Bishop of Clonfert explained

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

History

The diocese of Clonfert was one of the twenty-four dioceses established at the Synod of Rathbreasail in 1111, and its boundaries were fixed at the Synod of Kells in 1152. During the Reformation, the bishops changed their allegiance back and forth between the Pope and the Crown. After the Reformation, there were parallel apostolic successions.

In the Church of Ireland, the title continued until 1625, when it united with Kilmacduagh, forming the united see of Clonfert and Kilmacduagh.

In the Roman Catholic Church, the title remains a separate bishopric. The current incumbent is the Most Reverend Michael Duignan, Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Clonfert, who was appointed on 16 July 2019 and ordained bishop on 13 October 2019. In 2021 the Holy See determined that the diocese of Clonfert and the Roman Catholic Diocese of Galway, Kilmacduagh and Kilfenora would share a bishop.[1]

Pre-Reformation bishops

Pre-Reformation Bishops of Clonfert
From Until OrdinaryNotes
align=center unknownalign=center 1117Muiredach Ua hÉnlaingeDied in office
align=center unknownalign=center 1149Gilla Pátraic Ua hAilchinnedDied in office
align=center c.1150align=center 1171Petrus Ua Mórda, O.Cist.Died 27 December 1171
align=center 1172align=center 1173Máel Ísu Mac in BairdDied in office
align=center bef.1179align=center 1186Celechair Ua hAirmedaigDied in office
align=center 1186align=center 1187Muirchertach Ua Máel UidirBishop of Clonmacnoise since c. 1152; also became Bishop of Clonfert in 1186; died in office
align=center unknownalign=center 1195Domnall Ua FinnDied in office
align=center unknownalign=center 1203Muirchertach Ua CarmacáinDied in office
align=center 1205align=center unknownMáel Brigte Ua hEruráinElected in 1205
align=center bef.1224align=center 1259Cormac Ó LuimlínDied c. 19 June 1259; also known as Carus
align=center 1259align=center 1263Tomás Ó CellaighElected before 7 November 1259 and received possession of temporalities after that date; died 6 January 1263; also recorded as Tomás mac Domnaill Móir Ó Cellaig
align=center 1263align=center 1266See vacant
align=center 1266align=center 1295Johannes de AlatreAppointed before 29 September 1266 and received possession of temporalities on that date; consecrated 19 December 1266; translated to Benevento 2 October 1295
align=center 1296align=center 1307Robert, O.S.B.Appointed 2 January and consecrated after 21 April 1296; received possession of temporalities 24 September 1296; acted as a suffragan bishop in the diocese of Canterbury 1296–1307; died after December 1307
align=center 1308align=center 1319Gregorius Ó BrócaigElected before 22 March 1308 and received possession of temporalities after that date; died in office
align=center 1320align=center 1321Robert Petit, O.F.M.Elected 10 February and confirmed by the king 24 February 1320; consecrated c. 1320; deprived c. 1321; acted as a suffragan bishop in the dioceses of Worcester 1322 and Exeter 1324; later appointed Bishop of Annaghdown 27 October 1325; also known as Robert Le Petit
align=center 1322align=center 1336Seoán Ó LeaáinElected 10 November 1319, but was not appointed until 6 August 1322; consecrated 20 September and received possession of temporalities 29 December 1322; died 7 April 1336
align=center 1336align=center 1347See vacant
align=center 1347align=center 1378Tomás mac Gilbert Ó CellaighBecame bishop before 14 October 1347; died 1378; also known as Thomas O'Kelly
align=center 1378align=center 1393Muircheartach mac Pilib Ó CeallaighAppointed before 6 March 1378 and consecrated in the same year; translated to Tuam 26 January 1393; also known as Mauricius
align=center 1393align=center 1398Uilliam Ó CormacáinTranslated from Tuam 27 January 1393; deprived in 1398; also known as Wiliam Ó Cormacáin
1398David Corre, O.F.M.Appointed 20 March 1398, but did not take effect
align=center 1398align=center 1405Énri Ó ConnmhaighAppointed c. July 1398; translated to Kilmacduagh 11 March 1405
align=center 1405align=center 1438Tomás mac Muircheartaigh Ó Cellaigh, O.P.Translated from Ardfert and Aghadoe 11 March 1405; translated to Tuam 15 July 1438
1410Cobhthach Ó MadagáinElected in 1410, but was not consecrated
align=center 1438align=center 1459Seaán Ó hEidhin, O.F.M.Appointed 18 July 1438 and again 25 October 1441; acted as a suffragan bishop in the dioceses of London, Diocese of Exeter, and Worcester 1443–59; died after 1459
align=center 1441align=center 1448John White, O.F.M.Appointed 25 October 1441, but did not obtain possession of the see; resigned in July 1448
align=center 1447align=center 1448Conchobair Ó Maolalaidh, O.F.M.Appointed 22 May 1447 and again 18 July 1448; translated to Emly 30 August 1448; also known as Cornelius
align=center 1448align=center 1463Cornelius Ó Cuinnlis, O.F.M.Translated from Emly 30 August 1448; resigned in 1463; died after 1469
align=center 1463align=center 1507Matthaeus Mág Raith, O.S.A.Appointed 22 June 1463; died in office
align=center 1508align=center 1509David de BurgoAppointed 5 July 1508; died in office
align=center 1509align=center 1534Dionysius Ó Mórdha, O.P.Appointed 7 November 1509; died office; also known as Denis O'More
Sources:

Bishops during the Reformation

Bishops of Clonfert during the Reformation
From Until OrdinaryNotes
align=center 1534align=center 1580Roland de Burgo Appointed by Pope Clement VII 18 May 1534; accepted royal supremacy in 1538; confirmed (re-appointed) by King Henry VIII 24 October 1541; acknowledged papal authority in the reign of Queen Mary I, but again accepted royal supremacy under Queen Elizabeth I; also was Bishop of Elphin 1551–1580; died 20 June 1580; also known as Roland Burke
align=center 1536align=center 1538Richard NangleAppointed by King Henry VIII; consecrated 1536; expelled before July 1538 by the papal nominee who had accepted royal supremacy
Sources:

Post-Reformation bishops

Church of Ireland succession

Church of Ireland Bishops of Clonfert
From Until OrdinaryNotes
align=center 1582align=center 1601Stephen KirwanTranslated from Kilmacduagh; nominated 30 March 1582; letters patent 24 May 1582; died before 4 November 1601; also known as Stephen Kerovan
align=center 1602align=center 1625Roland Lynch, Bishop of KilmacduaghHeld the see of Clonfert "in commendam" from 1602 until his death in 1625
In 1625, the Church of Ireland sees of Clonfert and Kilmacduagh were amalgamated, forming the united Bishopric of Clonfert and Kilmacduagh.
Sources:

Roman Catholic succession

Roman Catholic Bishops of Clonfert
From Until OrdinaryNotes
align=center 1580align=center 1587See vacant
align=center 1587align=center 1602Thady Farrell, O.P.Appointed 8 June and consecrated 30 August 1587; also appointed an Auxiliary bishop of Sigüenza in 1589; died 1602; also known as Tadhg O'Farrell, Tadhg MacEoga and Tadeo O'Farrell
appointed 1609(Dermot Nolan)Appointed vicar apostolic by papal brief 4 February 1609
appointed 1622(Thady Egan)Appointed vicar apostolic by papal brief 13 July 1622
align=center 1629align=center 1647John de BurghAppointed vicar apostolic by papal brief 13 October 1629, and appointed bishop 16 September 1641; translated to Tuam 11 March 1647; also recorded as John de Burgo and John Burke
align=center 1647align=center 1663Walter LynchArrived in Ireland in 1647; appointed 11 March 1647 and consecrated 9 April 1648; left Ireland c. 1648 and spent the rest of his life in Hungary; died 14 July 1663
align=center 1663align=center 1678See vacant
align=center 1678align=center 1687Thady Keogh, O.P.Appointed 13 July and consecrated in October 1671; died in office; also known as Tadhg Keogh or Mac Eogha
align=center 1687align=center 1695See vacant
align=center 1695align=center 1706Maurice DonnellanAppointed 14 November 1695; died 2 July 1706; also known as Murtagh Donnellan or Muircheartach Ó Domhnalláin
align=center 1706align=center 1713See vacant
align=center 1713align=center 1715Ambrose O'MaddenPreviously bishop-designate of Killala and Kilmacduagh; appointed bishop of Clonfert 15 September 1713 and consecrated 15 April 1714; died in July 1715
align=center 1715align=center 1718See vacant
align=center 1718align=center 1733Edmund KellyAppointed in February and consecrated before 14 May 1718; died in office
align=center 1733align=center 1778Peter O'DonnellanAppointed 11 August 1733; died 7 May 1778
align=center 1778align=center 1786Andrew O'DonellanAppointed coadjutor bishop 1 December 1776; succeeded 7 May 1778; died before 6 July 1786
align=center 1786align=center 1831Thomas CostelloAppointed coadjutor bishop 30 June 1786; succeeded 6 July 1786; died 8 October 1831
align=center 1831align=center 1847Thomas CoenAppointed coadjutor bishop 26 January and consecrated 5 May 1816; succeeded 8 October 1831; died 25 April 1847
align=center 1847align=center 1870John DerryAppointed 9 July and consecrated 21 September 1847; died 28 June 1870
1871(Hugh O'Rorke)Appointed 13 February 1871 but was not accepted
align=center 1872align=center 1896Patrick DugganAppointed 2 October 1871 and consecrated 14 January 1872; died 15 August 1896
align=center 1896align=center 1903John HealyAppointed coadjutor bishop 26 June and consecrated 31 August 1884; succeeded 15 August 1896; translated to Tuam 13 February 1903
align=center 1903align=center 1909Thomas O'DeaAppointed 12 June and consecrated 30 August 1903; translated to Galway and Kilmacduagh 29 April 1909
align=center 1909align=center 1918Thomas GilmartinAppointed 3 July 1909 and consecrated 13 February 1910; translated to Tuam 10 July 1918
align=center 1919align=center 1923Thomas O'DohertyAppointed 3 July and consecrated 14 September 1919; translated to Galway and Kilmacduagh 13 July 1923
align=center 1924align=center 1953John DignanAppointed 24 March and consecrated 1 June 1924; died 12 April 1953
align=center 1953align=center 1962William J. PhilbinAppointed 22 December 1953 and consecrated 14 March 1954; translated to Down and Connor 5 June 1962
align=center 1963align=center 1982Thomas RyanAppointed 9 May and consecrated 16 June 1963; resigned 1 May 1982; died 20 August 1983
align=center 1982align=center 1987Joseph CassidyAppointed coadjutor bishop 24 August and consecrated 23 September 1979; succeeded 1 May 1982; translated to Tuam 22 August 1987
align=center 1988align=center 2019John KirbyAppointed 18 February and consecrated 9 April 1988; resigned 16 July 2019
align=center 2019align=center presentMichael DuignanAppointed 16 July and consecrated 13 October 2019
Sources:

Bibliography

Notes and References

  1. News: McGarry . Patsy . Two Catholic dioceses in west soon to have just one bishop . 2021-11-16 . Irish Times. 2021-12-07.

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