The Bishop of Kilfenora was a separate episcopal

Episcopal polity

Episcopal polity is a form of church governance that is hierarchical in structure with the chief authority over a local Christian church resting in a bishop...

 title which took its name after the village of Kilfenora

Kilfenora

Kilfenora is a small village in County Clare in Ireland, just south of The Burren. The village is noted for being the home to the Kilfenora Ceili Band and the location for much of the filming of the sitcom Father Ted.-Places of interest:...

 in County Clare

County Clare

-History:There was a Neolithic civilisation in the Clare area — the name of the peoples is unknown, but the Prehistoric peoples left evidence behind in the form of ancient dolmen; single-chamber megalithic tombs, usually consisting of three or more upright stones...

, Ireland

Republic of Ireland

Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...

. In both the Church of Ireland

Church of Ireland

The Church of Ireland is an autonomous province of the Anglican Communion. The church operates in all parts of Ireland and is the second largest religious body on the island after the Roman Catholic Church...

 and the Roman Catholic Church

Roman Catholic Church

The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...

, the title is now united with other bishoprics.

History

The diocese of Kilfenora was established at the Synod of Kells in March 1152 and corresponded with the ancient territory of Corcomroe

Corcomroe

Corcomroe is the anglicised form of the tuath of Corco Modhruadh in the north of County Clare on the west coast of Ireland. It is also the name of the obsolete barony which covers the south-western half of this tuath...

. After the Reformation

English Reformation

The English Reformation was the series of events in 16th-century England by which the Church of England broke away from the authority of the Pope and the Roman Catholic Church....

, there were parallel apostolic succession

Apostolic Succession

Apostolic succession is a doctrine, held by some Christian denominations, which asserts that the chosen successors of the Twelve Apostles, from the first century to the present day, have inherited the spiritual, ecclesiastical and sacramental authority, power, and responsibility that were...

s.

In the Church of Ireland

Church of Ireland

The Church of Ireland is an autonomous province of the Anglican Communion. The church operates in all parts of Ireland and is the second largest religious body on the island after the Roman Catholic Church...

, Kilfenora continued as a separate see until it was combined with Killaloe to form the united bishopric of Killaloe and Kilfenora

Bishop of Killaloe and Kilfenora

The Bishop of Killaloe and Kilfenora was the Ordinary of the Church of Ireland diocese of Killaloe and Kilfenora in the Province of Cashel; comprising all of County Clare and the northern part of County Tipperary, Ireland....

 in 1752. They were combined again to become the bishopric of Killaloe and Clonfert

Bishop of Killaloe and Clonfert

The Bishop of Killaloe and Clonfert was the Ordinary of the Church of Ireland diocese of Killaloe and Clonfert; comprising all of County Clare and part of counties of Tipperary, Galway and Roscommon, Ireland.-History:Under the Church Temporalities Act 1833, the Episcopal see was a union of the...

 in 1834, and combined further to become part of the current bishopric of Limerick and Killaloe

Bishop of Limerick and Killaloe

The Bishop of Limerick and Killaloe is the Church of Ireland Ordinary of the united Diocese of Limerick and Killaloe in the Province of Dublin....

 in 1976.

In the Roman Catholic Church

Roman Catholic Church

The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...

, Kilfenora remained as a separate see until it was united with Kilmacduagh

Bishop of Kilmacduagh

The Bishop of Kilmacduagh was an episcopal title which took its name after the village of Kilmacduagh in County Galway, Ireland. In both the Church of Ireland and the Roman Catholic Church, the title is now united with other bishoprics.-History:...

 to form the united bishopric of Kilmacduagh and Kilfenora

Bishop of Kilmacduagh and Kilfenora

The Bishop and Apostolic Administrator of Kilmacduagh and Kilfenora was an episcopal title which took its name after the small villages of Kilmacduagh in County Galway and Kilfenora in County Clare, Ireland...

 in 1750. They were united again with Galway to form the current united Diocese of Galway, Kilmacduagh and Kilfenora

Roman Catholic Diocese of Galway, Kilmacduagh and Kilfenora

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Galway, Kilmacduagh and Kilfenora is a Roman Catholic diocese in the western part of Ireland. It is in the Metropolitan Province of Tuam and is subject to the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Tuam...

 in 1883.

Pre-Reformation bishops

Pre-Reformation Bishops of Kilfenora
From	Until	Incumbent	Notes
bef.1172	unknown	(Name not known)	Took the oath of fealty to King Henry II of England Henry II of England Henry II ruled as King of England , Count of Anjou, Count of Maine, Duke of Normandy, Duke of Aquitaine, Duke of Gascony, Count of Nantes, Lord of Ireland and, at various times, controlled parts of Wales, Scotland and western France. Henry, the great-grandson of William the Conqueror, was the...  in 1172
bef.1205	unknown	F.	Elected before 1205
bef.1224	unknown	John	Elected before 1224; also known as Johannes
1251/54	1255	Christian	Known to be bishop fl. Floruit Floruit , abbreviated fl. , is a Latin verb meaning "flourished", denoting the period of time during which something was active...  1251 and 1254; died before December 1255; also known as Christianus
unknown	1264	(Name not known)	Died 28 February 1264
1266	1273	Maurice	Elected after 3 March 1265 and consecrated before 12 February 1266; died before 14 July 1273; also known as Mauricius and called by some as Henry
1273	1281	Florence Ó Tigernaig, O.S.A. Augustinians The term Augustinians, named after Saint Augustine of Hippo , applies to two separate and unrelated types of Catholic religious orders:...	Formerly Abbot of Kilsanne; elected bishop before 18 September 1273; died before 12 July 1281; also known as Florentius
1281	1298	Congalach Ó Lochlainn	Formerly Dean of Kilfenora; elected bishop before 6 September 1281; died before 21 December 1298; also known as Carolus
1300	1302	Simon Ó Cuirrin	Elected 16 May and confirmed 22 July 1300; died 26 December 1302
1303	1319	Maurice Ó Briain	Formerly Dean of Kilfenora; elected bishop between 16 March and 10 June 1303; died in office
1323	1359	Risdeard Ó Lochlainn	Consecrated 17 April 1323; died 3 February 1359; also known as Richard O'Loghlain
unknown	1372	Denis	Died before October 1372; also known as Dionysius
1372	unknown	Henry	Appointed 6 October 1372; also known as Henricus
unknown	c.1389	Cornelius	Died in office circa 1389
1390	1421	Patrick	Elected before 28 February and appointed on that date; consecrated after 19 March 1390; died before 15 January 1421; also known as Patricius
1421	1433	Feidhlimidh mac Mathghamhna Ó Lochlainn	Appointed 15 January 1421; consecrated after 6 February 1421; died before 7 August 1433; also known as Florentius
1433	1434	Fearghal	Appointed 7 August 1433; died before 17 November 1434
1434	1491	Denis Ó Connmhaigh	Appointed 17 November and consecrated 26 December 1434; resigned 12 December 1491; also known as Denis O'Cahan or in Latin as Dionysius
1491	1541	Muircheartach mac Murchadha Ó Briain	Formerly a Canon of Kilfenora; appointed bishop 12 December 1491; Papal bull Papal bull A Papal bull is a particular type of letters patent or charter issued by a Pope of the Catholic Church. It is named after the bulla that was appended to the end in order to authenticate it.... s expediated 26 August 1492; died before 21 November 1541; also known as Mauricius
1514	c.1541	Maurice O'Kelly	Appointed 6 November 1514; died in office circa 1541
1541	1572	John O'Nialain	Appointed by Pope Paul III Pope Paul III Pope Paul III , born Alessandro Farnese, was Pope of the Roman Catholic Church from 1534 to his death in 1549. He came to the papal throne in an era following the sack of Rome in 1527 and rife with uncertainties in the Catholic Church following the Protestant Reformation...  on 21 November 1541, but seems to have accepted royal supremacy since he was recognized by King Henry VIII Henry VIII of England Henry VIII was King of England from 21 April 1509 until his death. He was Lord, and later King, of Ireland, as well as continuing the nominal claim by the English monarchs to the Kingdom of France... ; died 1572; also recorded as John O'Neylan

Church of Ireland succession

Church of Ireland Bishops of Kilfenora
From	Until	Incumbent	Notes
1572	1606	See Episcopal See An episcopal see is, in the original sense, the official seat of a bishop. This seat, which is also referred to as the bishop's cathedra, is placed in the bishop's principal church, which is therefore called the bishop's cathedral...  vacant
1606	1617	See held in commendam In Commendam In canon law, commendam was a form of transferring an ecclesiastical benefice in trust to the custody of a patron...  by Bernard Adams, Bishop of Limerick Bishop of Limerick The Bishop of Limerick is an episcopal title which takes its name after the city of Limerick in the Province of Munster, Ireland. In the Roman Catholic Church it still continues as a separate title, but in the Church of Ireland it has been united with other bishoprics.-History:The diocese of...
1617	1622	John Steere	Formerly Archdeacon of Emly; nominated 9 July and consecrated 26 August 1617; translated to Ardfert and Aghadoe Bishop of Ardfert and Aghadoe The Bishop of Ardfert and Aghadoe was an episcopal title which took its name after the village of Ardfert and townland of Aghadoe, both in County Kerry, Ireland.-History:...  20 July 1622
1622	1627	William Murray	Formerly Chaplain-in-Ordinary to King James I & VI James I of England James VI and I was King of Scots as James VI from 24 July 1567 and King of England and Ireland as James I from the union of the English and Scottish crowns on 24 March 1603... ; nominated 15 March and consecrated 18 December 1622; translated to Llandaff Bishop of Llandaff The Bishop of Llandaff is the Ordinary of the Church in Wales Diocese of Llandaff.-Area of authority:The diocese covers most of the County of Glamorgan. The Bishop's seat is located in the Cathedral Church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul , in the village of Llandaff, just north-west of the City of...  24 December 1627
(1628)		(Richard Betts)	Chaplain-in-Ordinary to King James I & VI James I of England James VI and I was King of Scots as James VI from 24 July 1567 and King of England and Ireland as James I from the union of the English and Scottish crowns on 24 March 1603... ; appointed by letters patent Letters patent Letters patent are a type of legal instrument in the form of a published written order issued by a monarch or president, generally granting an office, right, monopoly, title, or status to a person or corporation...  on 19 September 1628, but when he arrived in Ireland and learned of the poverty of the see, he declined the appointment and left without consecration
1630	1638	James Heygate	Formerly Archdeacon of Clogher; nominated 28 February and consecrated 9 May 1630; died 30 April 1638
1638	1643	Robert Sibthorp	Formerly Treasurer of Killaloe Killaloe Cathedral The Cathedral Church of St. Flannan, Killaloe is a cathedral of the Church of Ireland in Killaloe, County Clare in Ireland. It is in the ecclesiastical province of Dublin....  and Prebendary Prebendary A prebendary is a post connected to an Anglican or Catholic cathedral or collegiate church and is a type of canon. Prebendaries have a role in the administration of the cathedral...  of Maynooth, in St Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin; nominated 19 June and consecrated 11 November 1638; translated to Limerick Bishop of Limerick The Bishop of Limerick is an episcopal title which takes its name after the city of Limerick in the Province of Munster, Ireland. In the Roman Catholic Church it still continues as a separate title, but in the Church of Ireland it has been united with other bishoprics.-History:The diocese of...  in 1643
1643	1661	See Episcopal See An episcopal see is, in the original sense, the official seat of a bishop. This seat, which is also referred to as the bishop's cathedra, is placed in the bishop's principal church, which is therefore called the bishop's cathedral...  vacant
1661	1741	See held in commendam In Commendam In canon law, commendam was a form of transferring an ecclesiastical benefice in trust to the custody of a patron...  by the Archbishops of Tuam Archbishop of Tuam The Archbishop of Tuam is an archiepiscopal title which takes its name after the town of Tuam in County Galway, Ireland. The title was used by the Church of Ireland until 1839, and is still in use by the Roman Catholic Church.-History:...
1742	1752	See held in commendam by John Whitcomb, Bishop of Clonfert and Kilmacduagh Bishop of Clonfert and Kilmacduagh The Bishop of Clonfert and Kilmacduagh was the Ordinary of the Church of Ireland diocese of Clonfert and Kilmacduagh, comprising the southern part of County Galway and a small area of County Roscommon, Ireland.-History:...
In 1752, the Church of Ireland see became part of the united bishopric of Killaloe and Kilfenora Bishop of Killaloe and Kilfenora The Bishop of Killaloe and Kilfenora was the Ordinary of the Church of Ireland diocese of Killaloe and Kilfenora in the Province of Cashel; comprising all of County Clare and the northern part of County Tipperary, Ireland....

Roman Catholic succession

Roman Catholic Bishops of Kilfenora
From	Until	Incumbent	Notes
1572	1629	See Episcopal See An episcopal see is, in the original sense, the official seat of a bishop. This seat, which is also referred to as the bishop's cathedra, is placed in the bishop's principal church, which is therefore called the bishop's cathedral...  vacant
1629	unknown	Daniel Gryphaeus	Appointed vicar general Vicar general A vicar general is the principal deputy of the bishop of a diocese for the exercise of administrative authority. As vicar of the bishop, the vicar general exercises the bishop's ordinary executive power over the entire diocese and, thus, is the highest official in a diocese or other particular...  in 1629 and vicar apostolic by Papal brief Papal brief The Papal Brief is a formal document emanating from the Pope, in a somewhat simpler and more modern form than a Papal Bull.-History:The introduction of briefs, which occurred at the beginning of the pontificate of Pope Eugenius IV , was clearly prompted for the same desire for greater simplicity...  1 April 1631
1647	c.1673	Andrew Lynch	Appointed 11 March and consecrated 21 April 1647; died circa 1673
1673	1722	See vacant
1722	unknown	William O'Daly	He was vicar general Vicar general A vicar general is the principal deputy of the bishop of a diocese for the exercise of administrative authority. As vicar of the bishop, the vicar general exercises the bishop's ordinary executive power over the entire diocese and, thus, is the highest official in a diocese or other particular...  of Kilfenora before appointed bishop on 7 August 1722; date of death unknown
1726	1749	James Augustine O'Daly, O.S.A.	Appointed 27 July 1726; died 20 August 1749
In 1750, the Roman Catholic see became part of the united bishopric of Kilmacduagh and Kilfenora Bishop of Kilmacduagh and Kilfenora The Bishop and Apostolic Administrator of Kilmacduagh and Kilfenora was an episcopal title which took its name after the small villages of Kilmacduagh in County Galway and Kilfenora in County Clare, Ireland...