger of dioceses (see below), in view of declining membership. For this reason, the diocese had three cathedrals.

Predecessor dioceses

Prior to its own merger, the diocese was itself the result of a number of mergers of sees beginning in the seventeenth century:[1]

More information Ancient dioceses, Unions before 1976 ...

Cathedrals

St. Brendan's Cathedral, Ardfert
St. Fachnan's Cathedral, Kilfenora

Five others are in ruins or no longer exist:

Parish groups

The diocese was divided into a number of parish groups.[5]

  • Adare Group: St Nicholas', Adare  Croom  St Andrew's, Kilfinane  St Peter & St Paul's, Kilmallock  St Beacon's, Kilpeacon  Knockaney.
  • Aughrim Group: St Catherine's, Ahascragh  Ardrahan  Holy Trinity, Aughrim  St Matthew's, Clontuskert  St John the Evangelist's, Creagh  Woodlawn, Kilconell.
  • Birr Group: St Brendan's, Birr  Dorrha  Lockeen  St Ruadhan's, Lorrha.
  • Clonfert (Cathedral) Group: St Brendan's Cathedral, Clonfert  St John the Baptist's, Donanaughta  Christ Church's, Lickmolassy  St Paul's, Rynagh.
  • Cloughjordan Group: Ballingarry  Borrisnafarney  Borrisokane  St Kieran's, Cloughjordan.
  • Drumcliffe (Ennis) Group: St Columba, Drumcliffe  Kilfarboy  St Fachan's, Kilfenora  St James', Kilfieragh  Kilnasoolagh  Christ Church's, Shannon.
  • Kenmare Group: St Michael & All Angels', Dromod  St Patrick's, Kenmare  Church of the Transfiguration, Kilcrohane  St John the Baptist's, Valentia.
  • Kilcolman (Milltown) Group: St John's, Glenbeigh  Kilcolman  St Michael's, Killorglin  St Carthage's, Kiltallagh  Knockane.
  • Killaloe (Cathedral) Group: Inniscaltra  St Flannan's Cathedral, Killaloe[6]  St Senan's, Kiltinanlea  All Saints', Stradbally  St. Cronan's Church, Tuamgraney.
  • Killarney Group: St Mary, Killarney  Holy Trinity, Muckross.
  • Limerick (Cathedral) Group: St Mary's Cathedral, Limerick  Abington  St Michael's, Limerick.
  • Nenagh Group: Killodiernan  St Mary's, Nenagh  Templederry.
  • Rathkeale Group: St Mary's, Askeaton  Kilcornan  Kilnaughtin  Holy Trinity, Rathkeale.
  • Roscrea Group: St Burchin's, Bourney  Christ Church's, Corbally  St Molua, Kyle  St Cronan's, Roscrea.
  • Shinrone Group:[7] Aghancon  Dunkerrin  St Finnian's, Kinnitty  St Mary's, Shinrone.
  • Tralee Group: Ballymacelligott  Ballyseedy  St James's, Dingle  Kilgobbin, Camp  Killiney, Castlegregory  St John's, Tralee.
  • Plus the University of Limerick.

List of bishops

See also


References

  1. Galloway, Peter (1992). The Cathedrals of Ireland. Belfast: Institute of Irish Studies, Queen's University Belfast. pp. 10, 48, 97, 142. ISBN 0853894523.
  2. St Mary's Cathedral, Limerick. Retrieved on 9 January 2009.
  3. St Flannan's Cathedral, Killaloe. Retrieved on 9 January 2009.
  4. Parish Information. Diocese of Limerick and Killaloe website. Retrieved on 6 October 2009.
  5. St Flannan's Cathedral, Killaloe. Retrieved on 7 September 2009.
  6. Shinrone Group of Parishes. Retrieved on 7 September 2009.

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