Bishop of Killala explained

Border:catholic
Incumbent:Sede vacante
Incumbent Note:since 10 April 2024
Style:His Lordship / My Lord
Country:Ireland
Established:1111
Cathedral:St Muredach's Cathedral, Ballina
First Incumbent:Ua Máel Fogmair I
Jurisdiction:Bishop
Killala
Denomination:Roman Catholic
Emeritus Bishops:John Fleming,
Bishop of Killala

The Bishop of Killala is an episcopal title which takes its name after the village of Killala in County Mayo, Ireland. In the Roman Catholic Church it remains a separate title, but in the Church of Ireland it has been united with other bishoprics.

History

The foundation of the Episcopal see of Killala dates to the time of Saint Patrick who had a church built there (Killala Cathedral), over which he placed one of his disciples, Saint Muredach, as its first bishop.[1] Another of early bishop is believed to have been Saint Cellach of Killala. The see was often called the bishopric of Uí Fiachrach Muaidhe or Tir Amalghaid (Tirawley) in the Irish annals.[2] Although the bishopric was founded in the 5th century, it wasn't until AD 1111 that the Diocese of Killala was established by the Synod of Ráth Breasail.[2] Its boundaries comprises the north-eastern portion of County Mayo and the barony of Tireragh in County Sligo.[2] After Bishop Ó Coineóil was restored in 1439, there were a number of rival candidates who were appointed but never took effect.[3] [4]

After the Reformation, there were parallel apostolic successions: one of the Church of Ireland and the other of the Roman Catholic Church.

In the Church of Ireland, Killala continued as a separate title until 1622 when it was combined with Achonry to form the united bishopric of Killala and Achonry.[5] Under the Church Temporalities (Ireland) Act 1833 (3 & 4 Will. 4. c. 37), the combined sees of Killala and Achonry became part of the archbishopric of Tuam in 1834. On the death of Archbishop Le Poer Trench in 1839, the Ecclesiastical Province of Tuam lost its metropolitan status and became the united bishopric of Tuam, Killala and Achonry in the Ecclesiastical Province of Armagh.[6] [7]

In the Roman Catholic Church, Killala remains a separate title. The bishop's seat (cathedra) is located at the Cathedral Church of St Muredach in Ballina, County Mayo.[8] The most recent ordinary is the Most Reverend John Fleming, Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Killala, who was appointed by Pope John Paul II on 19 February 2002, received episcopal ordination on 7 April 2002 and retired on 10 April 2024.[9]

Pre-Reformation bishops

The following is a list of the diocesan bishops of Killala:

Pre-Reformation Bishops of Killala
From Until OrdinaryNotes
align=center unknownalign=center 1137Ua Máel Fogmair IDied in office.
align=center unknownalign=center 1151Ua Máel Fogmair IIDied in office.
align=center bef.1179align=center unknownUa Máel Fogmair IIIBecame bishop before 1179. Date of death unknown.
align=center 1199align=center 1206Domnall ua BécdaAlso known as Donatus. Became bishop before 29 March 1199. Died in office.
align=center align=center unknown? Muiredach Ua DubthaigMentioned in the Annals of Loch Cé, 1208, where the context suggests that his see may have been Killala.
align=center bef.1224align=center 1234Aengus Ó Máel FogmairAlso known as Elias. Became bishop before 1224. Died in office.
align=center 1235align=center unknownDonatusBecame bishop in 1235 and recorded . Date of death unknown.
align=center 1253align=center 1264Seoán Ó Laidig, O.P.Elected after 22 June 1253 and consecrated on 7 December 1253. Resigned after 21 February 1264 and died in 1275.
align=center unknownalign=center 1280Seoán Ó Máel FogmairDied on 25 October 1280.
align=center 1281align=center 1306Donnchad Ó FlaithbertaigAlso known as Donatus. Elected before 16 April 1281 and received possession of the temporalities on 29 September 1281. Died circa February 1306.
align=center 1307align=center 1343John TankardAlso known as Seoán Ó Laithim. Formerly Archdeacon of Killala. Elected bishop on 13 June 1306 and received possession of the temporalities after that date, and consecrated circa 1307. Died in office.
align=center 1344align=center c.1346James BerminghamFormerly a canon of Killala. Elected and consecrated in 1344. Died in office circa 1346.
align=center 1347align=center 1350Uilliam Ó DubhdaAlso known as William O'Dowda. Elected in 1344, appointed on 26 June 1346, and received possession of the temporalities on 25 March 1348. Died in office.
align=center 1351align=center 1383Robert ElyotFormerly Bishop of Waterford. Appointed on 8 June 1351. Deprived by Antipope Clement VII before 17 January 1383. Died before January 1390.
align=center 1351align=center 1383(Brian mac Donchadha Ó Dubha)Elected by the Dean and Chapter, but it does not appear to be confirmed or consecrated.
1381(Thomas Lodowys, O.P.)Appointed on 9 August 1381, but did not take office. Died towards the end of 1388
align=center 1383align=center unknownConchobhar Ó CoineóilAlso known as Cornelius. Formerly a canon of Tuam. Appointed by Antipope Clement VII before 19 February 1383. Not known when his episcopate ended, but died in 1422 or 1423.
align=center 1390align=center 1398Thomas Orwell, O.F.M.Also known as Thomas Horwell. Appointed on 31 January 1390. Acted as a suffragan bishop in the dioceses of Ely and Norwich 1389–1406. Translated to Dromore before November 1398.
align=center 1398align=center 1400See vacant
align=center 1400align=center 1425Tomás mac Uilliam Duibh BairéadAlso known as Thomas Barrett or 'an t-easbog Tóimineach'. Appointed before 14 April 1400 and received possession of the temporalities on 12 March 1401. Died in office on 25 January 1425.
(Muircheartach Cléirach mac Donnchadha Ó Dubhda)Elected circa 1403, but was never consecrated, and died later in the same year.
align=center 1425align=center 1431/32Fearghal Ó Martain, O.E.S.A.Appointed on 26 September 1425 and consecrated on 11 November 1427. Died in office on 30 January 1431 or 1432.
1431Thaddaeus 'Mac Creagh'Appointed, by provision of the Pope; and was pardoned for accepting the appointment, and was admitted to all the privileges of an English subject, by King Henry VI in September 1431.
align=center 1432align=center 1436Brian Ó CoineóilAlso known as Bernardus. Appointed on 30 January 1432. Deposed in 1436.
align=center 1436align=center 1436Maghnus Ó DubhdaFormerly Archdeacon of Killala. Elected bishop in 1436. Died in office on 22 February 1436.
align=center 1436align=center 1439See vacant
align=center 1439align=center 1461Brian Ó Coineóil (again)Restored in 1439. Murdered on 31 May 1461 by the son of Bishop Maghnus Ó Dubhda.
1447(Robert Barrett)Provost of Killala. Appointed bishop on 3 July 1447, but did not take effect.
1452(Ruaidhrí Bairéad, O.E.S.A.)Also known as Rory Barrett. Appointed on 3 March 1452, but did not take effect. Died after May 1458.
1453(Thomas)Appointed before 7 January 1453, but did not take effect.
1459(Richard Viel, O.Carth.)Prior of Witham Friary. Appointed on 17 October 1459, but did not take effect.
align=center 1461align=center 1467Donatus Ó Conchobhair, O.P.Formerly a friar of Rathfran (a friary north of Killala). Appointed on 2 December 1461. Died in office after 1467.
align=center 1467align=center 1470See vacant
align=center 1470align=center unknownThomas Barrett, O.S.A.Also known as Tomas Bairéad. Formerly a canon of Crossmolina. Appointed bishop on 9 February 1470. Acted as a suffragan bishop in the English Diocese of Ely in 1497. Died after 1497.
align=center 1487align=center 1490Seaán Ó Caissín, O.F.M.Also known as John O'Cassin and Johannes de Tuderto. Appointed bishop on 18 January 1487. Resigned in 1490.
align=center 1490align=center 1500See vacant
align=center 1500align=center 1505Thomas ClerkeAlso known as Thomas Cleragh. Formerly Archdeacon of Sodor (Isle of Man). Appointed bishop on 4 May 1500. Resigned in 1505, becoming Rector of Chedsey in Somerset, where died there in 1508.
align=center 1505align=center 1508See vacant
align=center 1508align=center bef.1513Malachias Ó ClúmháinFormerly a priest of the Diocese of Clonfert. Appointed on 12 February 1506 and consecrated on 3 September 1508. Died in office before 1513.
align=center colspan="4" Source(s):[10] [11] [12] [13]

Bishops during the Reformation

Bishops of Killala during the Reformation
From Until OrdinaryNotes
align=center 1513align=center 1545Richard BarrettAlso known as Risdéard Bairéad. Formerly a canon of Killala. Appointed bishop by Pope Julius II on 7 January 1513. Not known if Barrett acknowledged Royal supremacy. Died in office before 6 November 1545.
align=center 1545align=center 1569Redmond O'GallagherAppointed by Pope Paul III on 6 November 1545 and presumably recognized by the crown in the reign of Queen Mary I. Translated to the Roman Catholic see of Derry by Pope Pius V on 22 June 1569. Described by the papal legate Fr David Wolfe SJ as 'as strong as [a] bulwark of the Bride of Christ' in an account of approximately 1573[14]
Sources:[15] [16] [17] [18]

Post-Reformation bishops

Church of Ireland succession

Church of Ireland Bishops of Killala
From Until OrdinaryNotes
align=center 1569align=center 1591See vacant
align=center 1591align=center 1607Owen O'ConnorFormerly Dean of Achonry. Nominated on 18 October 1591 and consecrated before 25 March 1592. Died in office on 14 January 1607.
align=center 1607align=center 1613See vacant
align=center 1613align=center 1622The see was granted in commendam to Miler Magrath, Archbishop of Cashel.
align=center 1622align=center 1834Part of the united bishopric of Killala and Achonry
align=center 1834align=center 1839Part of the archbishopric of Tuam
align=center colspan=2Since 1839Part of the united bishopric of Tuam, Killala and Achonry
align=center colspan="4" Source(s):[19] [20] [21]

Roman Catholic succession

Roman Catholic Bishops of Killala
From Until OrdinaryNotes
align=center 1570align=center 1580Donat O'Gallagher, O.F.M.Also known as Donagh O'Gallagher. Appointed on 4 September 1570 and consecrated on 5 November 1570. Translated to Down and Connor on 23 March 1580[22]
align=center 1580align=center 1583John O'Cahasy, O.F.M.Appointed on 27 July 1580. Died in office in October 1583.
align=center 1583align=center 1591See vacant
align=center 1591align=center unknown(Miler Cawell, vicar apostolic)Appointed vicar apostolic by papal brief on 15 May 1591 (N.S.).
align=center 1629align=center unknown(Andrew Lynch, vicar apostolic)Appointed vicar apostolic by papal brief on 28 November 1629 (N.S.).
align=center 1645align=center 1661Francis KirwanAppointed by papal bull on 6 February 1645 (N.S.) and consecrated at Paris on 7 May 1645 (N.S.). Returned to Ireland, but following the fall of Galway in 1651, he hid from Parliamentarian troops for many months, eventually imprisoned in Galway and then banished to France in August 1655. Died in exile at Rennes on 27 August 1661.[23]
align=center 1661align=center 1671See vacant
align=center 1671align=center unknown(John Burke, vicar apostolic)Also recorded as John de Burgo. Appointed vicar apostolic on 16 May 1671 (N.S.) and papal brief issued on 30 June 1671 (N.S.).
align=center 1676align=center unknown(John Dooley, vicar apostolic)Appointed vicar apostolic on 22 April 1676 (N.S.).
1695(Ambrose O'Madden)Nominated to be bishop of Killala, and apostolic administrator of Kilmacduagh, on 30 August 1695 (N.S.), but did not take effect. Later appointed Bishop of Kilmacduagh in 1703, but remained unconsecrated. Finally, appointed Bishop of Clonfert in 1713 and consecrated in 1714.
align=center 1695align=center 1703See vacant
align=center 1703align=center 1735Thaddeus Francis O'Rourke, O.F.M.Also known as Tadhg O'Rourke. Appointed on 15 November 1703 (N.S.) and again on 15 March 1707 (N.S.). Consecrated on 24 August 1707. Died in office before September 1735.
align=center 1735align=center 1738Peter Archdekin, O.F.M.Appointed by papal brief on 30 September 1735 (N.S.) and consecrated on 5 February 1736 (N.S.). Died in office in 1738.
align=center 1739align=center 1743Bernard O'RourkeAppointed by papal brief on 24 April 1739 (N.S.). Died in office before 8 July 1743 (N.S.).
align=center 1743align=center 1748John Brett, O.P.Appointed by papal brief on 27 July 1743 (N.S.) and consecrated on 8 September 1743 (N.S.). Translated to Elphin on 28 August 1748 (N.S.).
align=center 1749align=center 1749Michael SkerrettAppointed by papal brief on 23 January 1749 (N.S.). Translated to Tuam on 5 May 1749 (N.S.).
align=center 1749align=center 1760Bonaventura MacDonnell, O.F.M.Appointed by papal brief on 7 May 1749 (N.S.). Died in office before 16 September 1760.
align=center 1760align=center 1776Philip PhillipsAppointed by papal brief on 24 November 1760 (N.S.). Translated to Achonry on 22 June 1776.
align=center 1776align=center 1779Alexander IrwinAppointed on 16 June 1776 and papal brief issued on 1 July 1776. Died in office before 25 September 1779.
align=center 1779align=center Dominic BellewAppointed on 5 December 1779, papal brief issued on 18 December 1779, and consecrated in 1780. Died in office circa 1812.
align=center 1812align=center 1814See vacant
align=center 1814align=center 1834Peter WaldronAppointed on 25 September 1814, papal brief issued on 4 October 1814, and consecrated on 24 February 1815. Died in office on 20 May 1834.
1834John MacHaleAppointed coadjutor bishop (with right of succession) on 20 February 1825, papal brief issued on 8 March 1825, and consecrated on 5 June 1825. Succeeded diocesan bishop on 27 May 1834. Translated to Tuam on 21 July 1834.
align=center 1835align=center 1847Francis Joseph O'Finan, O.P.Appointed on 1 February 1835, papal brief issued on 13 February 1835, and consecrated 21 March 1835. Allowed to retain the title Bishop of Killala on 19 November 1838, but was deprived jurisdiction of the Diocese of Killala. Died on 27 November 1847.
align=center 1848align=center 1873Tommaso FeenyAlso known as Thomas Feeny. Appointed Papal Administrator of Killala on 18 July 1839 and consecrated Titular Bishop of Ptolemais in Phoenicia on 13 October 1839. Appointed Diocesan Bishop of Killala on 12 December 1847 and papal brief issued on 11 January 1848. Died in office on 9 August 1873.
align=center 1873align=center 1893Hugh ConwayAppointed coadjutor bishop (with right of succession) on 21 November 1871 and consecrated on 4 February 1872. Succeeded diocesan bishop on 9 July 1873. Died in office on 23 April 1893.
align=center 1893align=center 1911John ConmyAppointed coadjutor bishop (with right of succession) on 25 May or June 1892 and consecrated on 24 August 1892. Succeeded diocesan bishop on 23 April 1893. Died in office on 26 August 1911.
align=center 1911align=center 1950James NaughtonAppointed on 27 November 1911 and consecrated on 7 January 1912. Died in office on 16 February 1950.
align=center 1950align=center 1970Patrick O'BoyleAppointed on 12 December 1950 and consecrated on 25 February 1951. Retired on 12 October 1970 and died on 25 November 1971.
align=center 1970align=center 1987Thomas McDonnellAppointed on 12 October 1970 and consecrated on 13 December 1970. Retired on 21 January 1987 and died on 9 December 1987.
align=center 1987align=center 2002Thomas Anthony FinneganAppointed on 3 May 1987 and consecrated on 12 July 1987. Retired on 19 February 2002 and died on 25 December 2011.
align=center 2002align=center 2024John FlemingAppointed on 19 February 2002 and consecrated on 7 April 2002. Retired on 10 April 2024.
align=center colspan="4" Source(s):[24] [25] [26] [27]

References

. William Maziere Brady . The Episcopal Succession in England, Scotland and Ireland, A.D. 1400 to 1875 . 1876 . Tipografia Della Pace . Rome . 2 .

. Henry Cotton (divine) . The Province of Connaught . Fasti Ecclesiae Hiberniae: The Succession of the Prelates and Members of the Cathedral Bodies of Ireland . 4 . 1850 . Hodges and Smith . Dublin .

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Welcome to the Cathedral Church of St Patrick, Killala . anglican.org . 10 December 2014 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120404174822/http://www.killalacathedral.killala.anglican.org/ . 4 April 2012 .
  2. Web site: Walsh . Dennis . The Dioceses of Ireland: Territorial History . RootsWeb . 2009-05-18.
  3. , Handbook of British Chronology, p. 359.
  4. , A New History of Ireland, volume IX, pp. 329–330.
  5. , Handbook of British Chronology, p. 378.
  6. , Handbook of British Chronology, p. 407.
  7. , A New History of Ireland, volume IX, p. 438.
  8. Web site: Parish of Kilmoremoy . ballinaparish.org . 10 December 2014.
  9. Web site: 2024-04-10 . Bishop Fleming to retire, as dioceses in Connaught set to be amalgamated in the future . 2024-04-10 . Midwest Radio . en-gb.
  10. , The Episcopal Succession, volume 2, pp. 170–173.
  11. , The Province of Connaught, pp. 61–66.
  12. , Handbook of British Chronology, pp. 359–360.
  13. , A New History of Ireland, volume IX, pp. 328–330.
  14. Cal S. P. Rome, 1558-71, No 865.
  15. , The Episcopal Succession, volume 2, p. 173.
  16. , The Province of Connaught, p. 66.
  17. , Handbook of British Chronology, pp. 360, 395, and 433.
  18. , A New History of Ireland, volume IX, pp. 330, 387, and 436.
  19. , The Province of Connaught, pp. 66–67.
  20. , Handbook of British Chronology, p. 395.
  21. , A New History of Ireland, volume IX, p. 436.
  22. http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bogald.html "Bishop Donat O’Gallagher, O.F.M."
  23. http://www.libraryireland.com/biography/BishopFrancisKirwan.php Bishop Francis Kirwan
  24. http://www.gcatholic.org/dioceses/diocese/kill0.htm "Diocese of Killala"
  25. , The Episcopal Succession, volume 2, pp. 174–183.
  26. , Handbook of British Chronology, pp. 433–434.
  27. , A New History of Ireland, volume IX, pp. 387–389.

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