| Jurisdiction: | Diocese |
| Kildare and Leighlin | |
| Latin: | Dioecesis Kildarensis et Leighlinensis |
| Local: | Deoise Chill Dara agus Leithghlinne |
| Country: | Ireland |
| Metropolitan: | Archdiocese of Dublin |
| Territory: | County Carlow, parts of counties Kildare, Laois, Offaly, Kilkenny, Wicklow and Wexford |
| Province: | Province of Dublin |
| Area Sqmi: | 1608 |
| Population: | 286,360 |
| Population As Of: | 2019 |
| Catholics: | 262,250 |
| Catholics Percent: | 91.6 |
| Denomination: | Roman Catholic |
| Rite: | Latin Rite |
| Established: | United 29 November 1694 |
| Cathedral: | Cathedral of the Assumption, Carlow |
| Patron: | Kildare: St Brigid and St Conleth Leighlin: St Lazerian |
| Bishop: | Denis Nulty Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin |
| Metro Archbishop: | Dermot Pius Farrell, Archbishop of Dublin |
| Map: | Roman Catholic Diocese of Kildare Leighlin map.png |
| Website: | kandle.ie |
The Diocese of Kildare and Leighlin (; Latin: Dioecesis Kildarensis et Leighlinensis; Irish: Deoise Chill Dara agus Leithghlinn) is a Latin Church diocese of the Catholic Church in eastern Ireland. It is one of three suffragan dioceses in the ecclesiastical province of Dublin and is subject to the Archdiocese of Dublin.[1] [2] [3] On 7 May 2013, Denis Nulty was appointed bishop of the diocese.
The united diocese includes virtually all of County Carlow, most of County Kildare and parts of counties Offaly, Laois, Kilkenny, Wexford and Wicklow.[4] The largest towns in the diocese are Carlow, Edenderry, Kildare, Naas, Newbridge, Portarlington and Portlaoise.[5]
These two dioceses continued to be separate from their foundation until 1678, when, owing to the extreme tenuity of the episcopal revenues, the bishopric of Leighlin was given in commendam by the Holy See to the Bishop of Kildare. The Cathedral Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary is located in the town of Carlow.
Today with the help of an enthusiastic lay people the diocese is always busy in promoting faith of the youth in the local area. A key example of this is by its active involvement in the John Paul II Awards. The award was launched by the Papal Nuncio to Ireland, Giuseppe Lazzarotto on 7 November 2006 in the Diocese of Derry, Northern Ireland. It is dedicated to Pope John Paul II due to the strong beliefs and confidence he had in the youth of the world today.[6]
The united Diocese of Kildare and Leighlin is divided into seven deaneries, each divided into a number of parishes or group parishes.[7]
| Parishes or Group Parishes | ||
|---|---|---|
| Diocese of Kildare and Leighlin | Deanery of Borris | Borris Graignamanagh Leighlin Bagenalstown Myshall Paulstown St. Mullin's |
| Deanery of Carlow | Arless Askea Bennekerry Carlow Cathedral Doonane Graiguecullen Tinryland | |
| Deanery of Kildare | Allen Balyna Carbury Curragh Camp Kildare Monasterevin Rathangan Suncroft | |
| Deanery of Naas | Caragh Clane Cooleragh & Staplestown Kilcock Kill Naas Newbridge Sallins Two Mile House | |
| Deanery of Portarlington | Clonaslee Clonbullogue Daingean Edenderry Emo Killeigh Mountmellick Portarlington Rhode Rosenallis | |
| Deanery of Portlaoise | Abbeyleix Ballinakill Ballyadams Ballyfin Mountrath Portlaoise Raheen Stradbally | |
| Deanery of Tullow | Ballon Baltinglass Clonegal Clonmore Rathvilly Hacketstown Tullow |
See main article: Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin. The following is a basic list of the Bishops of Kildare and Leighlin.[8] [9]