Diocese of Limerick and Killaloe
Encyclopedia
Limerick
Limerick is the third largest city in the Republic of Ireland, and the principal city of County Limerick and Ireland's Mid-West Region. It is the fifth most populous city in all of Ireland. When taking the extra-municipal suburbs into account, Limerick is the third largest conurbation in the...
, Ardfert
Ardfert
Ardfert is a village in County Kerry, Ireland. Historically a religious centre, the economy of the locality is driven by agriculture and its position as a dormitory town, being only 8 km from Tralee.-Origin:...
, Aghadoe
Aghadoe
Aghadoe is a large townland overlooking the town and lakes of Killarney in Ireland. Officially it is also a parish, although the parish is larger than the area normally associated with the name. The area is famous for its views of the lakes and islands, including Innisfallen Island...
, Killaloe
Diocese of Killaloe
The Diocese of Killaloe may refer either to a Roman Catholic or a Church of Ireland diocese, in Ireland.-Roman Catholic diocese:The Diocese of Killaloe is the second largest Roman Catholic diocese in Ireland....
, 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:...
, Clonfert
Clonfert
Clonfert is a small village in east County Galway, Ireland. It is half way between Ballinasloe and Portumna.Clonfert Cathedral is situated in the village, which is the see of the Diocese of Clonfert.-See also:* List of towns and villages in Ireland...
, Kilmacduagh
Kilmacduagh
Kilmacduagh is a small village in south County Galway, near Gort, in Ireland. It is best known for Kilmacduagh monastery, seat of the Diocese of that name. The diocese is now part of the Diocese of Galway and Kilmacduagh in the Roman Catholic Church and in the Diocese of Limerick and Killaloe in...
and Emly
Emly
Emly or Emlybeg is a village in South Tipperary, Ireland. It is a civil parish in the historical barony of Clanwilliam. It is also an Ecclesiastical parish in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cashel and Emly....
) is a diocese
Diocese
A diocese is the district or see under the supervision of a bishop. It is divided into parishes.An archdiocese is more significant than a diocese. An archdiocese is presided over by an archbishop whose see may have or had importance due to size or historical significance...
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...
, located in 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,...
. It is in the ecclesiastical province
Ecclesiastical Province
An ecclesiastical province is a large jurisdiction of religious government, so named by analogy with a secular province, existing in certain hierarchical Christian churches, especially in the Catholic Church and Orthodox Churches and in the Anglican Communion...
of Dublin.
It is one of the twelve Church of Ireland dioceses which cover the whole of Ireland. The diocese covers all of counties Limerick
County Limerick
It is thought that humans had established themselves in the Lough Gur area of the county as early as 3000 BC, while megalithic remains found at Duntryleague date back further to 3500 BC...
, Kerry
County Kerry
Kerry means the "people of Ciar" which was the name of the pre-Gaelic tribe who lived in part of the present county. The legendary founder of the tribe was Ciar, son of Fergus mac Róich. In Old Irish "Ciar" meant black or dark brown, and the word continues in use in modern Irish as an adjective...
and 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...
, plus parts of counties Galway
County Galway
County Galway is a county in Ireland. It is located in the West Region and is also part of the province of Connacht. It is named after the city of Galway. Galway County Council is the local authority for the county. There are several strongly Irish-speaking areas in the west of the county...
, Cork
County Cork
County Cork is a county in Ireland. It is located in the South-West Region and is also part of the province of Munster. It is named after the city of Cork . Cork County Council is the local authority for the county...
and North Tipperary
North Tipperary
North Tipperary is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Mid-West Region and is also located in the province of Munster. It is named after the town of Tipperary and consists of 48% of the land area of the traditional county of Tipperary. The county was established in 1898 and has had a county...
.
The current bishop is the Right Reverend Trevor Williams who was elected on 6 May 2008 and consecrated
Consecration
Consecration is the solemn dedication to a special purpose or service, usually religious. The word "consecration" literally means "to associate with the sacred". Persons, places, or things can be consecrated, and the term is used in various ways by different groups...
at Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin
Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin
Christ Church Cathedral is the cathedral of the United Dioceses of Dublin and Glendalough and the cathedral of the Ecclesiastical province of the United Provinces of Dublin and Cashel in the Church of Ireland...
on 11 July 2008.
Overview and history
When the Church in England broke communion with the Roman Catholic ChurchRoman 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 Church of England
Church of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
was established by the state as the established church. Later, by decree of the Irish Parliament, a similar new body became the State Church
State church
State churches are organizational bodies within a Christian denomination which are given official status or operated by a state.State churches are not necessarily national churches in the ethnic sense of the term, but the two concepts may overlap in the case of a nation state where the state...
in the Kingdom of Ireland
Kingdom of Ireland
The Kingdom of Ireland refers to the country of Ireland in the period between the proclamation of Henry VIII as King of Ireland by the Crown of Ireland Act 1542 and the Act of Union in 1800. It replaced the Lordship of Ireland, which had been created in 1171...
. 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. They were obliged to find alternative premises and to conduct their services in secret. The English-speaking minority mostly adhered to the Church of Ireland or to Presbyterianism
Presbyterianism
Presbyterianism refers to a number of Christian churches adhering to the Calvinist theological tradition within Protestantism, which are organized according to a characteristic Presbyterian polity. Presbyterian theology typically emphasizes the sovereignty of God, the authority of the Scriptures,...
. In 1833, the two provinces of Dublin and Cashel were merged. Over the centuries, numerous dioceses were merged, in view of declining membership. The same is true for this diocese where it can be seen that each of the entities listed in the title would have been a diocese in its own right. It is for this reason that the united diocese has three cathedral
Cathedral
A cathedral is a Christian church that contains the seat of a bishop...
s.
Cathedrals
- St Mary's Cathedral, Limerick,
- St Flannan's Cathedral, KillaloeKillaloe CathedralThe 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....
, - St Brendan's Cathedral, ClonfertClonfert CathedralClonfert Cathedral is a cathedral of the Church of Ireland in Clonfert, County Galway in Ireland. It is in the ecclesiastical province of Dublin...
.
Five others are in ruins or no longer exist:
- St Brendan's Cathedral, ArdfertArdfert CathedralArdfert Cathedral is built on the site of a monastery founded in the 6th century by St. Brendan the Navigator. The cathedral is located in the village of Ardfert, County Kerry, Ireland. The site is now managed by the Office of Public Works...
was destroyed by fire in 1641 - St Alibeus' Cathedral, EmlyEmlyEmly or Emlybeg is a village in South Tipperary, Ireland. It is a civil parish in the historical barony of Clanwilliam. It is also an Ecclesiastical parish in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cashel and Emly....
was demolished in 1877. - Kilmacduagh cathedralKilmacduagh monasteryKilmacduagh Monastery is found 5 km from the town of Gort in County Galway, Ireland. It was the birthplace of the Diocese of Kilmacduagh, whose name means "church of Duagh's son"...
, which is partly in ruins - Aghadoe CathedralAghadoe CathedralAghadoe Cathedral was a church that may have been the seat of a bishop at Aghadoe, Ireland . The now ruined cathedral overlooks the Lakes of Killarney from Aghadoe, a few miles from Killarney...
, which is partly in ruins - Kilfenora Cathedral, which is partly in ruins, dates from the 12th century.
Parish Groups
The diocese is divided into a number of parish groups.- 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, BirrBirrBirr is a town in County Offaly, Ireland. Once called Parsonstown, after the Parsons family who were local landowners and hereditary Earls of Rosse. It is also a parish in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Killaloe....
DorrhaDorrha, North TipperaryDorrha is a civil parish in the historical barony of Ormond Lower, North Tipperary, Ireland. It is located in the extreme north of County Tipperary and includes the settlement of Rathcabbin....
Lockeen St Ruadhan's, LorrhaLorrhaLorrha is a small village at the northern tip of North Tipperary, Ireland. It is located on a local minor road between the R489 Birr to Portumna road and the N65 Nenagh to Portumna road about five kilometres east of the point where the River Shannon enters Lough Derg. It is a townland and a civil...
. - Clonfert (Cathedral) Group: St Brendan's Cathedral, ClonfertClonfert CathedralClonfert Cathedral is a cathedral of the Church of Ireland in Clonfert, County Galway in Ireland. It is in the ecclesiastical province of Dublin...
St John the Baptist's, Donanaughta Christ Church's, Lickmolassy St Paul's, Rynagh. - Cloughjordan Group: BallingarryBallingarryBallingarry is a village in the barony of Slievardagh, South Tipperary in Ireland. It is also a parish in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cashel and Emly. The village is situated near the Kilkenny border on route R691. Ballingarry is located near Slievenamon.-Amenities:On the Main Street may be...
Borrisnafarney BorrisokaneBorrisokaneBorrisokane is a town in North Tipperary, Ireland. In 2006 it had a population of approximately 1,145. It is situated on the N52/N65 National secondary road between Nenagh and Portumna and the N52 between Nenagh and Birr. It is close to Lough Derg which is only 12 km to the west. It is a...
St Kieran's, CloughjordanCloughjordanCloughjordan, officially Cloghjordan , is a town in North Tipperary in Ireland. It is in the barony of Ormond Lower, and it is also a parish in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Killaloe....
. - 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, KillaloeKillaloe CathedralThe 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....
St Senan's, Kiltinanlea All Saints', Stradbally St Cronan, 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, NenaghNenaghNenagh is the county town of North Tipperary in Ireland. It is the administrative centre of North Tipperary and in 2011 it had a recorded population of 7,995. It is a civil parish in the historical barony of Ormond Lower...
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, RoscreaRoscreaRoscrea is a small heritage town in North Tipperary, Ireland. The town has a population of 4,910. Its main industries include meat processing and pharmaceuticals. It is a civil parish in the historical barony of Ikerrin...
. - Shinrone Group: Aghancon DunkerrinDunkerrinDunkerrin is a parish in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Killaloe. It is located in County Offaly, Ireland on the main N7 road from Dublin to Limerick. The parish has 300 inhabitants as of the 2006 census....
St Finnian's, Kinnitty St Mary's, ShinroneShinroneShinrone is a village in County Offaly, Ireland. It lies at the junction of the R491 regional road between Cloughjordan and Roscrea where it is joined by the R492...
. - Tralee Group: Ballymacelligott Ballyseedy St James's, Dingle Kilgobbin, Camp Killiney, Castlegregory St John's, Tralee.
- Plus the University of LimerickUniversity of LimerickThe University of Limerick is a university in Ireland near the city of Limerick on the island's west coast. It was established in 1972 as the National Institute for Higher Education, Limerick and became a university by statute in 1989 in accordance with the University of Limerick Act 1989...
.
List of bishops
- Edwin Owen (1976–1981)
- Walton Newcombe Francis Empey (1981–1985)
- Edward Flewett DarlingEdward Flewett DarlingEdward Flewett Darling was Bishop of Limerick and Killaloe from 1985 to 2000.Darling was born into an ecclesiastical family and educated at St. John's School, Leatherhead and Trinity College, Dublin. He was ordained in 1956: his first posts being curacies in Belfast...
(1985–2000)
- Michael Hugh Gunton MayesMichael Hugh Gunton MayesMichael Hugh Gunton Mayes was Bishop of Kilmore, Elphin and Ardagh from 1993 to 2000 and then of Limerick and Killaloe until 2008.Mayes was educated at The Royal School, Armagh and Trinity College, Dublin...
(2000–2008) - Trevor WilliamsTrevor Williams (bishop)Trevor Williams is the incumbent Bishop of Limerick and Killaloe in the Church of Ireland.-Early career:Williams was born in Dublin city, Ireland and educated at St. Andrew's College, Dublin, Trinity College, Dublin, and St John's College, Nottingham. He was ordained a deacon in 1974 and a priest...
(2008–present)
See also
- List of Anglican dioceses in the United Kingdom and Ireland
- Roman Catholic Diocese of LimerickRoman Catholic Diocese of LimerickThe Diocese of Limerick is a Roman Catholic diocese in mid-western Ireland. It is one of six suffragan dioceses in the ecclesiastical province of Cashel and is subject to the Archdiocese of Cashel and Emly. The diocese is in the secular province of the same name - Munster...
- Roman Catholic Diocese of KerryRoman Catholic Diocese of KerryThe Diocese of Kerry is a Roman Catholic diocese in south-western Ireland. It is one of six suffragan dioceses in the ecclesiastical province of Cashel and is subject to the Archdiocese of Cashel and Emly...
(formerly Ardfert and Aghadoe) - Roman Catholic Diocese of KillaloeRoman Catholic Diocese of KillaloeThe Diocese of Killaloe is a Roman Catholic diocese in mid-western Ireland. It is one of six suffragan dioceses in the ecclesiastical province of Cashel and is subject to the Archdiocese of Cashel and Emly. The diocese is in the secular province of the same name - Munster...
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Galway, Kilmacduagh and KilfenoraRoman Catholic Diocese of Galway, Kilmacduagh and KilfenoraThe 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...
- Roman Catholic Diocese of ClonfertRoman Catholic Diocese of ClonfertThe Diocese of Clonfert 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...
- Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cashel and EmlyRoman Catholic Archdiocese of Cashel and EmlyThe Metropolitan Archdiocese of Cashel and Emly is a Roman Catholic archdiocese in mid-western Ireland. The diocese is in the secular province of Munster. The Diocese of Cashel was established in 1111 by the Synod of Rathbreasail and promoted to the status of a Metropolitan Province in 1152 by the...