Diocese of Limerick and Killaloe

The Diocese of Limerick and Killaloe (Full title: 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.

United Dioceses of Limerick, Ardfert, Aghadoe, Killaloe, Kilfenora, Clonfert, Kilmacduagh and Emly
Coat of arms of the United Dioceses of Limerick, Ardfert, Aghadoe, Killaloe, Kilfenora, Clonfert, Kilmacduagh and Emly
Coat of arms
Location
Ecclesiastical provinceDublin and Cashel
Information
CathedralSt Mary's Cathedral, Limerick,
Killaloe Cathedral,
Clonfert Cathedral
Website
limerick.anglican.org
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]

Ancient diocesesUnions before 19761976
Diocese of Ardfert & Aghadoe1661: Diocese of Limerick, Ardfert and AghadoeDiocese of Limerick & Killaloe
Diocese of Limerick
Diocese of Clonfert1602: Diocese of Clonfert & Kilmacduagh1834: Diocese of Killaloe & Clonfert
Diocese of Kilmacduagh
Diocese of Kilfenora 1752: Diocese of Killaloe & Kilfenora
Diocese of Killaloe
Diocese of Emly United to Cashel from 1569-1976

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
Main article: Bishop of Limerick and Killaloe

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. The Cathedral Churches of Limerick and Killaloe. Retrieved on 9 January 2009.
  5. Parish Information. Diocese of Limerick and Killaloe website. Retrieved on 6 October 2009.
  6. St Flannan's Cathedral, Killaloe. Retrieved on 7 September 2009.
  7. Shinrone Group of Parishes. Retrieved on 7 September 2009.
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