Diocese of Limerick and Killaloe

St Mary's Cathedral, Limerick

St Flannan's Cathedral, Killaloe

St Brendan's Cathedral, Clonfert

The Diocese of Limerick and Killaloe (Full title: United Dioceses of Limerick, Ardfert, Aghadoe, Killaloe, Kilfenora, Clonfert, Kilmacduagh and Emly) is a diocese in the Church of Ireland, located in Ireland. It is in the ecclesiastical province 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, Kerry and Clare, plus parts of counties Galway, Cork and North Tipperary.

The current bishop is the Right Reverend Trevor Williams who was elected on 6 May 2008^[1] and consecrated at Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin on 11 July 2008.^[2]

Overview and history

When the Church in England broke communion with the Roman Catholic Church, the Church of England was established by the state as the established church. Later, by decree of the Irish Parliament, a similar new body became the State Church in 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. 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. 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 cathedrals.

Cathedrals

• St Mary's Cathedral, Limerick,^[3]
• St Flannan's Cathedral, Killaloe,^[4]
• St Brendan's Cathedral, Clonfert.^[5]

Five others are in ruins or no longer exist:

• St Brendan's Cathedral, Ardfert was destroyed by fire in 1641
• St Alibeus' Cathedral, Emly was demolished in 1877.^[5]
• Kilmacduagh cathedral, which is partly in ruins
• Aghadoe Cathedral, 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.^[6]

• 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^[7] • 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, 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:^[8] 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

Main article: Bishop of Limerick and Killaloe

Edwin Owen (1976–1981) Walton Newcombe Francis Empey (1981–1985) Edward Flewett Darling (1985–2000)

Michael Hugh Gunton Mayes (2000–2008) Trevor Williams (2008–present)

See also

• List of Anglican dioceses in the United Kingdom and Ireland
• Roman Catholic Diocese of Limerick
• Roman Catholic Diocese of Kerry (formerly Ardfert and Aghadoe)
• Roman Catholic Diocese of Killaloe
• Roman Catholic Diocese of Galway, Kilmacduagh and Kilfenora
• Roman Catholic Diocese of Clonfert
• Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cashel and Emly

References

1. ^ The Revd Canon Trevor Williams Elected Bishop of Limerick and Killaloe. Retrieved on 9 January 2009.
2. ^ Consecration of the Rt Revd Trevor Williams as Bishop of Limerick. Retrieved on 9 January 2009.
3. ^ St Mary's Cathedral, Limerick. Retrieved on 9 January 2009.
4. ^ St Flannan's Cathedral, Killaloe. Retrieved on 9 January 2009.
5. ^ ^{a b} The Cathedral Churches of Limerick and Killaloe. Retrieved on 9 January 2009.
6. ^ Parish Information. Diocese of Limerick and Killaloe website. Retrieved on 6 October 2009.
7. ^ St Flannan's Cathedral, Killaloe. Retrieved on 7 September 2009.
8. ^ Shinrone Group of Parishes. Retrieved on 7 September 2009.

External links

• Crockford's Clerical Directory - Listings